January Newsletter
Atom CTO November newsletter
Welcome to the latest Atom CTO newsletter where we share tech news and stories for founders and entrepreneurs who are starting and scaling businesses.
Editor’s Note
What will 2024 bring for you? What are your aims and objectives for this year?
I’ve been talking to a number of business owners, founders and I have to say the mood music is mixed. Some have said that they’re just running through the motions this year in the hope that 2025 will bring something better, others are bullish that things will pick up significantly towards the second half of the year.
2023 was certainly not a great year for start-ups or tech in general. It was harder to get funding (unless you were an AI company), Big Tech fired a lot of people and clients were spending less because of a fear of recession.
Will 2024 be any different? Well, who knows quite frankly - and that’s the thing.
When you’re running a business you can’t expect every year to be a bonanza, you need to plan for the downtimes and reap all the rewards you can in the uptimes.
As you will see further down in the newsletter, I spent the Xmas period putting together a podcast made up of the best pieces of advice that my podcast guests had ever received and there are some gems there but one that stands out for me is:
“You can only make the best choices at the time with the information you have available”
In other words, you can control your choices and everything else is out of your control.
For those of you who are wondering what 2024 will bring, you can’t worry about what you don’t know - you can of course ensure you gather the best information possible to help you make your decisions but other than that, you just have to go with what you do know.
One thing that helped me refocus for 2024 was reading Mark Farrer-Brown’s two-part essay on the “Jobs to Done” theory which you can find here and here. The premise of the articles is to push business owners into thinking of a customer-centric approach which is something I believe we all understand intrinsically but we sometimes forget as we get lots in focusing on our services and products.
These articles provided me the spark to rethink Atom’s approach to customers and what that in turn makes you realise is that no matter what 2024 brings from a macroeconomic or global perspective, if you serve the customer’s needs, they will come to you.
As ever, if you are interested in learning more or have a tech challenge you need to solve, then we are here for you! Email bhairav@atomcto.com
Bhairav Patel
Managing Director
Atom CTO
Interesting insights
Latest events and articles in tech and entrepreneurship collected by the Atom team:
Will GenAI change the landscape of software delivery? Amid the buzz of leveraging generative AI (GenAI) for accelerated software delivery, it's crucial to revisit the fundamentals. It's not just about coding; it's about optimizing teams and finding the right leverage points for effective software delivery 🖥️
Avoid hidden fundraising costs! Hidden fundraising costs are on the rise for over a third of European startups, with 51% needing to secure their next funding round within six months, according to a recent Sifted survey of 107 startups 🚀
Since 2021, four rapidly growing European tech companies, including Volta Trucks, highlighted by Sifted, have faced bankruptcy or acquisition. In contrast, German defense tech startup Helsing not only sustains its position but also secures a €209m Series B amidst heightened investor interest due to geopolitical tensions 📉
Seeking funding for 2024? If you’re an early-stage tech company looking for pre-seed, seed and A-round funding, an avenue to try is Fuel Ventures. Submit your application today 💰 Also, explore this list of angel investors 😇
Rest of World's diverse 2023 coverage, spanning from Paytm's fintech growth in India to innovative startups in Sudan aiding food accessibility and migrants surviving through delivery apps at the U.S.-Mexico border, reflects a global tech landscape, with around 500 articles from 50 countries, offering readers an insightful vision beyond AI and Elon Musk 🌎
While marketing often has a presence in strategic discussions, its credibility within the business is challenged; thoughtful marketers, though creative and customer-focused, face a credibility struggle, but well-executed thought leadership initiatives can serve as a means to rebuild trust 🤝
In 2024, headlines brought back grim themes, with war and famine stalking Ukraine and the Holy Land. Despite this, positive trends emerge, including realistic hopes for limiting global warming. Beyond daily news, uplifting moments persist in the human narrative 🗞️
Each year, MIT Technology Review searches for impactful technologies that are poised to make a real difference in the world. Here are the advances they consider most significant at the moment 🤖
Yet to explore CoPilot? Microsoft’s AI companion has impacted over 5 million users by supercharging their creativity and productivity. Learn how you can leverage it for daily use 🎨
The Puritans of Venture Capital: Venture was once a cottage industry. Some firms are still operating as if nothing has really changed. Can they endure? Will capital agglomerators consume their lunch? Or can they coexist? 💼
Atom CTO Podcasts
Sage advice to get you through the rest of the year 🍀 - We’ve compiled the nuggets of wisdom from our podcast guests through the years by asking them the best piece of advice they’ve received or given.
Embracing the power of innovation 🚀 - This podcast episode delves into a conversation with Damilare Ogunleye, the visionary founder of FoodLama. Explore the innovative world of grocery shopping that's poised to transform your cart-filling experience.
It’s time for some self-recognition ❤️- Bhairav and Alan tackle the topic of recognizing your efforts as a founder. Here’s to not downplaying your success in 2024.
Subscribe to the Atom Ventures podcast here 🎧
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Keeping in touch ✉️
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