Cardiff Start is a group of entrepreneurs, creatives, students and small business founders based in Cardiff who have formed one of the growing number of CIC’s (Community Interest Companies) to help encourage growth and start-up businesses. It is also there to help support the changing industry of Cardiff, whereas before Cardiff was a thriving city of manufacturing, now it has a rapidly up and coming digital and creative sector. The idea started life as a Facebook group and has grown into an official organisation to help people looking to start their own companies through advice, funding and general support. The venture is being supported by Cardiff Council, KPMG, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and Cardiff University.
One of the businesses involved with the Cardiff Start initiative is Tradebox Media, based in Cardiff Bay, Tradebox Media are an app development firm who undertake iPhone and Android application development projects for various UK and European companies. The founder of Tradebox Media is Stephen Milburn who was interviewed by the Daily Mail about his involvement with Cardiff Start and what he hopes it can bring to the area. ‘Cardiff Start has been put together to make it easier for us to grow and share knowledge and bring investment opportunities to our city that wouldn’t normally be available. We’re all unpaid and our vested interest comes from, “What’s good for the scene as a whole is good for us.”¢â‚¬â€°’ The full article about Cardiff Start and the whole interview can be read on the Daily Mail website.
The official launch event for Cardiff Start is happening on the 11th of April in Cardiff City Hall, this is following the first Cardiff Start Workshop which will run from 9am , 5pm. The opening day has drawn a great deal of attention, on top of the interview with Stephen for the Daily Mail, BBC National news will be in attendance for the whole day. The workshop will involve master classes and chances to hear from some guest speakers about topics relating to start-up businesses to help new entrepreneurs in their business efforts. The full run down of the order of things from the workshop day can be read here, You can register your interest through that page as well to come along and meet with like minded creative and entrepreneurs. The official launch event for Cardiff start will then commence at 6pm , 8pm, you can book your attendance here.