Perseverant Companies to Watch globally- 2021 | October

JEETENDRA THAKUR Editor

Rick is a sports fan who aspires to become a wellknown sportswear merchant. He attempted but failed to launch his shop. But, he tried again, only to meet the same fate; he tried again, again, and again. Until he eventually started his business and then opened another shop. He is now a successful sportswear retailer. How will you measure Rick’s journey in this story? What did you learn?

While Rick made multiple attempts, he never failed. Instead, he learned and evaluated his mistakes. Failure happens when you give up. Rick didn’t and showed perseverance. He kept his focus and worked on improving.

PERSEVERANCE IS THE SECRET SAUCE TO SUCCEED AND GO BEYOND YOUR IMAGINABLE LIMITS EDITOR’S CORNER

Perseverance is a steppingstone in every aspect of our life. It took 1,000 unsuccessful attempts for Edison to light the incandescent bulb. Other people, such as Steve Jobs, J. K. Rowling, and Walt Disney, have exemplified perseverance and are inspirational icons. Just like them, many business enterprises have been showing an unbending passion since the last year. 2020 was a hailstorm for the global economy. Its embers devastated people’s lives, jobs and closed the shutter of many businesses. But then there were those whose fortitude and perseverance was far beyond what the challenges could muster. Even novel calamities, like COVID-19, kneeled before their might. They chose the path of perseverance. While the novel virus tormented them in more ways than one, they fought back. And in their conquest to persevere and grow, they further taught the generation how to measure success in the face of uncertainties.

Born in the aftermath of COVID-19, we as a magazine understand perseverance and what makes businesses strive beyond their limits. The very reason, this edition, “Perseverant Companies to Watch Globally- 2021,” will focus on companies whose stature can’t be measured by their size or shape. Instead, it’s their teamwork, endeavour and never-ending passion that’ll set the tone. We will lead this edition with the story of Devil Dogs Concepts, a business that puts forth the drive and hard work of two marines to innovate and redefine gun handling experience. Check out their story and then go further. There’s a lot for you to invest your time in. That’ll be all. Until next time - Take Care!

INTERVIEW with Business Talk

Flutterfly™ Photography by Amy

Camaron Hillman President & CEO

Whether you are in the Military, Law Enforcement or protective detail, proper armaments are quintessential. It provides a significant tactical advantage in any deployment or response to emergent threats. With technical advancements, firearms (pistols, rifles, etc.) have received significant upgrades. The evolution has inspired enthusiasts around the world to build firearm improvements that allow the user to respond effectively in any threatening situation. USA, the #1 Superpower, houses some of the acclaimed brands for firearm modifications and accessories. A Popular name in the pantheon is Devil Dog Concepts™ (DDC). Based in New York, the company provides items that allow firearms to operate at capacity while also allowing the user to be tooled up for any situation.

THE BEGININGS

Devil Dog Concepts™ was founded by two former US Marines, Camaron Hillman (President & CEO) and Bob “Charp” Charpinsky (Vice President), who became police officers and SWAT team members. After experiencing the inefficiency of a standard charging handle and equipment while running drills one day, Camaron sought a change. He pondered how he could make the AR Platform a side charger without having to rebuild or modify the rifle, keeping it sturdy enough for law enforcement or military use. The market items were insufficient; therefore, he came up with the concept of the Hard Charger®. They developed multiple prototypes until the final product exceeded the standards and the Hard Charger® - AR-15 Side Charging Handle System became a reality. The product amazed Camaron and his partner, and they sought to get it out in the market. And that is how Devil Dog Concepts came to light.

The Charging Handle generated a massive buzz with its evolving features. It has three mounting choices, five distinct Pull Handle style and 2 material types for a total of 24 potential permutations. The Hard Charger® replaces the original charging handle on any standard, forged, flattop AR-15/M-16 rifle platform, converting it to a Side Charger!! The success of this product paved the way for new flagships. It mainly dedicated the products to patriotic customers (Military and Law Enforcement service), but there is a vast majority of enthusiasts and the Competitive Shooters, too. Every product assures a tactical advantage in a threatening situation. The new product lines are intended to enhance the users’ capabilities and be more proficient at the task at hand.

A WELL-DEFINED PORTFOLIO

The Hard Charger®, as previously said, has been a steppingstone in DDC’s story. Its popularity led them to release the new M-TAK™ Side Charging Handle kit. This includes a complete Hard Charger®, all mounting choices, and five unique designs of Pull Handles, allowing for 15 distinct Hard Charger® combo setups in one package. DDC also introduced CHARPS®, combat handgun sights in its product range. These sights have proven to be extremely useful for Law Enforcement, Military, and Self Defense since they enable quick charging of a pistol off practically any object at nearly any angle. Both of the products (Hard Charger® and CHARPS®) are patented and trademarked by the US patent authority.

DDC has added another product in its portfolio that is the Advanced Armorer’s Wrench. It’s made of 8620 steel that’s been heat-treated and plated, and ergonomically designed to improve efficiency. DDC also has other accessories, like lower receiver accessories, upper receiver accessories, stocks and grips, slings and attachments, shooting accessories, tools & cleaners, and associated services. Simply put, DDC can improve your firearm handling experience while also ensuring longterm efficiency.

A BENCHMARKED QUALITY

Customer satisfaction is the heart of every business. Camaron and Bob formed DDC to necessitate a change, which anchors its growth. Since its inception, customer service and devotion to quality have been its cornerstone. Each product is thoroughly inspected by hand to guarantee that it is fit, functional, and

optimized. Its quality control team oversees this, ensuring the products are always top-notch. End-toend customer service is another priority and is headed by Wade Harding (COO). He is a skilled individual dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and keeps the company ahead of the competition by creating innovative customer experiences. Quality and customer service also include creative thinking, which is driven collaboratively by everyone on board. “Being a part of the company gives you pride and a drive to grow the company.”

THE EXCLUSIVE ROLE OF R&D

DDC’s excellence also accounts for its investment in R&D. Assurance of product capability is extremely

“Being a part of the company gives you pride and a drive to grow the company.”

essential for growth and sustainability. While developing new products, DDC ensures a continuous R&D on existing products as well. As Camaron says, “Just because you got it right the first time doesn’t mean you can’t improve it.” And being customeroriented, they heed their advice and strive to improve constantly.

Camaron also mentions that enhancing the pace and capability of R&D for product development is one of their pressing concerns. Despite being extremely important, the prototyping phases are often long and time-intensive. “We have had products take years just to develop,” he adjoins. Focusing constantly on improving the pace at reduced costs and bringing the R&D process in-house, DDC seeks to increase efficiency, benefiting customers, partners and future stakeholders.

A BRIEF GLANCE ON FOUNDERS

Camaron hails from the Southern tier of New York and joined the Marines soon after finishing High School. In his tenure, he climbed the ranks to Sergeant and became a Military Police Officer and soon a Military Dog handler in charge of an Explosive Detection Dog. He’s been on over a dozen operations with the US Secret Service across the country, including protective detail for prominent delegations like the Vice President and President of the United States. He was also deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was involved in missions like Operation River Blitz, the first elections, and the Battle of Fallujah.

Shortly after, Camaron left the Marines and returned home. He began working on multiple security detail before joining the police force. After a few years, he found himself in a multijurisdiction SWAT team where he served with his business partner Bob for over a decade. Bob is a former Infantryman who served a tour to Iraq before becoming a Police Officer. Both of them remain as active law enforcement officers. Camaron is a full-time Patrol Division Police Sergeant, and Bob is a Department Training Officer.

PROGRESSIVE BEYOND CHALLENGES

‘Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome,’ as the Marine’s motto goes, is a philosophy that enables them to deal with any physical, mental, or spiritual adversity, even in their personal lives. And, as a corporation with several Marines and US Army personnel, DDC fared well during novel challenges, like the pandemic. The real challenge was starting the journey. Camaron didn’t come from a business background, and he didn’t know how to develop products, submit patents, or manage a company’s finances. Despite all of it, he started it with no education but only an idea. Now enjoying the fruits of his hard work, he states this kind of beginning is the best. Sharing his joy, he says, “You are forced to humble yourself, educate yourself, and open the doors to the world yourself. It is truly amazing when you start learning what is really out there, and you see so many things you never knew existed.”

The endeavors also helped in forming a growing culture. Everyone enjoys unique freedom that ensures their integrity and trust. And not just in income, investment and growth potential, but in personal life as well. “It is very humbling to have created the company, started growing it, and now see so many become a part of it, nurture and take pride in growing it together.”

AN ASCENDING TRAJECTORY

DDC has risen sharply over the last seven years, which testifies its product and team development. 3 of its products have US Patent, 3 registered trademarks, and 4 more patents in the pipeline. The firm intends to file for more patents, which it is already doing. Camaron recently completed the SBA (Small Business Administration) Emerging Leaders Course. DDC’s products have been used in the TV Show “Shooter” on the USA Network, and various publications have featured it. From a developer and manufacturer, it has become a distributor to multiple other companies and grown in the e-Commerce Space, too.

Few of the core leaders have even branched off a new venture, Riegel Fine Jewelry™, for buying and selling fine jewelry for every occasion. With the jewelry venture, there are plans to start a franchise, to help small business owners have additional revenue streams. With a clear vision, it’s steadfast and unbridled by any uncertainties or challenges.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE PIPELINE

DDC has experimented with a variety of revenue streams along the way, not only to diversify its portfolio but also to hedge against market fluctuations. It aspires to avoid becoming “eggs in one basket” business that comes back to bite so many. It is meticulous about where and how much it invests in each area. For them, the major opportunity is expanding in the market. And the leaders feel they have barely scratched the surface since their market is huge. “Our innovative products, focus on quality control and customer service, is our recipe for successful growth.”

DDC is working to reimagine its staple product and create a more efficient Hard Charger® that exceeds expectations. It aspires to provide more functional capabilities across the board than the current ones. DDC is also developing multiple innovative products with the mindset to increase users’ efficiency through equipment. “We are very excited about what is coming and eager to release them,” shares Camaron in an exciting tone. With a progressive trajectory, innovative products and dedication to excel, DDC is sure to attain new heights in the coming years.

PARTING THOUGHTS FOR READERS

“Continually learn and apply what you learn. Find mentors to follow, whether they are in person or on social media platforms. There are quite a few great mentors that give out much of what they learned voluntarily to entrepreneurs, to help them on their paths. If you stop pushing yourself to grow, the business will stop growing. But, if you push yourself to grow and expand, the business will follow suit.” - Camaron Hillman, Devil Dog Concepts™

THE MODERN MAGIC OF ALCHEMY CREW

Alchemy Crew is a venture validation and commercialization lab designed for insurers, reinsurers, and financial services institutions. Alchemy Crew has been known to be relied upon by some of the biggest names in insurance, finance, and adjacent industries, like the property, motor, or energy sectors. Alchemy Crew attempts to aid influential market players to explore and expand into new grounds and exploit opportunities with the most relevant growth ventures. This approach helps Alchemy Crew’s goal, which is to support innovative and disruptive market players unearth new sources of growth by leveraging emerging corporate venturing techniques.

Alchemy Crew emphasizes helping established partner companies deliver relevant product and service options that align with rapidly changing customer needs and market pace.

In the turmoil of the pandemic, Alchemy Crew decided to focus its attention on digital-first services, adapting itself to the new reality with strong digital, virtual first and physical presence for their engagement services.

Their business model has developed a flow of work that incorporates both types of market players, young ventures as well as established and mature corporations. This ensures that Alchemy Crew accelerates the speed of transformative venturing activities with their ecosystem of partners.

OPTIONS PROVIDED INCLUDE:

THE LIGHT R&D OPTION: Alchemy Crew’s partners use this option to augment their ability to expedite their R&D activities by balancing customer, market, and venturing insight to identify the most effective partnership and investment options.

THE CORE ENGAGEMENT OPTION: Partners also often enlist this option to accelerate their ability to launch new products and services quickly. Alchemy Crew helps leverage validation, experimentation, and commercializing techniques to speed the launch of customer-led offers by identifying ecosystems of ventures rather than building things from scratch.

THE DISRUPTIVE BUILD OPTION: Alchemy Crew is well aware that not all concepts are equal. It prepares itself to utilize patterns in data accordingly. The Crew constantly discovers ways to lay a solid foundation for using highly disruptive findings that emerge from its sourcing efforts to anticipate disruptive moves and gaps in the market to shape new business concepts and business model ideas.

CRAFTS AND WORKS OF ALCHEMY Alchemy Crew has a three-faceted approach to its engagement and business model.

INSURERS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INSTITUTIONS: The main goal is to enable market players to accelerate their internal partnership and corporate venturing activities by considering these as core growth options.

STARTUPS, SCALEUPS, AND GROWNUPS: The Crew works with a wide range of ventures able to support the fast execution of major digital initiatives based on external drivers, risk analysis, and deep research.

INVESTORS: Alchemy also caters to those partners with specific investment priorities and helps guide them to achieve those priorities through partnership and ecosystem-led thinking. Both support their core partners to build a longer-term strategic lens on how best to engage and partner with growth ventures. As Alchemy Crew identifies great candidates for partnership, they also become interesting contenders for investment.

MINH Q. TRAN CO-FOUNDER & INVESTMENT PARTNER

SABINE VANDERLINDEN

FAITH BUILDING THROUGH CONSISTENCY

Insurance is a knowledge-based industry. It can take 12 to 18 months to finalize a commercial initiative with established incumbent insurance players. The Crew works with 70 years of experience in the industry, enabling them to understand the intricacies of the sector. Through that industry knowledge, years of experience, and solid values and beliefs, the Alchemy Crew team ensures that they continuously focus on delivering clients’ ultimate desired outcomes.

CORE VALUES OF THE CREW:

• AUTHENTICITY: The Crew consists of multicultural and multidisciplinary teams of genuine specialists that think inward and execute onward.

• INTEGRITY: Honesty is a foundation and not a tool—strong moral backbones than wishbones.

• BE ALWAYS A BETTER VERSION OF YOURSELF: Alchemy Crew members thrive on being a better version of themselves for their corporate partners and the ventures they undertake. The Crew pushes the extra mile to take care of their startup, corporate venture partners, and internal teams.

IMAGINATIVE MINDS PUSHES ALCHEMY AHEAD OF TIME

Alchemy Crew puts particular emphasis on R&D as it is their firm belief that to keep up with fast moving uncertainties and define the disruptive markets of tomorrow, they must continuously keep pace of change and emerging future risks. Their research should be practical but futuristic and embed patterns that will affect today’s world and define our immediate tomorrow.

The USP of Alchemy Crew combines several overlapping inherent strengths within their strategy, execution, and the skills they seek to support their vision.

• EXPERTISE: Combining the expertise of a solid internal team and an ecosystem of trusted specialists gives Alchemy Crew a unique perspective into the spheres of insurance, finance, venturing, and investment.

• SENSITIVITY AND BUSINESS: Alchemy Crew builds relationships by tailoring its services to the needs of the customer. Alchemy views this mode of functioning as the overall growth of the company itself and the sector itself. Apart from their respective fields, Alchemy constantly tries to make a difference by bringing in new and unexpected collaborators to the arena of insurance, etc.

Alchemy constantly assesses, adjusts and thus redefines the disruptive innovation agenda that it wants to tackle while widening its lens on the opportunities that arise through the blurred lines affecting a multitude of interconnected sectors and therefore contributes to the reinvention of both finance and insurance.

The Crew understands the basics of growth through research and development, so there is a proud atmosphere of evaluating volumes of research papers, primary user surveys and customer journeys that encapsulate the priorities of their core engagement partners to determine the best options and courses of action. To avoid exhaustion and creative block, Fridays are designated to be taken at one’s own pace wherein the team can work on their innovative interests, which helps improve the company’s lens on a multitude of perspectives.

CONCLUSION

THE FIRST OF THE CREW: SABINE VANDERLINDEN LEADING The mind behind the idea and execution of Alchemy Crew is Sabine VanderLinden.

Sabine’s 25 years of experience in insurance, strategy, and innovative thinking gives her the ability to see potential opportunities where most would not. She combines the usage of digital engagement services such as parallel experimentation and open innovation to identify disruptive concepts and business models. Sabine knows this trade thoroughly as she has been the CEO and Founder of Startupbootcamp InsurTech London and Hartford’s InsurTech Hub Accelerator in Connecticut, where she worked across both markets with over 30 corporate insurers and accelerated over 70 growth ventures. The outcome was supporting those 100 Million Dollars in funding, which drove her passion for PE, corporate, and institutional investing.

Sabine is diverse and ambitious. Both of these qualities make her an entrepreneurial brilliance. All this and her accolades can be credited to her vision and mission behind Alchemy Crew.

Sabine is supported every single day by co-founder and investor Minh Tran an INSEAD graduate and brilliant mind with 30 years of experience in financing. Minh puts his mind around developing what venture capitalist as-a-Service genuinely means in the 21st century.

VISION: Demystifying and de-risking corporate venturing

MISSION: “To guide disruptive intrapreneurial leaders and corporate investors to spearhead profitable returns in a post-pandemic world. To enable our global partners to adapt rapidly to the new normal by fastsolving complex challenges through well-thoughtthrough digital initiatives. To flex and adapt partnership and investment models by applying a combination of acceleration and corporate venturing techniques. To appropriately position our international network of growth ventures to a post-covid-world.”

LEARNING: Learning can only be done through constant research and innovation. Alchemy Crew doesn’t wait for others to come up with solutions but instead paves the road to the future for itself, its core ecosystem partners, and others. This is what sets the learning mentality and the internal mindset of Alchemy Crew aside. It isn’t for reference but to yield well-assessed and planned long-term growth in its most basic form.

ALCHEMY IN PANDEMIC

We learn just how strong a company is when it is tested, and Alchemy Crew is one of a kind because it was launched in June of 2020. When covid was spreading rapidly. Alchemy Crew didn’t just thrive. Through the sheer brilliance of a small team supporting Sabine VanderLinden’s vision which combined virtualization and innovative corporate venturing. Still, it offered jobs and aid when they were scarce by solely focusing on keeping their core partners “ditigitization aware and happy”. Those who trusted the skills, lens, and foresight for years. This laid down the entire enterprise’s overall mindset, which is held atop in the most dignified manner.

BIO-FUNCTIONAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS

CREATING PRODUCTIVE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH INTEGRATED WELLNESS SOLUTIONS

Corporate Wellness’ is more than just a catchphrase. Employees are a company’s most valuable asset, so making sure they are fit and active is a wise investment. And, as the corporate world has evolved, businesses have undertaken a variety of expenditures to assure a productive workforce. However, since last year, health and wellness have been precedence in every organization. The avalanche of unemployment and sporadic isolations have distressed everyone’s lifestyle. The need of the hour is to implement customized wellness solutions to ensure their productivity and work-life balance. Bio-Functional Health Solutions (BHS) offers a number of lucrative corporate wellness programs befitting to all sizes and shapes of organizations.

THE BEST WELLNESS SOLUTIONS UNDER ONE ROOF

In 2007, a Fortune 500 manufacturing company sought total wellness for its workers and appointed a physician from a professional baseball team to keep them productive and pain-free at work and home. Finding this an elite model to ensure the well-being of the masses in a workplace, the physician began the journey of BHS. In the following years, BHS has entered and floated numerous pipelines in corporate wellness; and has evolved as one of the leading wellness solutions providers in the USA.

Its wellness programs focus on key productivity killers, such as Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, Poor Health & Wellness and Infectious Diseases. It also allows clients to hire in-house nurse/wellness experts for better care. Its nurses are its employees and bring the highest standard and certifications to provide OSHA compliant health assurance. BHS is flexible with all sizes and shapes of organizations, and its solutions are affordable to every vertical - be it manufacturing, corporate or other intensive labor settings.

THE ONE BEHIND THE BIG PICTURE

Since 2018, BHS is under the leadership of Brent Kruel (CEO). Brent is a healthcare executive - with over two decades of experience in hospitals, military healthcare, healthcare insurance, software, professional services and consulting. He also served in the Air Force for 14 years and is a twotime combat veteran. Moreover, he was a Physician Group Practice Manager, Director of Supply and Logistics, and Chief Information Officer of the largest Veterans Affairs and military hospital in Las Vegas, NV. He is well travelled having been to over 30 countries on six continents to include doing work in Europe and China.

Brent tore his ACL in 2014, and following surgery, he lost 25% of his range of motion and walked with a limp, necessitating a second surgery. But for him, limping wasn’t an option and neither was surgery. He is an extremesports enthusiast with numerous sporting qualities (mountain climber/ biker and skier) and was a former NCAA Division I track athlete at the US Air Force Academy. He sought recovery and witnessed first-hand soft tissue healthcare treatment that was only available to pro-athletes. The treatment was extraordinary, and he did not only regain his range of motion, but he also avoided surgery. This incident inspired him to avail the same elite care for leaders who care for their team’s well-being. This inherent desire brought him to the doors of BHS. Under his stewardship, BHS has reinvented and reimagined

BRENT KRUEL CEO, BioFunctional Health Solutions

Understand that you, your peers and employees are humans and merely not machines that function without fail.

Be wise and get a program in place to help you, your peers and your employees become the healthiest versions of yourselves and watch your growth, work quality, productivity, company culture and ultimately your bottom-line flourish.

- Brent Kruel

corporate wellness, coining the term “Health Assurance.” He has led the company’s vision to collaborate with its clients to offer tailored solutions. His endeavors and ethical efforts resound across the industry. He has earned the recognition “10 Best Entrepreneurs of 2020” and “50 Smartest Companies of the Year 2020” for his work on improving employee productivity and helping companies return to working safely during a pandemic.

LEADING WITH TECH-BLENDED MODEL

North America largely dominates the Corporate Wellness market and has the largest revenue share. BHS leads this market as a tech-enabled total wellness provider. By combining technology with an in-person approach, it ensures an effective and comprehensive solution to MSK pain, nutrition, fitness, ergonomics, and much more. “We couple technology with the human touch, especially for MSK treatments, for total wellness, cannot be achieved without the in-person approach,” says Brent. He also says that BHS is the only one to translate the patient care system into a complete MSK self-treatment with proven results.

The Company is also one of the rare to utilize registered nurses in handson soft tissue healthcare. This also gives BHS a competitive advantage in pricing. “We can pay our nurses top dollar and still charge companies 30% less than our competitors,” states Brent. The majority of its competitors rely on pricey chiropractors who only have one trick in their sleeves. BHS, on the other hand, has top of the line nurses who ensure ROI on its programs. Another prominent factor is that its best-in-class programs are risk-free. It allows clients to sign up for easy to implement subscription services and opt out at any moment rather than signing long contracts. It offers quarterly reports to clients to ensure their investments are generating results. It also maintains client relationships by communicating with them frequently to ensure that services are working smoothly.

COVID-19 AND ITS INTRICACIES

BHS’s innovative business model has helped it acclimatize with the changing climate of the pandemic. It released over a dozen new offerings, including First Aid, Nutrition, Fitness, Ergonomics, Case Management, Infectious Disease Management and Control, TeleHealth, Health Fair Coordination, Wellness Challenge Coordination, Computer-Aided Mobility Health Assessments and Mobility Self-Assessments for MSKs. While its core focus surrounds MSK prevention and treatment, it has a litany of other health and wellness solutions that has helped it grow.

Brent, however, says that COVID-19 being a novel disruption, didn’t give them the time to prepare. He believes they could have helped its employees and others in a better way to cope and withstand this infectious chaos.

GUIDED BY AN ETHICAL ATMOSPHERE

Besides resources, BHS is driven by core values, which helps in building a viable culture. It’s led by a veteran and stands on the foundation of integrity first and service before self, which keeps it productive. These values were imbibed in Brent and have helped his company excel in every aspect. BHS is an ecosystem of mutual respect, which fosters innovation and empowers a positive culture that ensures better engagement with clients. Also, there’s altruism at every level that showcases care for its employees. BHS values its employees’ knowledge and experience and not only welcomes ideas, but also highly encourages them. This open form of creativity flows into everything it is as a company.

ACHIEVING IN MORE THAN JUST ACCOLADES

In the last 5 years, BHS has invested time and resources developing a self-treating application trademarked of a patient’s own musculoskeletal health, which will be released in Jan 2022. The Company also seeks to generate awareness of its low-cost & non-invasive treatments for musculoskeletal conditions. Nonetheless, BHS’s efforts to redefine corporate wellness is well-recognized by the industry. It has been recognized by The Silicon review under, ‘50 Smartest Companies of 2020’ and ‘10 Best Healthcare Companies to Watch in 2021’ by Global Business Leaders Magazine.

There is an old saying, “A baby is a miracle that you would like to share, an angel that you always handle with care.” While parenting is undeniably difficult, it has a beauty all its own. Children truly make our life complete. The determination of parents to bring a child into the world is a journey, unlike anything. After the baby is born, every parent wants to give their toddler the best care, dress them in the most stylish clothes, and provide them with all they need to develop healthily. And this is definitely not a fancy trend - it is a passion that portrays parents’ love for their children.

But, there needs to be some considerations while choosing fashionable items for kids. If its clothes, fabric selections, openings and fastenings, fit and ease, trimmings - must be kept in mind to conform to their skin’s sensitivity and care. In the case of other accessories, the relevant comparable elements should be ensured. Elli Junior is a holistic brand that understands the needs of kids in every stage of development. It’s a one-stop-shop for everything your kids need for comfortable growth.

ENVISIONING COMPLETE CARE

Elli Junior is the innovative concept of a passionate mother, Elli Kasbi. Having two beautiful daughters, Elli believes that every child deserves a joyful upbringing, which is why she started her online store. The platform offers every fashionable product parents can think of for their kids, including baby accessories, wooden toys, interiors, and furnishings. It sources products from the best-inclass European brands, like Elodie Details, Jabadabado, Teddykompaniet etc. All the products are suitable for newborn to age of 5 and envisioned to make the world a better place. Along with kids, the brand also cares about a mother, specifically, the moms-to-be. It has a specific category called “Pregnancy and Postnatal Must-Haves” that has everything you need to make your pregnancy happy and “easier” 9 months!

THE FOUNDER AND HER VISION

Beautiful and lively, Elli always envisioned being an entrepreneur, even as a professional woman. She is Persian by origin, brought up in beautiful Sweden and in Dubai for the last 7 years. Expressing her life in UAE, she says, “I now call Dubai home, and we love it. We love to see the sunlight 365 days a year, endless opportunities, the diversity of all nationalities and most of all, I love the beach.” She has strong experience in IT and finance, having worked for one of Sweden’s largest banks in Stockholm. She also worked for two years in a media company in Dubai. Throughout the stint, she has witnessed the highs and lows of the business world, including both success stories and initiatives that did not do well.

“A baby is a miracle that you would like to share, an angel that you always handle with care.”

ELLI KASBI | CEO

However, her underlying passion was always fashion and e-Commerce. After 2 years in Dubai, she found a deficit in the children’s apparel. And, as a longtime lover of the Swedish label Elodie Details, she imagined high-quality clothing with a Scandinavian aesthetic and a focus on sustainability. The concern made her imagine an online marketplace for exclusive baby apparel and accessories. She wanted to bring the exclusivity of the Swedish Brand into the GCC region. Thus, she brought Elli Junior into existence. “I had no experience in retail, e-commerce, or import/export; all I knew was that I wanted to change the deficit in the UAE market,” she says. Her vision has unfolded in great strides. Elli Junior is present in 20 trending stores across the GCC. In Jan 2020, Elli Junior launched its own collection of high-quality organic baby towels, playmats, bamboo blankets and lots more. Recently, the brand launched its first open shop in Galeries Lafayette in Dubai Mall. And while all its offline fronts don’t have the entire collection, its online platform offers the whole gamut. The brand also offers cash on delivery, fast and free shipping with free gift wrapping. While the business focuses on online expansion, the Dubai Mall site draws a massive attraction, allowing customers to touch and feel the products.

UPKEEPING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Elli Junior is a one-stop-shop to buy anything from a baby shower and birthday gifts to decorative accessories. Its environmental and sustainable approach to design makes it preferred to customers. The Brand’s vision is to be “The Designed sustainable premium alternative” across the GCC region. As one of the exponentially thriving regions, parents here only prefer eco-hygienic products for their children. As such, every product is tailored to the region’s living standards and the quality that parents expect. Furthermore, it places a high value on customer service and packaging, ensuring that what is delivered is a high-end product to every home. “Our concept is to distribute high-quality European brands with a focus on design, quality and sustainability to the entire Middle East,” says the founder. Staying on this course, the Brand has expanded through word of mouth.

It also has 24/7 customer service maintained to the highest standard. Customer satisfaction is its utmost priority - it is what has sailed them through waves and tides. The brand sustains relationships with clients. Instead of eyeing competition, it strives to be the best version of itself. R&D plays an integral part in this. It helps to adapt to the generation, adhere to customers’ myriad needs, and ensure they don’t settle for less. Put it simply, R&D helps in stepping up the game while staying close to the customers.

A HOLISTIC SETUP OF PASSION AND MINDS

Elli Junior is led by an indomitable mother but supported by many young heartfelt minds. Although it is a startup, its team goes over and beyond on a daily basis. Their tireless efforts keep the brand running like a welloiled machine. “Where we are today would not be possible without my amazingly dedicated team,” proudly shares Elli. Each team member contributes the passion, drive, and dedication necessary to achieve the brand’s goal in a responsible way.

“Nothing is impossible for us, we are fast and we are fearless” - Elli Kasbi

However, Elli does believe that her team deserves more than she gives them. They’re a start-up, and since the market is still recovering, cash reserves are important to keep growing organically. But, she has given them an opportunity they are proud of.

SET SIGHTS ON A GROWING TRAJECTORY

With incorrigible inception, Elli Junior has made quite a buzz in the GCC region. It is witnessing a high average spend, with return customers. It has been growing since its inception, doubling its revenue every year. Elli wholeheartedly acknowledges her team for this growth. She is proud of them and believes their collaboration will help in thriving across the MENA region. In the years ahead, she aims to enlarge this team with like-minded people to uphold the core quality and earn a much preferable presence among customers.

FOUNDER & CEO

We are living in a society driven by digital technology. While it has dramatically transformed our way of life, it has also radically changed the business landscape. It has brought new ways to interact, function, and build awareness. Amongst the other segments, financial solutions have witnessed tremendous growth through digital pathways. It has helped banks speed up their workflow and Fintech innovate on many grounds. However, there is always room for more. Financial institutions have benefited from digitization, but it has also created opportunities for more. FINAVATOR, a Canadian corporation, was inspired by the idea of uncovering these opportunities and assisting companies in their growth. The firm assists banks, Fintech, and corporations in embracing the changing world of finance through innovation.

AN OUT OF THE BOX FIRM

As previously stated, FINAVATOR works with a wide range of financial institutions, assisting them in growing their businesses. It helps traditional banks assess Fintechs and choose the best innovation partners to help them expand their client base. Conversely, it stands behind Fintechs, assisting them in developing innovative products, marketing strategies, and enterprise alliances in order to reach new client segments. Its extensive experience in FinTech Marketing, Open Banking, Payments & Prepaid Solutions, Challenger Banks, Micro Loans, Rewards, and Loyalty backs its expertise. FINAVATOR is a wellknown strategy consultancy that specializes in bridging the gap between FinTech and traditional banks.

“Creative thinking is essential in the work that we do, and we have a flat company structure that really enables it”

FINAVATOR, specializes in two particular areas: Open banking and payments. It partners with clients to develop innovative payment and digital services that help businesses stay competitive, provide customized solutions, and pursue additional revenue streams. FINAVATOR’s prime directive is to exceed its clients’ expectations in every engagement since it believes in treating clients with respect, which represents its values. What makes it reliable is its team, which strives to learn from tasks and challenges and deliver competent results. And results assure an unbreakable faith and integrity fostered by moral and ethical standards.

THE INNOVATOR IN CHIEF

Michelle Beyo leads FINAVATOR’s groundbreaking quest. She is a principled woman who follows the Golden Rule: treat people as you would like to be treated. Michelle is a financial enthusiast, a strategic advisor to several Fintechs. And it was her enthusiasm and passion for using payment technology that made her begin FINAVATOR. Within two years, her fervour outshined - as she positioned FINAVATOR in a unique position within the Canadian financial space. She has over two decades of extensive experience in driving innovation across the retail and payment industry. This enabled her to build a flexible culture and a nimble workforce dedicated to problem-solving in their own unique style. “Creative thinking is essential in the work that we do, and we have a flat company structure that really enables it,” avers Michelle.

She fosters an open-minded, collaborative environment in which team members are free to express themselves, pitch ideas, and make suggestions for improvements. She feels it is critical to trust and believe in employees and their skills. As such, she values selfeffort, including failures, as part of the learning process. Michelle believes that the banking industry will continue to be a dominant force in the future; as a result, she is directing FINAVATOR in such a way that it readily adjusts to these changes when the time comes.

MAINTAINING A LEADING STATURE

As previously mentioned, FINAVATOR has a dominating presence in the Canadian Financial Space. And to nurture and maintain its position, it goes beyond observing trends to predicting new and emerging ones. The financial world is constantly churning forth new technologies that can help organizations work more efficiently in less time. Validating this, FINAVATOR stays aligned to the industrial landscape. Michelle and her teammates continuously update themselves through online channels, such as news or podcasts, peers, clients, events, and conferences. The founder also has an extensive network where she interacts with other experts to share and discuss ideas. “For instance, as a Board Member at OBIC, I have joined a group of like-minded individuals who share a deep bench of industry expertise. They really help me build my knowledge both in-depth and in breadth, with an eye out for constant updates in other markets and jurisdictions in the world,” she adjoins.

Ultimately, it’s a learning process, which FINAVATOR nurtures at the heart of its operations. The Company also performs deep R&D to stay updated and empower learning. Michelle strongly believes R&D helps companies become more resilient, effective, and not afraid to fail. It helps a company analyze its winning streak and areas that can be improved with a better approach. By

constantly testing and tweaking, a company becomes more agile and innovative.

NOT RIDDLED BY COVID-19

The pandemic put every company, regardless of size or shape, on trial by fire. It also sped up technological adoption which dramatically strengthened customer behaviours. Hence, companies are implementing smart methods to stay connected with stakeholders and creating solutions befitting to the digital shift. FINAVATOR, being agile and adaptive, has been fortunate to not be negatively affected by the chaos. Rather, it helped companies, from FinTech to incumbent financial institutions, to embrace the new normal. The period certainly ushered in a lot of disruption for companies almost overnight. As for Michelle, working from home has taught her the importance of connecting, work-life balance, and having a dedicated team to lean on. It was a completely new opportunity for them to revamp their business model, build and launch innovative products to create a futureready business.

While expressing gratitude for herself and her team’s efforts, Michelle also discusses the dismal situation in her country because of the pandemic and how she plans to alter it. According to her, Canada is drastically falling behind in open banking. “First to market players, such as the UK, leveraged their open banking framework to support small businesses and consumers and jump-start their recovery from the pandemic,” states Michelle. Canadian small businesses, however, are still perplexed, and citizens are trying to access unemployment insurance. Open banking, according to the founder, can help the country and businesses move forward. While the Advisory Committee’s Final Report shows that there are still many reforms to be made in the Canadian financial sector, Michelle hopes to use her position in OBIC to continue advocating for open banking, all while assisting banks and FinTech in adopting the new normal.

SEVERAL FEATHERS IN THE CAP

Over two years, FINAVATOR has showcased outstanding progress in all business areas. Both Michelle and her brainchild have been widely honoured for creating meaningful experiences and advocating open banking and gender diversity in Canada. The Company recently earned the title of “Top 30 Best CEOs of 2021” from The Silicon Valley Review Magazine and “Most Influential Leader in FinTech Consulting - Canada in 2020”. The prestigious Corporate Vision Magazine also awarded it “Most Influential Leader in FinTech Consulting in 2020”.

CONCLUSION

FINAVATOR’s unyielding progress is a fine example of perseverance. Building a company without funding wasn’t a simple task. But then, it had the privilege to work with incredible clients like Big Canadian, American bank, and a dozen of other Fintechs. It aims to continue helping Fintechs and incumbents, and achieve bigger milestones.

EMPOWERING THOUGHTS OF THE INNOVATOR

“You can truly achieve anything if you put your mind to it – not from a position of fear but rather of optimism, excitement and wanting success for yourself.”

RICHARD GENGA PRESIDENT & CEO

GROWGENICS:

LIGHTING THE WAY FOR INNOVATIVE INDOOR FARMING

There’s a saying, “The love for gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.” The way you grow your garden reveals your innerself. It requires passion and care. Plants also need proper light to grow and be healthy, especially indoor plants, since they get too little sunlight. But LED Grow Lights have made indoor gardening easier than ever. This lighting technology is specifically designed to replace sunlight, stimulating photosynthesis and creating the ideal growing environment for plants in any season. But grow lights come in various sizes and shapes with multiple characteristics. Choosing the right one for your plants can be tough without proper knowledge. Growgenics is a well-known brand that offers a wide range of grow lighting solutions. Its products are user friendly and suitable for a variety of plants and environments.

A BROAD PICTURE OF THE COMPANY

Growgenics is a leader in LED grow lighting technologies, offering advanced patented solutions for any species of plant. It has multiple budget-friendly, full-spectrum patented lights that assure maximum yield using minimal power (as much as 38.2% compared to legacy lighting, as recently proved by their 3rd party testing). Its cutting-edge advanced horticultural LED lights (Variable Spectrum Pro Series lights), as well as a budget-friendly, commercial line (Fixed Spectrum Pro Series lights), come with grower-centric features including patented Green Inspect Mode, integrated environmental sensors, and much more. Growgenics uses high quality LEDs and components to ensure the extensive longevity of its products while minimizing both electrical energy and heat.

Growgenics works with four major markets: Controlled environmental agriculture (CEA, i.e., vertical food farming), legal cannabis cultivation (primarily with large multi-state operators or MSOs), supplemental lighting for commercial greenhouses, and horticultural university research. More than anything, Growgenics values relationships. While they serve major players in the horticultural industry, they’re more than just a vendor–they are a partner. They aim to help their customers along every step of their journey, and to support all their growers by sharing the extensive expertise of their team.

THE FLAGSHIPS:

In their original flagship product (The Shape Light Pro 630VS), with patented Multi-Shape Lighting LED technology, drives maximum photonic energy directly to the plant foliage via adjustable and pivoting light module segments. This unique design provides the user the ability to easily and quickly adjust angles of light modules to direct maximum photonic energy directly to the plant foliage where it is needed.

The patented LED lights are built on six years of cannabis cultivation laboratory testing, intensive research from multiple university studies, and NASA food-in-space cultivation research. These in-depth studies helped them identify plant-specific light color frequencies that affect photosynthesis along with growth. These frequencies are built into their LED lighting and can be manipulated for all plant species, improving their nutritional value, chemical ratios and flavor. For legal cannabis cultivation, Growgenics’ tunable variable spectrum can enhance THC content, terpenes, and CBD. This unique feature enables the user to set variable ratios to maximize vegetative yield.

THE GENIUSES BEHIND IT ALL

Growgenics and its innovations are led by industry veterans passionate about using technology to develop creative solutions. It was founded by Rick Genga, President/CEO, in 2014 at East Greenwich, RI. Rick is an accomplished leader and mechanical engineer, with 35+ years of demonstrated experience. He is a Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) expert and values creating lean and inventive designs for durable products. Before Growgenics, he led and managed many companies in engineering and advanced product development for the military, medical, dental and consumer industries. He is also a specialist in advanced LED lighting and application of LED technology in the horticultural, medical, and research industries. He founded Growgenics to design state of the art lighting solutions for the horticultural market. Prevalently, factory lights or home lights were repurposed for horticulture; They were simply not designed for plants and could even harm them. Through its advanced LED technology, Growgenics is changing the game and tailoring their technology to the needs of farmers.

Rick’s vision was shared by Hamid Pishdadian (CTO) and Joe Anter (VP of Business Development). Hamid is an exceptional design engineer, inventor and technocrat who – with Rick Genga – holds over 40 US and international patents. He specializes in computer science, electrical engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence with direct experience in neural networks, genetic algorithms and more. Joe Anter then joined the team, leaving a multi-billion-dollar corporation because he believed so strongly in Growgenics. Joe has over 30 years of experience in sales leadership with Fortune 1000 companies. He has proven expertise in facilitating the launch of new ventures, products, and services. He also has mentored and coached hundreds of sales professionals.

And these are just the core team of innovators. Growgenics is also supported by a team of brilliant advisors specializing in fields including business management, finance, horticulture, pharmaceuticals, and more. Creative thinking drives their progress and ingenuity, and Growgenics has created an innovative team to keep their creative values and success at the forefront of their markets.

A BOLD INNOVATOR

Growgenics strives to create new trends, not follow trends. Its team is constantly working on pragmatic innovations that make growing easier and more efficient, and that encourage their peers to improve as well. As previously mentioned, its Growgenics is a thought leader in the field of LED lighting. “Many companies in our market simply provide technology and then walk away. Our team of experts provides exceptional customer service to each of our customers,” states CEO Rick Genga. With over 50 years of combined experience, the team enjoys sharing knowledge with growers so that they may get the most out of their plants, regardless of the species.

Growgenics’ ability to pivot to continue innovating drove their success during the pandemic. Like every market during the pandemic, the LED lighting market faced the detrimental effects of COVID-19. Needless to say, many players are still reeling from its consequences in the aftermath. The Pandemic considerably affected the global shipping and supply chain, spiking the demand for shipping as well as costs, affecting manufacturing companies. For Growgenics, being forced to swiftly shift to more efficient and creative solutions has been its silver lining. Keeping its team’s safety as priority, they shifted to work-from-home and emboldened their focus on innovations. This has helped to sustain customer relationships by making them simpler, more effective and more efficient.

GROWGENICS’ GROWTH-DRIVERS

Growgenics’ astronomical trajectory reflects the passion and dedication of its team. Its team of partners and consultants share the values of the core team: creativity, drive, and determination. The team of professionals that power Growgenics is a multidisciplinary workforce with varied expertise. “We thrive on each team member sharing their expertise and knowledge with the rest of our team to create the most informed and cohesive dynamic,” adds Rick. The leaders consistently encourage broad thinking and take a top-down approach to innovation. Everyone is open to creative thinking, including ideas and designs. Growgenics also has a strong advisory body that ensures that it’s always moving in the right direction. They examine growth from different angles, providing feedback and guidance that strengthens the mission of Growgenics. Growgenics proudly recognizes the contributions of its people and their passionate, adaptable, and out-of-the-box approach to problem-solving and innovation.

A VISION OF BETTERMENT OF MANKIND

Growgenics is also a firm believer in doing good in the world. By supplying advanced technology to help agricultural innovators, they hope to aid positive change in two major areas: medical cannabis as a force against the opioid crisis and indoor vertical food farming as a safe solution to feeding an exponentially growing population. Their lights are designed for maximum control in a contained environment. Regarding legal cannabis, this means that their lighting solutions can provide master growers with the ability to manipulate CBD, THC, terpenes, and more to create the safest and most effective medical cannabis strains, which are proven to be a radically safer alternative to opioids. They can also use their technology to manipulate nutritional value when growing food indoors. With their technology, vertical food farms can manipulate fructose levels, alter vitamin and mineral concentrations, and affect flavor, all while growing sustainably, organically, and pesticide free. They hope that their technology will continue to power these forces for good in the world.

ADVICE FROM THE LEADERS

“Whether you are starting a new business or revolutionizing your existing business, always focus on people. At the end of the day, your team will work hardest when they feel valued. Your customers will return when they feel that they’re listened to. Your partners will support you when they feel supported. Your success will only be as strong as your community.”

LinkedCar:

Since the days of the horse carriages, people have cherished and valued what they drive. This bond is becoming stronger with digital transformations. Increased connectivity, IoT, wireless solutions, and rising customer expectations are all driving investments. Technology also espouses other elements of the automotive value chain, including design, manufacture , distribution, and retail. Also, e-Commerce has assisted the expansion of vendors of all kinds, whether offline, B2C, or B2B, by boosting car sales and transforming the traditional buying experience.

While technology keeps evolving mobility and its relationship with its owner, it’s important to realize that it disperses huge customer data. The decentralized data is exploitable and vulnerable to additional threats. Mario Schraepen, a salesforce veteran, intends to change this scenario and hand customer data back to the driver. With his innovative platform LinkedCar, he strives to offer a centralized database for everything related to your car, e-bike, etc.

A BRIEF UNDERSTANDING

LinkedCar is an award-winning customer-first mobility platform for the mobility industry. Powered by Salesforce technology, it collects vehicle data from dealers, manufacturers, insurers, fleets, and even live data from linked vehicles and allows to choose whether the driver wants to monetize it. LinkedCar works on a B2B2C model - and while its ambassadors are its consumers, the revenue stream is generated from its mobility business partners (car dealers, lease/fleet management, insurance, fuel card companies, roadside assistance, etc.).

The platform also intends to change the business framework for dealers. It helps dealers streamline the sales and after-sales process for loyal and sustainable relationships. The platform offers a 360° overview of its consumers, including GDPR consents, quotes or social media interactions. LinkedCar provides a centralized solution, bringing customers’ digital footprints directly to dealers, and ensures a longlasting, overwhelming experience for consumers that generates more revenue.

“We could have stopped there, but the potential of our idea was too great, and we were so passionate about our vision that we couldn’t let it go.”

MARIO SCHRAEPEN CEO, LinkedCar

THE IDEA AND ITS FRUITION

Mario found the idea of LinkedCar back when he was driving a leased car for a while. He did not know whom to ask for proper maintenance, whether it’s changing a component or repairing a cracked windshield. He discovered there was a lot of data scattered about and wondered why no app focused on both the driver and the car, even when switching vehicles, and gathered it all in one spot. He pitched his idea to people in the automotive sector, such as leasing and insurance firms. And while they liked it, they flagged the fact that the idea didn’t include real-time data. For them, information on the miles driven safely by the driver would add more value to their business model. Bringing the idea and feedbacks together with his extensive experience in Salesforce technology, Mario founded LinkedCar.

The leader adds how his endeavour has unfurled. In his words, he says, “In the back of our minds, we always had the mission to return connected vehicle data to the driver, so that they can decide for themselves who to share the data. And now, all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together... with our smart IoT device, our mobile app, and our connected Mobility Platform built on top of Salesforce. We are now effectively listened - what we intend to do with vehicle data. We believe we are at the beginning of a movement.”. The leader has spent over 15 years in Salesforce Technology and is well aware of its capabilities. It allows LinkedCar to be more functional for customers by covering security, transactions, business process, etc. His brilliance rewarded him with the ‘Salesforce Partner Innovation Award.’ He also acknowledges his unshaded achievements (first employee, our first Gin & Tonic Friday, our first customer) as prominent milestones.

A PROMINENT TRENDSETTER

Although LinkedCar is a recent addition in the startup arena, it stands as a trendsetter. There isn’t any other player that brings so much aggregated data and offers connected vehicle information to the driver for free. While this portrays LinkedCar as an agile startup, its hardware sets it apart. Its smart IoT device can be mounted on any vehicle with a battery, and the AI algorithm allows it to intercept multiple signals of all these vehicles. Since its business thrives on mobility data, it constantly explores the space for discoveries. LinkedCar is deep-rooted in R&D and continues to research multiple aspects to stay innovative and monitor the competitors and their innovations.

CLIMBING UP DESPITE TRANSGRESSIONS

LinkedCar was born during the initial levels of COVID-19. Within 3 months, the scenario became chaotic and hit the Company hard. Many of their signed contracts, employment, etc., vanished overnight, casting a long shadow. But neither Mario nor his team was ready to give up. “We could have stopped there, but the potential of our idea was too great, and we were so passionate about our vision that we couldn’t let it go,” he says. To survive, they started streamlining their operations with a focus on where they wanted to be. They began collaborating with researchers from Karel de Grote Hogeschool to be more well-informed. The period has also made them humbler, whether winning an award or bringing in a new customer. Nothing comes for free, so they celebrate every win with the team - no matter how small!

Mario commends his team wholeheartedly for their unyielding endeavour during the turbulence. Even being in a war for talent and in a very precarious situation, its team choose a startup that ideates to change the world of vehicle data. “I am so grateful and proud that they believe in our product and our corporate values,” adds Mario proudly.

LEADER DRIVEN CULTURE

Mario Schraepen refers to himself as a “chief believer,” which immediately conveys a management and personality that is friendly and interested in you as a person. He believes proper attention to individuals and space enables learning, which is paramount to their growth. He enjoys nurturing people through a trial-and-error approach, thus enabling the team to learn from their mistakes and each other’s passion and qualities. Under his guidance, the company has had a rapidly changing environment, and there’s a lot at stake. However, the team’s passion for keeping the Company in line with its vision makes the culture enthusiastic.

AWARDS THAT PROPEL ITS MISSION

Starting amidst chaos, LinkedCar’s passion and perseverance has earned it a number of prestigious accolades. A few are mentioned below:

• Most Trusted Automotive Mobility Platform Belgium (2021 - Corporate Vision)

• Partner Innovation Award (2021 - Global - Salesforce)

• Most Innovative Autotech Start-up Belgium (2021 - Corporate Vision) and

• Top Automotive Solution Provider Belgium (2020 - AutoTech)

LinkedCar is also listed amongst 1 of the 5 best startups in Belgium by DataNews! The Company is a complete powerhouse and celebrate every award, every win and every achievement to keep up the good work and fight for what it believes in.

STILL MILES TO GO…

LinkedCar is more than just an innovative venture. It’s a movement that enables consumers to own and manage their data. In the aftermath of the Pandemic, the Company is witnessing new possibilities with collected data and opportunities. For instance, it’s currently working on integrating Fitbit with driving behaviour to understand if sleeping influences driving behaviour. The possibilities are endless, and LinkedCar seeks to lead the way with new insights.

WORDS THAT INSPIRE

“Never stop believing. “You will hear more ‘no’ than ‘yes’, but they don’t see the world the way you do. Keep fighting, keep fine-tuning your story so everyone understands, and you’ll get there.”

Whether it’s relocation for business, studies, retirement, or other reasons, it should never be taken lightly. Longdistance relocation, especially across borders, are costly and can be complex without proper support. Then, why do people still choose to relocate?

MOOVAZ: Global Relocation Platform

While relocation comes with numerous career and personal advantages, the cumbersome and traditional immigration process often chokes breakthrough aspirations. Current intricacies in global mobility have made it challenging to travel to your desired locations. This complex scenario has brought up the need for a smart, robust, digitalize, and automated business solution, to facilitate the smooth or otherwise impossible freedom of movement of people. This is where Moovaz has created tremendous value and found its niche. By reducing the prevalent manual and time-consuming model, it has been providing a one-stop digital relocation platform to empower its global relocation service partners with cuttingedge technological capabilities, whilst creating a seamless one-stop solution for globally mobile citizens worldwide.

LEE MING HUI

Partner & Head of Operations

“We have an open culture where anyone can talk to anyone. We are energetic and vibrant, giving our best and striving toward a common goal.”

REDEFINING RELOCATION

Moovaz, established in Singapore, which is a melting pot for global citizens and consistently ranks as one of the top desired relocation destinations, amongst expats, aims to reinvigorate the relocation experience using technology and innovative business models. Its customized portfolio addresses the most pressing concerns, such as Visa & Immigration, International Household Moving, Short-term Accommodations, Pet Relocation, Job Search, International School Search, and more. The Company works with a global clientele - people who wish to relocate across the globe. So far, its overseas relocation service has fulfilled the aspirations of over 10,000 customers, including individuals and families, relocating them across 200+ global cities. It has established relocation trade-lanes in 10 nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, Germany, and France). Such milestones speak volumes of the trust and integrity it brings in each solution. Every approach is based on meticulous planning and modern technology to ensure peace of mind at every step.

“To inspire freedom by creating life-moving moments”. This is the Moovaz mission. Its holistic platform is clubbed with easyto-use dashboards that help in customizing every journey with additional services pertinent to relocating in any country. In other words, it allows clients to manage their trip from head to tail, including planning, service exploration, quotation gathering, tracking, and more. And, while customers plan their journey, Moovaz provides professional support in every step of the way to ensure every customer enjoys a stress and hassle-free journey.

ADDRESSING CORE NEEDS

‘Technology’ and ‘Knowledge’ are the two core pillars that help Moovaz dazzle the world. The global relocation industry is still widely considered to be a traditional one and one that has seen the need for new and innovative business solutions. Having been movers themselves, Moovaz has a deep understanding and appreciation for the daunting challenges it faces – each customer has a unique set of requirements and needs for example. Moovaz is guided by a team of passionate entrepreneurs with a strong background in both the relocation industry as well as creating digital cloud-based solutions.

But this forte wasn’t one that could be easily formed from the getgo. Moovaz had to first start out as a moving-services company, to gain industry know-how and credibility, all whilst building digital tools for operational efficiency in supply-chain logistics. It also boldly made several acquisitions in its infant stages and have operated in various parts of the relocation supply-chain. The conventional business of logistics is a complex and an assetheavy one which tends to require a larger initial financial outlay. Moovaz creates value for its global partners by enabling them with value centric and cost-efficient solutions to be able to scale their business globally, while keeping a title lid on burgeoning costs. The initial impediments Moovaz faced on the ground has given them deep insights into the industry, which helps it to provide promising solutions to address global concerns. Even now, when global mobility is restricted in certain parts of the world, Moovaz provides timely and relevant information to assist people in planning their journeys ahead of time.

Whilst technology and know-how are the cornerstones of the Company, their implementation has been the key to their growth: Implementation that is guided by a strong company raison d’être. Its vision is to “Inspire Freedom” by making international relocation seamless and create a globally connected community. Moovaz places special emphasis on R&D and customer feedback evaluation which helps in developing solutions that are functional and that exceeds customer expectations. The Company believes this as a pragmatic and holistic approach to product development.

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A PASSIONPRENEUR Moovaz is more than just a company - it’s an innovative endeavor to reshape the prevalent ways of relocation. Moovaz was conceptualized and developed by a few partners. Lee Ming Hui, one of its partners, is a multi-lingual serial entrepreneur who began this journey out of a passion to connect with people of the world. Whilst the journey of an entrepreneur is often one laden with high-highs and low-lows, Ming Hui’s passion for connecting people and the “dots” has allowed him to stay the course and continues to edge him forward with the work he does with his team each day.

Ming Hui’s enthusiasm for engaging with people has also played a pivotal role in developing a vibrant company culture for its dynamic team. Moovaz’s culture is powered by entrepreneurial values of collaboration, creativity, and equal opportunity - to share ideas and for creative, solution-led thinking to blossom. “We have an open culture where anyone can talk to anyone. We are energetic and vibrant, giving our best and striving toward a common goal,” Ming Hui proudly asserts. Moovaz’s flat hierarchy and open company culture allows it to be both nimble and innovative, which has been a key reason for their continued growth despite a challenging and ever-changing global mobility business landscape.

FEATHERS ON THE CAP

Starting out in 2017, Moovaz has made great strides in its business and achieved several milestones as well. In 2018, the Company was awarded the ‘FEM RMC of the Year’ award and the epithet of ‘Most Innovative Company of the Year’. It continued to be globally recognized, receiving several coveted industry awards over the course of the next two years. It has continued to work with industry partners globally and has established itself as a trusted and credible contributor to the relocation industry. When Ming Hui was asked for his views on this, he humbly replied that having an agile and adaptive culture has been the biggest achievement. “With this, we have begun letting partners and people around the world have a taste of how the digitalised future of relocation platform will be like,” he adjoins. The Company is well set to make new breakthroughs soon, bringing about new ways to re-invigorate international relocation.

A FEW WORDS FOR ASPIRERS

“Always keep a level-head and a problem-solving mindset. Allow yourself to embrace the idea of continuous testing, whilst failing early and fast as you edge toward a solution. Preparing for every possible scenario is impractical and nimbleness is key in the fast-paced business world of today.” – Lee Ming Hui, Partner & Head of Operations, Moovaz.

“

ANDREA BREANNA

Founder & CEO

RebelMouse

Culture is malleable. It is ideas that change culture.

REBELMOUSE:

TAKING DIGITAL OPTIMIZATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL

In today’s digitized world, it’s an ever-growing responsibility to keep your company’s website modern and fresh. After all, the competition is cut-throat in every vertical, and every company requires an efficient system to constantly update information, as well as uphold their brand identity while keeping in touch with their customers. This is where a content management system (CMS) comes in. A proper CMS allows a company to update, modify, and manage its website from an intuitive interface that doesn’t require extensive technical knowledge. The right publishing platform can also fuel greater productivity by enabling users to create beautiful, high-performing pages in less time than it takes to create one from scratch. A CMS helps give a uniform look to your site, streamlining workflows, improving SEO ranking, and, ultimately, allowing users to find and enjoy more of what they’re looking for.

While the technology market has given rise to a plethora of CMS options, modern businesses require a creative platform that enables broad content distribution, effective conversion, and unrivalled user loyalty. One such promising CMS and creative agency is RebelMouse. Endorsed by leading multinational corporations, RebelMouse helps businesses establish a dominating online presence and a strategic roadmap for success.

WHY REBELMOUSE?

When you think about having an appealing website, what are the prominent features that come to mind? If it’s an individual, that user would like to see their personality reflected in the site, with customized domains tailored to them and links to social channels for better interaction. For a business, your site has to be more sophisticated. Business websites need advanced design tools, custom CSS capabilities, Google Analytics support, and much more to keep the website aligned with the company’s vision and important industry trends. RebelMouse is a one-stop solution for multiple website development needs. It offers a strategic CMS that’s deeply rooted in constant technology upgrades.

Its proprietary, cloud-based, next-generation publishing platform is responsible for building and powering industry leaders, including The Dodo, Axios, and PAPER Magazine. Its expertise is driven by the contributions of a media-minded team of professionals, who work directly with publishers and marketers to help their stories reach the right audiences and create experiences that drive loyalty, engagement, and conversion. Its site network also powers the well-defined websites of legacy brands, such as United Airlines and Penske Trucks, as well as media stalwarts like Protocol, Brit + Co, and Raw Story.

THE FACTORS FUELING ITS EXCELLENCE

RebelMouse’s values have been built on a close alignment of technology, talent, and quality standards since the start. Its business model is fastened to enterprise-grade cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Fastly. For its clients across the world, this ensures maximum stability, scalability, speed, and security. RebelMouse is a fully remote company with employees located across more than 25 nations, spanning every time zone. And each of them is gifted, skilled, enthusiastic, and dedicated to thinking outside of the box. Its staff consists of developers who are experts in product and traffic, audience development professionals who are competent in product and editorial matters, and traffic and coding designers.

RebelMouse also has a robust client network, which provides the team with a wealth of data to analyze and improve upon. This also aids in identifying trends and algorithm changes in the publishing world, ensuring that its services are prepared to adapt as quickly as possible. The flexibility afforded by this setup is also backed by the jaw-dropping page performance the platform delivers, which unequivocally gives them the bragging rights of powering some of the fastest sites on the web. It uses smart, simplified code that allows ads, videos, and third-party applications to load quickly without disrupting the user experience. RebelMouse is regularly evaluated by multibillion-dollar corporations, and it boldly stands apart from the competition by delivering 99.99% uptimes, both by contract and philosophy.

GETTING OVER UNCERTAINTIES

The inherent flexibility fostered by talent and technology also helps RebelMouse get over unanticipated gamechangers, such as COVID-19. Staying up to date on industry shifts has allowed its publishers to focus on crafting and publishing content that resonates with their readers regardless of the backdrop. RebelMouse also altered its code methodology even before COVID-19 hit, allowing it to power the best-performing websites on the internet. As the pandemic raged, it built a live-blog functionality for its publishers to immediately convey updates to their audiences while maintaining visibility on search.

THE INNOVATOR OF THE CREATIVE CMS

RebelMouse’s founder and CEO initially launched RebelMouse with a single edict: to develop a “social home page” — a center where users could gather social feeds all in one place. The platform went viral and earned eight million users. The enormous success piqued Andrea’s interest in how a CMS could bring everything even further together. That epiphany — coupled with the realization that social, mobile, and accelerating industrial transitions would soon render everyone’s technology terribly outdated and overpriced — transformed RebelMouse into the enterprise CMS it is today. From there on, the company has grown by leaps and bounds.

Andrea, who is proudly transgender, has created a malleable culture at RebelMouse, welcoming LGBTQ+ individuals into a close-knit tech community that breaks industry standards. Nearly one quarter of RebelMouse employees identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. The most cherished cornerstone of RebelMouse has been its commitment to pursuing inclusiveness for all people, regardless of gender identity, sexual preference, ethnicity, religion, age, or disability.

WORDS OF INSPIRATION “Culture is malleable. It is ideas that change culture.” —Andrea Breanna, Founder and CEO, RebelMouse

SMALL BUSINESS? How to Value a

Best Methods to Determine their Value

While selling a business, you need to acknowledge several questions and make crucial decisions. First, and most vital question is to decide the business value. Are you aware of your company’s worth? If not, then you need to learn how to value a business.

There are several methods to determine the valuation of a company. You should know some basics of small business valuation to ensure that you sell your business at a reasonable price. So, once you have an idea of your small business net worth, discuss with an appraiser for a company valuation to sell your business for a fair price.

HOW TO VALUE A BUSINESS

Most company appraisal methods include their business’s financial history and cash projections. Your business history and cash flow projections let buyers perceive that they are making profitable investments. Here are three ways to find the valuation of a business.

METHOD 1: ASSET-BASED

The asset-based approach considers your business’s assets and liabilities. Then, you determine the value of your business by observing the difference between assets and liabilities. When you utilize the asset-based method, you look at your company as being built up of smaller parts. Some parts attach value to your company.

Other parts add debts to your business. Items that attach value are known as assets. On the other hand, Liabilities are debts your company owes to creditors. To obtain the value of your business, you have to subtract liabilities from the assets.

For instance, if you have $200,000 in assets and $30,000 in liabilities, the value of your business is $1,70,000 ($200,000 –$30,000 = $1,70,000).

With the asset-based way, you can get the book value of your business. Your book value is the owner’s equity on the balance sheet. The book value should be the most economical price you are to sell your company. Reliable business debt management can assist you to enhance your net assets.

Therefore, consider utilizing the asset-based method if you have to sell your business quickly.

METHOD 2: MARKET

In this method, the market compares your business to comparable companies that have previously sold. Therefore, to learn how to value a business it’s important to understand the market first. Have a look at data from similar businesses’ sale prices. Then, evaluate your business at an equivalent amount for companies that are like yours.

For instance, you own a salon. Other salons in your area are marketing for an average of $60,000. Using the market method, you would sell your salon for about $60,000.

The market approach gives an amount close to the fair market value. Fair market value involves your small business’s net worth is what shoppers are willing to pay. Therefore, you must improve or decrease your business’s price, depending on what shoppers will pay.

METHOD 3: INCOME

This is our third approach in our guide on how to value a business. The income approach considers your business’s financial history. Then, utilizing your books, you convince buyers that your business is a low-risk and profitable investment.

Usually, a buyer takes out a small business loan to buy a company. Therefore, show the buyer that your business can produce enough profit to repay the loan. The capacity to pay debts exhibits lower risks than companies with a large amount of debt. Therefore, the more efficient your business is at settling debts, the more valuable it is.

With the income method, you study your past profits and cash flow. Then, utilizing your profit and loss statement for small businesses, project the company’s future profits and debts. Finally, using the projections, you can get your small business valuation.

For instance, you project the business will make a net profit of $80,000 shortly. You project this number by averaging net earnings from previous years. With the income method, you might market the business for $80,000.

SMALL BUSINESS

WRAP UP

Your business’s worth is a flexible figure. Clients have their own viewpoints while evaluating a business. Therefore, be careful while creating your company’s value demands time and careful planning.

Thoroughly handle the business records your company uses. For example, the records might involve financial and bank statements. Your records help predict the potential for risks and profits customers might face. The more organized your records are, the better chance prospects have of seeing your value. You can further consider small business accounting software to keep track of your company’s finances.

BUSINESS

DEFINITION, IMPORTANCE, AND TYPES

Ideally, moral principles and social values that businesses should adopt in their code of conduct are known as business ethics, and they are rules that companies must accept and follow in its day to day operations for society’s welfare. Being a social organ, the business should not indulge in any activity that is harmful to the interest of all its stakeholders. And besides focusing on objectives like profit maximization and higher growth, it should work for the upliftment of its surroundings.

Hence the best part about business ethics is that it helps in ethical decision-making by guiding about the right and wrong for a business in the situations of ethical issues, dilemmas, or controversies, and it mainly revolves around different concerns like governance of the company, corporate social responsibility, trading of stocks, etc.

Business ethics tend to cover ethical and unethical aspects of any industry’s regular, legal, scientific, psychological, or philosophical behaviors/activities. Business ethics mainly include ethical behavior for an organization as it allows one to stay clean from legal issues, and of course, it constructively optimizes their social images. Hence one can say that business ethics is one of the critical factors of trust and brand building.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS ETHICS:

Business ethics is one of the essential terms in the business industry, and it has changed the daily operations of a business, and it has affected the legislations that surround corporate regulation. Companies involve the legislation that covers corporate regulation thanks to the rapid explosion of communication in the organization and rapid globalization, and one needs to ensure that the employees follow principles, guidelines, and rules.

To quote shortly, business ethics is all about a code of rules, regulations, and guidelines that have to be followed for subjects that tend to be prone to potential controversies, like discrimination, bribery, corporate governance, etc.

A collection of moral principles that act as guidelines to decide the ethical culture of a business or organization is known as business ethics, and it mainly ensures ethical channelization of business conducts and transactions. Generally, all the members of the company need to follow all the principles and rules of an organization.

IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS ETHICS:

Ethics tend to be a robust set of rules and guidelines, and the

ETHICS

concept rose to importance in the 1960s due to the emergence of the customer-centric society.

Control the malpractices- business ethics tend to influence the operations of the business directly, and it helps companies in deciding what is wrong and what is right. Ethics is all about rules and principles to be followed strictly by trade, and implementation of these principles rules and regulations to be followed strictly by business, and it works on providing better products to its customers at reasonable prices.

Better retention of employees- When it comes to the survival of the business, employees play a crucial role, and it works on providing better products to its patrons at reasonable prices. The ethics mainly ensure that the company offers excellent better monetary compensation and good working conditions to its employees, helps in addressing complaints and provides promotions considering the progress.

Excellent customer satisfaction- consumers are known as the king of the business, and it is vital for companies to align with the need of patrons. Business ethics offers principles for business operations, so companies provide better customer support and redressal of all complaints, which help companies improve their customers’ satisfaction levels.

Maximum Profitability: Business ethics improve the productivity and profitability of companies as it tends to set

specific rules to be followed by employees in the company, and they need to adhere to these rules and should focus on their duties with sincerity. The best of all is that ethics ensure that there is no wastage of resources, and it ideally leads to an increase in business profit in the long run.

Enhance the goodwill- the company’s charity tends to play an essential effect in capturing the market and by a critical impact on capturing the market, which eventually develops a better image in front of the public and is readily accepted by customers with minimum efforts.

TYPES OF BUSINESS ETHICS:

Personal responsibilities mainly refer to the secret code of ethics, which one needs to follows firmly in his daily activities like behaving honestly, respecting elders, performing official duties properly, etc.

Official responsibilities tend to refer to some role which one occupies in office, and they need to follow specific rules and regulations without a second doubt.

CONCLUSION:

Hence one needs to know that business ethics drives that code of conduct, and often companies voluntarily adopt principles of corporate ethics, and many’s business ethics can shape the way the world sees it. Hence companies need to adhere to principles of fairness and respect.

When it comes to the survival of the business, employees play a crucial role, and it works on providing better products to its patrons at reasonable prices.

Understanding how to lead is crucial to success when you have the privilege and obligation of leading a company. Business owners and managers have to understand the difference between a leader and a boss. Today we will be learning the top 10 team leader qualities you need to cultivate.

10 Effective Team Leader Qualities Every Leader Should Have

1. Effective Communication

All great team leaders have to be good communicators because they need to demonstrate their ideas, explain the company vision to employees. Further, understand when it is the right time for a meeting. Leaders must also describe what a job requires before someone is hired and clarify the reasons for firing someone.

2. Share a Vision

This skill pertains to how leaders perceive their vision, share it with others, and encourage them to support it. The ability to lead also involves how well a team leader can urge employees to get the desired business outcomes. For example, every employee should know how they contribute to the company’s overarching goals. Instilling this knowledge is part of a leader’s duty and will let employees feel motivated.

3. Perceptive of Team Needs

In addition to having team leader skills, managers must ensure that their teams also can succeed. Therefore, leaders should learn the most vital skills for a position and either get someone who already has those skills or hire someone who is the right fit for the team and company culture and then train them.

4. Relationship Building Building and fostering relationships with employees and clients is one of the best team leader qualities committed to their position and company. It requires investment of time, emotion, and effort to manage business relationships, and your team members or customers do not neglect this. These relationships will further inspire your team to work harder and go beyond the call of duty.

5. Industry Expertise

It is hard and demoralizing to follow a leader who does not know what they are doing. Great leaders must lead their teams everywhere. They must have an authoritative voice that clients, employees, and other industry professionals understand and respect. They must use this expertise to make critical decisions and understand what the team cannot achieve.

6. Trustworthiness

The most trusted leaders win the trust and respect of employees and clients because they demonstrate integrity and honesty. Being honest will increase your team members’ commitment to their aims and encourage their best efforts.

This involves many factors, such as competence and perceived intent. As a result, team members will be more inclined to take risks during brainstorming sessions and come to you with any obstacles that interfere with their ability to do their work.

7. Time Management

Time management is usually cited as an essential skill for employees, but it is even more crucial for leaders. Great leaders need to keep track of their own experience and steer the company toward meeting its goals. Therefore, time management for leaders involves knowing how and where to spend their own time, how employees spend their time, and what goals every department should spend its time on. In addition, leaders must choose where to invest the company’s time and resources, which clients have a great return on investment, which employees require more mentoring, and which business ventures will serve customers.

8. Problem Solving

All leaders must understand how to solve team- and companyrelated problems. The best companies allow products and services that solve particular problems for their clients as well as internally. So if an assistant comes to you with a problem, your number one goal as a leader is to encourage them to solve that problem in their best interest and that of the company.

9. Commitment

Great leaders are dedicated to their business, their employees, and their consumers. They know that what makes a product or service great is an open-ended commitment to excellence. A leader who is not committed to a company should not be driving it. Likewise, a lack of dedication to customers and an unwillingness to hear complaints and suggestions indicates customer service will decline, and innovation and satisfaction standards will sink.

10. Confidence

Confidence encourages trust and supports leaders to present themselves and their company well. Team leaders need to be confident while making important decisions. There is a lot of pressure in business for leaders to be decisive, and changing your mind usually sends a message that you do not have a plan or strategy.

Wrap up

All of these factors are crucial in a well-rounded and highly effective leader. Analyze each of these factors as you develop your company and choose these team leader qualities.

Promoting

“

We have created a truly special culture that is focused on the wellbeing of our staff and as a result, we have experienced tremendous growth and prosperity over the past few years. The experience has been deeply gratifying.

– Bill Johnson Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Liberty Company

PEACE OF MIND with

BUILDING A UNIQUE CULTURE THAT PERSUADES EXCELLENCE

Liberty has established offices across the country by partnering with leaders who fit our culture and are driven by our mission of Promoting Peace of Mind with Great Care and our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Caring, Kindness, Fairness, Teamwork, Good Feelings and Fun!

Liberty aims to create value for all stakeholders by managing their risks with great care and providing industry best practices and counsel. As a company, we embrace change and welcome new voices as the best way to thrive and grow.