Vendula is an original fashion accessories brand whose key product is funky bags. “We launched Vendula London in 2003, and since then we’ve grown to become one of fashion’s funkiest brands with a growing list of customers across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and North America.”
The company wanted to promote their brand by incentivising their follower base and approaching new potential customers via a giveaway campaign on a special date in the retail calendar.
Whichit was cordially invited to 10 Downing Street by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, to join like-minded technology entrepreneurs at the British Technology Entrepreneurs Reception.
Heading the VIP guest list was Jack Ma, founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group. Other distinguished guests included Rohan Silva, former Senior Policy Advisor to David Cameron turned entrepreneur and Eileen Burbidge, one of London’s most influential venture capitalists. Other successful entrepreneurs who created some of the UK’s most successful technology companies such as Moshi Monsters, Graze, CityMapper and CarThrottle attended the reception too.
Jack Ma, the business magnate and philanthropist, announced that he joined a panel of business figures advising Mr David Cameron on business matters. The announcement of his new position, came the day before a four-day state visit to Britain by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Our founder and CEO, Jonathan Gan had the honour of meeting Mr Ma and speaking to him briefly, showcasing Whichit to the founder of China’s own Google, Amazon and eBay rolled into one, getting some sound business advice in the process.
This is not the first time Whichit has been invited to Downing Street, in fact is the third time that we´ve had the honor and hopefully we will be returning there again soon.
Whichit’s CEO, Jonathan Gan, was invited as a representative of the technology and startup sector for a Business Leaders Reception at 10 Downing Street, with the honour of being hosted by the UK Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron. There were representatives from different aspects of the UK private sector – from entrepreneurs to investors and CEOs as well as from the media and government.
The PM spoke about the importance of business development and the government’s support for this, and expressed his gratitude for the role those in attendance had played in this initiative.
During the event, Jonathan spoke to business leaders such as Brent Hoberman and Steven Cohen as well as the Prime Minister himself. They discussed Whichit’s move from Israel to Great Britain and Jonathan took the opportunity to personally thank the Prime Minister for the Sirius Program and all the support Whichit has received from UK Trade & Investment.
Overall it was a great evening that once again demonstrated the impact high growth companies such as Whichit, have on the UK economy. We’ve demonstrated our significant contribution to the business sector while thriving in a great ecosystem provided by the Innovation Warehouse and Accelerator Academy. It was heartwarming to view the level of attention and support the government places on strengthening the technology sector and an honour to Whichit to be part of it.
This week has brought us the captivating F8 conference which is held by Facebook. Intended for developers and entrepreneurs, Facebook’s event – which takes place in San Francisco – is designed to help those who build products and services centred around Facebook’s website and groups.
Facebook recently launched FbStart, a program designed to help early stage mobile start-ups build and grow their apps. FbStart provides start-ups with an exclusive community, worldwide events, and mentorship from Facebook, and up to $60,000 in free tools and services. This year Facebook began selecting the most successful start-ups from its program, in order to host the annual App of the Year Award.
This year Facebook selected five Apps to be awarded the FbStart’s App of the Year, broken down in regions around the world. Whichit was honoured to be awarded FbStart’s App of the year for the regions of Europe, Middle east and Africa. The awards were selected from over 400 entries, narrowed down to the top five apps within the FbStart program in which entries were judged on four key properties: growth and engagement; expertise and design; efficiency at scale; and leveraging the Facebook platform. The panel of judges consisting of six experts; three senior level executives from Facebook and three industry experts such as a Partner from leading venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz made their final decisions just over week ago ready to be bestowed on the final day of the F8 Annual Developer Conference. They recognised the best and most innovative mobile apps to emerge from the FbStart program which has helped showcase Whichit’s potential as an emerging platform.
As Mobile World congress 2015 comes to an end, Whichit‘s team took a step back to think about what 2015 holds for all of us in terms of innovation. One things for sure… The Internet of Things stole the show.
It was overwhelming to see all the products that will one day control our lives all presented in one hall in Mobile World Congres. Walking between the stands gave us the feeling that one day everything we wear and do will be connected, from wearable tech such as smart watches, glasses and bracelets, to home products such as Ikea’s light charger, where by just simply putting your phone on your bedside at night will charge it. The feeling became stronger as we realised this is not the future but it is right now.
Last Friday we were invited to present at Teen Tech, an industry lead initiative dedicated to helping young teenagers understand their own potential and the opportunities available in the tech, science and engineering world.
With most teens seeing scientists and technologists as crazy old men with grey hair and glasses, It is great to be able to step forward as a young team to show you the possibilities of working for an App in the future, as well as the results all our hard work has produced.
Last Monday we took a trip to the house of commons for a champagne brunch. A chance to discuss the connection between fashion and politics throughout history, as well as address current ethical issues and chat with a member of parliament about their opinion on our fashion industry related issues.
The connection between the way you dress and politics may not immediately be apparent, but you only have to look back to fashion movements such as the hippie generation, when people took a laid back approach to the way they dressed and presented themselves, due to a rise in unemployment as a result of the recession, or the state of rebellion represented by the punk subculture, combining previously fashion absent objects like safety pins and chains to make a statement for their anti-establishment views.
