Welcome to the LBS StartHub blog, hosted by the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital (IEPC) at London Business School. This platform is open for the School's entrepreneurship community and the wider London ecosystem to share experiences, observations, perspectives and research. We invite you to read, comment, share, and enjoy! If you have content proposals, please do get in touch with us: iepc@london.edu.

STORIES FROM THE LIFT: How does one conquer the Market?

In these unprecedented times of (using the word unprecedented) uncertainty, many of us are contemplating taking the leap of faith and becoming a fulltime entrepreneur. A lot of people can build a product, but really figuring out what your market is and how to reach them is the biggest obstacle to LIFT your venture off the […]

Read More

How to Become a CEO in Your Early Thirties

Many people have ideas about “what they’d do if they were an entrepreneur.” But many young MBA graduates don’t view entrepreneurship as a viable near-term career option. Simon Webster, company director, LBS alumnus, investor and LBS guest lecturer, is teaching a Strategy & Entrepreneurship course at London Business School in collaboration with Luisa Alemany, Associate […]

Read More

STORIES FROM THE CRYPT: When does one shut a venture?

In these unprecedented times of (using the word unprecedented) uncertainty, many of us are contemplating taking the leap of faith and becoming a fulltime entrepreneur. The 100-plus EMiR sessions over the past few months have presented me with remarkable opportunities to view the repercussions of the pandemic through the eyes of a 21-year-old management graduate/alumnus AND […]

Read More

An Inside Look at the BVP Investment Memos

As the start-up ecosystem bursts, it is difficult to identify a diamond in the coal mine – an opportunity worth the risk, given the high percentage of failed start-ups. Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), an American venture capital firm, alludes to unique characteristics of fruitful investments in its Investment Memos. So, what is the secret sauce? […]

Read More

46% of business failures could be avoided. Here’s how.

Many new ventures, deals, investments and strategies fail because they haven’t been properly tested before launch. Applying rigorous contrarian thinking with a Devil’s Advocate or military style Red Team can save time, money and reputation by avoiding mistakes and making decisions that maximise chances of success. In the following piece, Dr. Nicholas Beecroft explains a […]

Read More

Stories from the Thrift: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Applied to Start-ups and Cofounders

In these unprecedented times of (using the word unprecedented) uncertainty, many of us are contemplating taking the leap of faith and becoming a fulltime entrepreneur. One of the most common questions I encounter is – “How can I focus on growing my business or on thought leadership when I am struggling to make ends meet?” This […]

Read More

The Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital is part of London Business School.