As part of our Seedrs series we look at the small businesses that are looking to raise money from the crowd! Yes, small businesses you can invest in. Will they be the next Facebook? Who knows! Crowdfunding has opened up investing to the masses. Today's startup we look at is Courier, a media brand for startup culture and modern business.
Learn more and invest in Courier on Seedrs from just £10
Founders:
Soheb Panja - Founder and editor-in-chief
Jeff Taylor - Founder and Publisher
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What they say:
We're a media company capturing the spirit of startup that's sweeping the world, disrupting industries and redefining how people work and live.
Our mission is to be the most authoritative and authentic brand for modern business. And to do it with a fresh attitude. Our plan is to intensify Courier's reach in the coming years. We want to take the print product to cities around the world as well as develop some ambitious digital products.
We've just released our eighth issue but we've already grown from an initial 6,000 copies to 25,000 now reaching approximately 45,000* Londoners.
The magazine is available free in 300 outlets across London and is also sold online and in select newsagents in Europe. Our plan is to extend the frequency and reach of the brand with this investment.
Learn more and invest in Courier on Seedrs from just £10
Intended impact:
Courier's job is to be an enabling, inspiring and essential media brand for the audience. We're already on our way towards building something that’s synonymous with startup culture and modern business.
Every now and then a fresh media brand emerges that captures the zeitgeist and becomes essential for a large and influential audience.
Our job is to shine a light on interesting people and companies, themes of disruption and challenger companies as well as inspiring things the most imaginative are doing to make their lives better.
Learn more and invest in Courier on Seedrs from just £10
Accomplishments to date:
Lots. We’ve produced eight issues in two years, creating our own stockist network of 300 outlets in London in the process. We’ve attracted advertisers and already become profitable* on a per issue basis, with advertisers telling us they're drawn to the freshness and authority of Courier.
Learn more and invest in Courier on Seedrs from just £10
Monetisation strategy:
The company has been profitable* without any external investment since launch. We posted turnover in excess of £500,000* last year.
We have a model in keeping with that of a modern agile media business. One built on creating the value of the Courier brand, our reach, the authority and authenticity with the audience, and selling advertising, sponsorship and insight to clients looking to reach this increasingly valuable group.
We grew in our first two years through offering services of a typical small agency to clients of all sizes; branding, content creation, etc. It subsidised our initial investment in the magazine.
This year the magazine has started to attract real advertiser interest and has broken into profit in its own right with advertisers including HSBC, Hiscox, KPMG, EE, Virgin Media and Beams. We are increasingly creating custom advertising for our clients.
Our intention is to grow total revenues, but advertising and sponsorship progressively representing the larger share of our overall income in comparison to client services.
*source: unaudited management accounts.
Learn more and invest in Courier on Seedrs from just £10
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Seedrs:
Invest in businesses you believe in!
Seedrs makes it simple for you to buy into businesses you believe in and share in their success. Anyone can invest in businesses from as little as £10 and reap the rewards should the business succeed. Even tennis star Andy Murray uses Seedrs to invest in startups!
Learn more and invest in Courier on Seedrs from just £10
