Bpifrance helps French startups go international

http://tech.eu/features/7670/bpifrance-international-expansion-strategy-french-startups/

Jonathan Keane

Editor's note: This is a sponsored article, which means it's independently written by our editorial team but financially supported by another organisation, in this case, Bpifrance. If you would like to learn more about sponsored posts on Tech.eu, read this and contact us if you're interested in partnering with us.

For years, French government-backed investment group Bpifrance has been investing money in several successful French startups and assisting young companies in finding financing or listing on stock exchanges. According to the group's mission statement, by 2017 it will invest up to €8 billion in French startups or provide assistance to expand outside of France or apply for funding programs.

In recent years, several startups have made a splash outside of France by securing customers and users around Europe and internationally.

One of them is Aix-en-Provence-based SuperSonic Imagine, which develops ultrasound imaging systems, has availed of Eurostars funding and is now listed on the Euronext stock exchange.

The company made a big move into Israel in 2014 and has placed its sonography systems in more than 20 hospitals and medical centres around the country. Last year it installed systems in Switzerland, Italy, and as far as Japan. In 2014, the company had launched a trial clinic in China to lay the groundwork for further expansion in Asia.

Another is Crossject, a French company that's also in the medical tech space, having won funding through Eurostar's ISTAR project in 2013. It has created a needle-free injection device called the Zeneo following a long road of 12 years of research and development.

Most recently, Bpifrance backed Paris-based drone maker Parrot, putting €33 million into the company and taking a 5% stake in November of last year.

Parrot, in recent years, has been making waves in the burgeoning drone industry and most recently was one of the standout companies at CES in Las Vegas when it came to flaunting UAV devices. The company is also listed on the Euronext stock exchange.

These startups and companies are just some of the bigger success stories to come out of the country, and specifically Bpifrance's portfolio.

Founding your startup is one thing but making the first moves for expanding into the rest of Europe and beyond can lead into some choppy waters.

Bpifrance provides guidance and support for French companies it invests in, when they are looking at stepping outside of France, explained Patrick Cornet, head of international collaborative programs and innovation department. In many ways, Bpifrance acts as a broker of sorts, connecting startups with international contacts and networking events.

"We co-organised a presentation with our counterpart in Canada [CNRC]," said Nathalie Trannois, account manager for international innovation as one example. "That was a way to enhance the cooperation between French and Canadian companies. Our main goal is also to fund the projects and fund the company."

Identifying companies' strengths and partnering them with another company in a similar or complementary field is key, added Cornet, or what he calls "technical clusters".

"It's a place that gathers the people dealing with the same technical topics. Companies can join and deal with those companies acting in the same field," he said. "That's a better way to make them work together and find the better counterpart they need to build up their business.

"That's the main concern to help them find people with whom they can develop their business, meaning they share the same goals. It's not so easy but it's part of our job to help them find those counterparts."

Also read:

Cisco bets big on the French startup scene, invests $51 million in local VC firms

French rail network SNCF releases API with real-time data for developers to play with

French consumer electronics startup Netatmo raises €30 million

Featured image credit: Bpifrance / Flickr

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Guia para ter uma casa segura | i3i Longevidade com Qualidade

http://www.i3i.com.br/artigo/guia-para-ter-uma-casa-segura

Guia para ter uma casa segura

Diante do crescimento da expectativa de vida da população brasileira, a acessibilidade e a segurança para idosos é cada vez mais valorizada na hora de escolher por um empreendimento imobiliário. É preciso pensar em soluções que resguardem o equilíbrio, que já não é o mesmo, e o andar mais vagaroso, diminuindo o risco de quedas ocasionadas por motivos corriqueiros, como escorregões e tropeções em tapetes e móveis. O Relatório Global da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) sobre Prevenção de Quedas na Velhice, de 2010, indica que mais de um terço das pessoas idosas sofrem pelo menos uma queda ao ano. "Existe crescente apreciação de que a natureza e a estrutura do ambiente físico podem influenciar significativamente a probabilidade de uma pessoa sofrer uma queda ou uma lesão a ela relacionada", diz o documento. As Diretrizes de Envelhecimento Ativo da OMS salientam a necessidade de assegurar que os ambientes sejam amigáveis, já que isso pode significar a diferença entre independência e dependência na terceira idade.

Idosos devem abusar de utensílios de segurança e evitar tapetes e móveis que atrapalhem o trânsito

Como os idosos passam muito tempo em suas residências, é preciso pensar no projeto da casa para lhes ajudar a realizar as tarefas do dia a dia. "O corredor entre o quarto de dormir e o banheiro torna-se o trajeto mais perigoso para uma pessoa idosa, pois ela se levanta no meio da noite para ir ao banheiro, às vezes rapidamente, perdendo o equilíbrio ou com baixa súbita de pressão. Se tiver uma barra para segurar, pode-se evitar a queda", explica a arquiteta e urbanista Liane Lautert Etcheverry, que presta consultoria em acessibilidade. 

A profissional ressalta que, muitas vezes, as modificações necessárias podem implicar em algum tipo de resistência por parte do idoso, mas são de extrema importância para aumentar a segurança e a qualidade de vida nesta fase da vida. Confira, abaixo, algumas dicas sobre como adaptar a estrutura interna da casa e evitar acidentes, facilitar a realização de atividades corriqueiras e reduzir a necessidade de ajuda por parte dos idosos, oferecendo-lhes mais autonomia.

Dicas gerais
•    Iluminação farta (30 % a mais de claridade);
•    Podem ser usadas luzes com sensores de movimento para locais com pouca luminosidade;
•    Pisos regulares e antiderrapantes (carpete, madeira sem cera, cerâmica antiderrapante, borracha);
•    Escadas com corrimão dos dois lados; 
•    Móveis firmes, com bordas arredondadas;
•    Não usar tampos de vidro;
•    Cores claras e alegres, com uso de tons diferentes para portas e janelas;
•    Portas com 80cm de largura;
•    Tomadas e interruptores de fácil alcance;
•    Maçanetas tipo alavanca;
•    Lâmpadas de emergência e campainhas em todos ao ambientes;
•    Barras de apoio nas circulações;
•    Circulação livres de obstáculos;
•    Evitar tapetes soltos ou usar borracha para travá-los;
•    Evitar desníveis no piso. 

Dormitórios
•    Camas mais altas (pessoa sentada deve encostar o pé no chão);
•    Mesas de cabeceiras 10cm mais altas que a cama, com abajur e telefone ao alcance;
•    Armários com portas leves e fáceis de manusear, concentrar as roupas entre 50 e 160cm de altura;
•    Interruptor de luz ao lado da cama para não levantar no escuro; 
•    Evite colchões muito macios, que podem dificultar o levantar e o deitar;

Banheiros
•     Box com portas de correr ou de abrir para fora;
•     Box com barras de apoio;
•     Desnível entre box e piso não maior que 1,5cm;
•     Assento fixo ou dobrável no box;
•     Vaso mais alto (assento adaptável, altura média de 46cm);
•     Barras de apoio na lateral do vaso;
•     Não usar prateleiras de vidro, superfícies cortantes e com quinas vivas;

Salas
•    Poltronas e sofás com altura em torno de 50cm e firmes;
•    Evitar objetos de decoração de vidro; 

Cozinhas
•     Altura do balcão entre 80 e 90 cm de altura;
•     Armários com área de utilização entre 50cm e 1,60m de altura, evitando que a pessoa tenha que se abaixar ou subir para alcançar os objetos.

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Foz do Iguaçu terá Vila da Melhor Idade | i3i Longevidade com Qualidade

http://www.i3i.com.br/artigo/foz-do-iguacu-tera-vila-da-melhor-idade

Foz do Iguaçu terá Vila da Melhor Idade

Idosos de Foz do Iguaçu, no Paraná, vão ganhar uma unidade habitacional onde só pessoas com mais de 65 anos poderão morar. É a Vila da Melhor Idade, que será construída seguindo padrão europeu implantado pela Associação Internacional das Universidades da Terceira Idade (AIUTA) na França. Além de terem uma residência, eles contarão com acompanhamento de cuidadores 24 horas por dia, propiciando saúde e qualidade de vida.  Recentemente, um condomínio exclusivamente para idosos foi inaugurado na Paraíba. 

Projeto prevê construção de 15 casas de 45 metros quadrados

Pelo projeto-piloto a ser implementado em Foz do Iguaçu, a ideia é construir 15 casas com 45 metros quadrados cada, levando em conta todas as adaptações necessárias para atender aos moradores da terceira idade. Não haverá escadas e o banheiro será planejado para facilitar a mobilidade, pois contará com barras. As casas serão cedidas em sistema de comodato, sem custos para o beneficiado.

Os projetos arquitetônicos serão desenvolvidos por alunos do curso de arquitetura do Centro Universitário Dinâmica das Cataratas (UDC). Na terça-feira, 22 de julho, o Instituto de Habitação de Foz do Iguaçu (Fozhabita), a Secretaria da Assistência Social, o UDC e a AIUTA assinaram termo para implantação do projeto. 

A primeira casa modelo do projeto Vila da Melhor Idade será construída no bairro Jardim São Paulo e deve estar pronta até novembro, quando Foz do Iguaçu vai sediar congresso da terceira idade. O evento vai reunir participantes de mais de 40 países, além de representantes da ONU. A ideia é, ao todo, beneficiar 1,5 mil idosos que estão na fila de espera. 
Atualmente, os projetos habitacionais do município atendem apenas 5% dos idosos cadastrados no Fozhabita. A seleção dos moradores será feita pelo Conselho Municipal do Idoso.

Saiba mais:

- A proposta de construção da Vila da Melhor Idade foi apresentada durante assembleia geral da AIUTA, realizada em junho em Toulouse, na França. 

- O Fozhabita pretende construir cerca de dez vilas da melhor idade, todas em áreas próximas a postos de saúde, para facilitar o acesso dos idosos aos serviços.

- A AIUTA está presente em diversos continentes e há mais de 40 anos contribui com a formação de idosos que participam das universidades da terceira idade espalhadas pelo mundo, por meio de intercâmbio.

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Paraíba tem o primeiro condomínio de idosos do país | i3i Longevidade com Qualidade

http://www.i3i.com.br/artigo/paraiba-tem-o-primeiro-condominio-de-idosos-do-pais

Paraíba tem o primeiro condomínio de idosos do país

O primeiro condomínio residencial público exclusivo para idosos do país ficou pronto este mês, em João Pessoa, na Paraíba. Mais de 40 idosos vão residir no condomínio Cidade Madura, formado por 40 casas de 54 m² adaptadas. Cada unidade habitacional foi preparada para receber um idoso e o seu cônjuge. A área no entorno contempla praça, pista de caminhada, academia ao ar livre e campo de futebol. Os moradores também serão beneficiados com unidade de saúde, centro de convivência, horta, redário e guarita. O governo do Estado investiu R$ 4 milhões na obra. As chaves foram entregues no dia 11 de junho.

Residências são adaptadas para idosos e condomínio dispõe de horta, redário e pista de caminhada.

Embora as casas não sejam próprias e sim emprestadas, os idosos beneficiados poderão ficar morando lá o tempo que desejarem. A aposentada Daura Silva Farias, que até então morava em um asilo, estava ansiosa e satisfeita com a novidade. Segundo ela, o residencial "parece um pedacinho do céu que Deus me deu em vida". O ex-jogador de futebol José Máximo, Zezito, que passou pelo Santa Cruz de Pernambuco e foi tricampeão pelo Botafogo/Paraíba, disse que a nova moradia vai proporcionar dignidade, uma vez que ele vai sair de uma área de risco. Ele morava em uma casa pequena e estava ameaçado de despejo.

Para tricampeão de futebol, moradias garantem dignidade

Em seu novo endereço, Zezito reencontrou um velho amigo, o ex-zagueiro do Botafogo Valdo Clemente Santos, que foi tricampeão paraibano com ele no final de década de 60. Satisfeitos com o reencontro, comemoraram que a casa nova tem praça e até local para prática de atividade física. "Vou me preparar para fazer exercícios e aproveitar a Copa do Mundo para voltar a bater uma bolinha", brincou o aposentado.

Daura Silva Farias diz que residencial é um pedacinho do céu

Outro morador ilustre do condomínio, que marcou a cena cultural de João Pessoa nos anos 50, é o cantor e compositor Severino Ramos de Oliveira, o Parrá, uma lenda viva da música regional que ganhou destaque em programas das rádios e dividiu palco com grandes músicos como Cauby Peixoto, Ângela Maria e Genival Lacerda. Para Severino, não pode haver coisa melhor para uma pessoa idosa morar numa casa confortável para descansar e conviver com outros idosos. "Estou muito feliz e agradecido por essa iniciativa e, para ser sincero, é preciso ser muito forte para aguentar uma emoção dessas. Se isso for um sonho, eu não quero acordar".

A presidente da Companhia Estadual de Habitação Popular (Cehap), Emília Correia Lima, acredita que a experiência paraibana vai despertar a atenção de outros estados do país ao dar o direito ao idoso de poder viver e não apenas sobreviver. Nos próximos seis meses, o governo do Estado deve inaugurar condomínios semelhantes nas cidades de Campina Grande e Cajazeiras. Nas três unidades, foram investidos mais de R$ 12 milhões. Para o governador da Paraíba, Ricardo Coutinho, a entrega deste primeiro condomínio representa o resgate do respeito e da dignidade daqueles que já lutaram muito e que agora poderão viver em um local com mais qualidade de vida e inclusão social. 
Com informações da Secretaria de Comunicação da Paraíba

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15 Conference Travel Tips to Reduce Stress and Save Time and Money

My favorite conference of the year, INBOUND 2015, is right around the corner, taking place Sept. 8 through 11 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. While the event itself is an excellent experience, the travel associated with it, as with any conference, can sometimes be a complete nightmare.

Delayed flights, lost luggage and other travel inconveniences are a small price to pay for the amazing educational and networking experiences conferences provide. But we would all love to save time and money, as well as reduce stress, right? Use these 15 tips for smooth sailing when planning for your next conference.

1. Book airfare and hotel accommodations using a private browser.

I'm not going to blatantly say that every travel site, airline and hotel shows higher rates depending on where you are browsing from and whether you have visited the site before. What I will say, though, is that often you will get a lower price when you search from a private browser, such as Google Chrome in incognito mode.

Related: 16 Essential Packing Tips for Business Travelers

2. Make sure you know what transportation apps are available in your destination city.  

Not every city has the convenience of Lyft or Uber, so do some research before the event and see what transportation options there are. Make sure you download the app of whatever option is available -- this simple planning allows you to quickly head to your hotel once you touch down.

Let your social-media contacts know you are attending a particular conference. If your network is mostly industry connections, there will be a good chance many of them will also be attending. It's always nice to know there will be familiar faces at a conference to take in the experiences with.

4. Include a full change of clothes in your carry-on bag.

Lost baggage happens, and if your checked bags contain all of your clothes you could be left scrambling to try to piece together an outfit at the last minute while at the same time attempting to track down your baggage through the airline. Toss a set of clothes in your carry-on to ensure you won't have to make a frantic last-minute trip to a local mall.

5. Plug your hotel address and conference venue address into your phone.

You will often need to reference the conference venue and hotel addresses when arranging transportation, looking for restaurants and finding evening entertainment. It makes for quick decisions on the go possible -- everything is usually fast-paced so take advantage of any opportunity to save time.

6. Ask for an upgrade at your hotel.

You might be shocked to learn that many hotels will upgrade you for simply asking. Most hotel staff members are extremely accommodating and if there is anything they can do for you they will typically go out of their way to give you any available promotions. Also, don't forget to ask them if any of your corporate or personal credit cards entitle you to any upgrades.

7. Make dinner reservations far in advance.

Finding a nice place to eat close to the venue hotel, especially at larger conferences, can be a challenge. Save yourself the headache and book dinner reservations in advance. Research places to eat that are close and have good reviews online. When everyone is scrambling to find places with availability, a simple, "We have a couple empty seats at our reservation" is an offer a new connection can't pass up. 

8. Bring a bottle of Advil.

Advil can be your best friend at conferences for many reasons -- uncomfortable hotel beds can mess up your back, happy hours can morph into long nights and staring at small laptop screens all day can cause headaches. Avoid having to seek out a drug store by arriving equipped with a bottle of Advil.

9. A power strip can be your most effective ice breaker. 

Everyone in attendance is armed with mobile devices, tablets and laptops -- making power outlets the most valuable commodity at a conference. Throw an entire power strip in your bag. This accomplishes two things -- your devices will never be without a charge and you will become an instant conference hero to those around you.

10. Pack your daily bag with a full day in mind.

Most conferences are all-day events, starting early and going into the evening, followed immediately by a networking happy-hour or dinner event. When you pack your bag for the day make sure you have everything you need, and if you are staying off-site assume you won't be able to make it back to your hotel room.

You need business cards, your electronic devices, chargers and some snacks to hold you over between scheduled meals. Toss a couple of protein bars in your bag -- when you are hungry it's harder to focus, so make sure you always have something to snack on.

Related: 4 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Stay Sharp on the Road

11. Put your phone in airplane mode to help conserve juice.

During a conference you will primarily be on your laptop, so while you aren't using your phone switch it to airplane mode so it's not using the Wi-Fi and cellular data. This will help conserve your battery -- and you will have plenty of juice to get you through evening networking.

12. Set up an email auto-reply message.

With modern technology you can take your office with you and work remotely, barely skipping a beat. With that being said, you should still consider setting up an auto-reply message alerting people that you are out of the office and there might be a slight delay in your response. You don't want to be glued to your email -- if people know you are out of the office you can focus on the event and attend to your email when you have time.

13. Take note of the conference hashtag.

Nearly every conference will have a dedicated hashtag, which will be used prior to the event to build awareness and excitement, during the event to connect everyone in attendance and then after the event to make write-ups and pictures easy to discover.

14. Have a short and effective intro-pitch ready.

One of the biggest benefits of conferences is the networking -- while I'm going to INBOUND 2015 to learn and grow, I'm also going there to network. I'm going with the intention of making new connections as well as exploring opportunities with warm leads -- all of my networking goals revolve around securing new corporate clients for Market Domination Media.

I have short intro pitches in my head so I'm ready for any situation I find myself in. You don't want to sound like a robot, but you should know how to explain what you do and how you can help in just a few simple sentences.

15. Plan your agenda before arriving at the conference.

If you arrive at a conference without a detailed agenda, you will be left scrambling to find sessions to attend with any open seats. Go through the full lineup and highlight the sessions you absolutely don't want to miss. Then, start to create a schedule for each day. You should land with a finalized plan so there will by smooth sailing the entire conference.

If anyone is heading to Boston for INBOUND 2015 and wants to network, follow me on Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn -- it should be a great time.

Do you have some additional travel tips to add to this list? Share them in the comments section below.

Related: 3 Reasons Your Follow Up Sucks

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The 10 Best Worldwide Conferences for Entrepreneurs

Conferences, summits, gatherings, "un" conferences. . . it seems that every week, yet another new, "must-do" conference comes along, demanding your time, attention and money. As a fellow entrepreneur, I feel your pain.

Related: 7 Conferences for Entrepreneurs Under 30

The conference circuit can truly drain you, not to mention your bank account. Flights, hotels and conference fees aren't cheap. And if you're not careful, the conference circuit can become one endless meet-and-greet, without any meaningful networking or creative inspiration.

That said, the right conference can be an invaluable means for networking beyond your immediate field and connecting with innovators in other fields whose work parallels your own. "Conferences are especially helpful for entrepreneurs who otherwise risk getting stuck in their own echo chamber," says Ros Shelley at Venue Search London, a leading UK-based conference venue provider.

"We help event planners host hundreds of conferences each year, and I've seen my fair share of good and bad events," Shelley continues. "Entrepreneurs just need to be smart about picking the right conferences for their unique professional needs."

So, which conferences are actually worth your time and money? From the United States to Australia, as you plan your travels for 2016, keep these ten conferences on your radar:

1. China Entrepreneurs Forum 

When: January 15-17, 2016
Where: Yabuli Ski Resort, China
Why: Bringing together 500-plus of China's most influential entrepreneurs from finance, IT, manufacturing, real estate and other major industries, this three-day conference promotes sustainable development through entrepreneurship and strategic growth partnerships. The China Entrepreneurs Forum partners with CIF.CO International Group and the Chinese-U.S. Business Leaders Roundtable.

2. Dent

When: March 20-23, 2016
Where: Sun Valley, Idaho
Why: Dent brings together CEOS, executive directors, entrepreneurs, scientists and political leaders who are driven to "become more effective leaders and dent the universe." The conference explores the "magic and science of visionary leadership and ground-breaking success." Conference highlights include intimate nightly dinners (capped at 25 people) that are designed to connect motivated, talented leaders and build meaningful relationships.

3. The Entrepreneurs' Un-Convention

When: March 5, 2016
Where: Sydney, Australia
Why: As Australia and New Zealand's largest conference for entrepreneurs, the "un-convention" aims to connect like-minded entrepreneurs in order to build business momentum and expand networks. The Entrepreneurs' Un-Convention holds one-day meetings throughout the year in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland.

4. MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival

When: TBD 2016; October 22, 2015
Where: Sheffield, United Kingdom
Why: As the UK's premiere event for entrepreneurship, the MADE Festival features a range of skills-development master classes dedicated to improving brand awareness, understanding customers, developing new products, increasing sales and maximizing one's impact in developing a small business. The festival includes success stories and "fringe events" on branding, intellectual property, social media, sourcing financing and more.

Related: Conferences Are Good for Networking but Great for Marketing

5. Podcast Movement

When: July 6-8, 2016
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Why: Have you ever thought about starting your own podcast but are not sure how to get it off the ground? Podcast Movement is for you! The 2015 conference drew over 1,000 past, present and future podcasters to discuss tips on content creation, marketing, monetization and techniques for how to use podcasts as a free platform to build your own entrepreneurial brand.

6. PopTech

When: TBD 2016; October 22-24, 2015
Where: Camden, Maine
Why: PopTech brings together 600 diverse entrepreneurs and innovators to share insights and work toward lasting change. Conference initiatives incubate high-impact collaborative ideas aimed at solving the world's toughest problems by getting leaders outside of their silos and working in complementary white spaces. The annual PopTech conference is among the highest-rated in the world aimed at disruptive change.

7. South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi)

When: March 11-15, 2016
Where: Austin, Texas
An incubator of cutting-edge technologies and digital creativity, SXSW Interactive is the must-do conference for every entrepreneur in the tech space. Showcasing an unbeatable lineup of cutting-edge websites, digital tech, social media and video games, the conference brings together the greatest minds in emerging technology. It's a veritable who's who of the Bay Area, Los Angeles and New York City.

8. TechCrunch: Disrupt New York

When: May 9-11, 2016 

Where: New York, NY
Why: TechCrunch Disrupt bills itself as the leading authority for debuting revolutionary startups for the tech industry's key innovators, and with good reason: By gathering together major players in the innovation space, including entrepreneurs, investors, hackers and tech fans, TechCrunch Disrupt's Startup Competition and Startup Alley are must-do launching platforms for startups seeking maximum publicity and industry exposure without hefty PR agency fees.

9. World Domination Summit (WDS)

When: August 11-15, 2016 
Where: Portland, Oregon
Why: The World Domination Summit is an annual gathering dedicated to "making a remarkable life in a conventional world" and features a series of mini-academies on a wide array of topics, ranging from language labs and book publication to overcoming rejection and fueling passion projects. 2016's WDS will introduce a new series of mini-events held throughout Portland, including art shows, dinners and even a 5K fun run.

10. Women Entrepreneurs Festival We6

When: April 13-14, 2016; 
Where: New York City, NY
Why: Now in its sixth year, the Women Entrepreneurs Festival brings together powerful women eaders and innovators from across the globe for two intense days of networking and discussions about how to be a successful female entrepreneur. The past five festivals have seen the genesis of new business partnerships, companies and mentoring arrangements.

The bottom line

Conferences are only as good as your follow-up. Have a system in place for recording and remembering the people you meet. I like entrepreneur and NerdWallet co-founder Jake Gibson's recommendation for keeping a Google spreadsheet. Gibson advises recording personal details about people you meet, including what you discuss. Make sure to follow up with everyone you meet within a week of the event, even if it's just a short "great to meet you" note on LinkedIn. Carry the momentum forward!

Related: These 5 Tech Conferences Will Let You See the World

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30 Part Time Business Ideas you can Start for Peanuts | Smarta

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30 part-time businesses you can start for peanuts

Think earning extra dosh whenever it suits you sounds too good to be true? Think again.

1. Trade on eBay

Figure out what's selling on eBay, then invest in setting up a professional-looking eBay shop from £14.99 a month. Popular (the new version of eBay Pulse) is a great way to spot what people are buying.

Once you're ready to go, check out our tips for selling on eBay here.

2. Sell stock photography

Sell good quality digital photos to sites like istock.com, shutterpoint.com and fotolia.com. But be warned: this is quite the slow-burner. If you dream of becoming a freelance photographer, check out our free guide here.

3. Personal chef

Invest in a good cookery course, then start offering your services to friends of friends in need of dinner party assistance. If you want to make it big in chocolate, check out these great tips.

4. Become a cookery writer

As above - then publish your own cookery book through blurb.com. Sales will come in from the site, and you can sell yourself to new prospective clients by saying you're also a cookery author.

5. Antiques trader

Do some serious homework on cheaper pieces - invest in an encyclopaedia and read mags like this one. Buy a few items to hedge your bets, then sell to antiques dealers and shops.

6. Virtual assistant

Sign up to a site like virtualassistants.co.uk (£2.95 to post a listing for 12 months). Invest in a secretarial or touch typing course to give you an edge over other candidates. More advice here.

7. Personal trainer

Proper training courses are several hundred pounds at least (recommended ones here), but if you're a marathon old-hand or a gym-bod you could entice some clients without. Pick up part-time work in a gym to find clients.

8. Snack stall

You can buy a stall for around £100 - £150 (from somewhere like this). Make sure you comply with all health and safety regulations and get a license from your local council if you're selling alcohol, hot food between 11pm and 5am or food from a stall or van on the street.

If you're looking for more tips, check out our guide on how to start a market stall here.

9. Late-night alcohol delivery

Supply the midnight masses and charge a premium on booze and snacks delivered after pub closing time. You'll need a personal license to sell alcohol, which costs £37 - get it online from your local council.

10. Cleaning company

Start this business with no overheads by using clients' cleaning products. Pay for Disclosure and Barring Service Checks (£26 each) for yourself and any other members of staff to reassure new customers once you get some money coming in. With these top tips, starting a cleaning company is the easiest way to change a chore into a business.

11. Focus group organiser

Target small businesses at networking events and with flyers to user-test their new products or websites. Then place free ads on Gumtree to find participants and skim a fee off their hourly pay. More info here on conducting focus groups.

12. Flyering agency

Call around all local business and clubs and say you'll find them someone to hand out flyers for a £3 charge (on top of their hourly rate). Then find students in need of work on Gumtree.

13. Pop-up restaurant

Decorate your living room, stick some posters in your front window and start a restaurant in your house. Technically you're meant to get a load of health and safety checks done for this, but there's a whole crop of people doing it on the sly. Check out our guest blog from Horton Jupiter to find out how it's done.

14. Treasure hunt business

You can start this business for next to nothing. Do some research on your local area and plant clues for family fun days and cheap office outings. Take a look at how Hunt Fun and Treasure Days are doing it.

15. Sell pot plants, herbs and home-grown veg

The whole of the middle class is into organic and home-grown veg these days, and with packets of hundreds of seeds coming in at around 60p, you can sell your own produce for a whopping profit. Or just take clippings of plants and herbs you already have, grow out into separate pots and sell to neighbours and friends.

16. Gardening and landscaping assistant

Got green fingers? Put them to use by offering your services to people in your area. Show them sketches of how you think the garden could be improved and you become a landscape gardener to boot (though you'll need to do careful research on what grows well in which places and at what times of year). For some helpful hints, read this free guide.

17. Meal delivery service

Capitalise on people too busy or too lazy to cook by offering to deliver delicious dishes of their liking, home-cooked by you. Check out our interview with the founder of The Pure Package for inspiration.

18. Walking and bike tours

Armed with nothing more than a map and a book on local history, you can guide tours around your local commons, hills or towns and share insight into the history of your area for a small charge.

19. Clothes repairs

Basic needlework is astonishingly straightforward. Offer to darn friends of friends' clothes for a nominal fee and take in too-big shirts and skirts.

20. Gift baskets

Knocking up ribbon-adorned wicker baskets brimming with Bon Maman jams, freshly-baked muffins and fruit is relatively cheap, but you can charge a premium.

21. Dog training

Easy if you know how. Getting a formal qualification will improve your chances of doing business with people you don't know. Check out the Association of Pet Dog Trainers for more info.

22. Pet sitting and walking

Most pet owners prefer one-on-one TLC for their animals than putting them into kennels. Keep your rates competitive and incentivise clients to refer a friend.

23. Event and party planning

Perfect if you've got a natural knack for organisation. Establishing cut-price deals with catering companies, florists, wine suppliers and the like will ensure you offer a competitive service.

24. Car boot sales

Have a proper clear-out of your junk to get started, then reinvest profits into buying stuff from any charity shop you have time to scour. Offer to take friends' junk off their hands to cut overheads.

25. Social media assistant

More and more small businesses are latching onto the fact social media can help them, so offer to maintain accounts for them for a small fee - you can keep business ticking over while still doing your day job. Tools like Tweetdeck will help hugely. More advice here.

26. Handyman

There are gutters to clean, tiles to be scrubbed, lawns to be raked and paths to be laid all around the country. Post friendly notes through letterboxes advertising a cheap hourly rate.

27. Home tutor

If you've got a degree, or good A-level results, you can offer to help out schoolkids with their homework and exams. Get a certification to make it more official if you struggle to find work.

28. Computer skills mentor

There are still millions of people out there who feel utterly confounded by computers and the internet. If you're a spreadsheet whiz or an Outlook old-hand, you can charge them for lessons.

29. CV consultant

If you've made it through the rat race and come out the other side older and wiser, you can help newbies tidy up their CV's. Advertise on Gumtree and ask friends, and keep fees low.

30. Second-hand clothes stall

Get yourself down to a retro clothes market in a university town, armed with piles of 70s, 80s and 90s clothes from charity shops, and you'll find you can charge anything from £5 to £50 an item. Ask the local council about renting a stall.

What business to start?

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