Sohrab Vazir
Consultant | Founder | Global Citizen | Writer
Tag Archives: Founders
Patents: 4 Basic Facts
Patents are complex, and obtaining them is only part of the hurdle. As a business consultant working with innovative founders, I get a lot of questions about patents. While I am not a patent attorney, I will share 4 basic facts about patents that will give you an idea about protecting your intellectual property through this route. Obtaining patents is certainly a complex path. You must consult a patent attorney if you wish to do so. However, to get started, I will share 4 basic facts about patents that will give you an idea of what to expect. 1. Patents are expensive First of all, patents cost a lot. As an example, let’s look at the UK: Summary of Costs As you notice, the key costs are associated with patent attornies, which you must consult if you decide to file and register a patent. For more information on UK patent costs, check here. 2. Patents take time It takes time to register a patent. On average, you are looking at 1 to 2 years (although this may vary). However, the key principle is that, unlike trade marks, patents are more complex and time-consuming. 3. They are jurisdictional Similar to trade marks, patents usually cover a certain jurisdiction, for instance, the UK. If you wish to obtain multi-jurisdictional protection, there are higher fees. 4. Obtaining a patent is not the end Lastly, it should be noted that obtaining a patent is not the end of the line. Your competitors, often firms with more resources, will most likely seek to find a way around your patent or worse, get into a legal patent battle with you. And what must be noted is that these legal battles will cost you, a lot. If you are seeking to register a patent, it is important to consult a patent attorney. Working with me as your business consultant includes introducing you to one to ensure you obtain solid advice before making any decisions and investing your resources. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business. Now I help aspiring business owners and job seekers fulfil their potential.
Advisory Programs now LIVE
In today’s dynamic business landscape, personalized guidance and support are invaluable assets on the path to success. Recognizing the diverse needs of individuals and enterprises, my tailored advisory programs are designed to empower migrants, founders, and enterprise alike. Let’s delve into how these programs can unlock potential, foster growth, and drive innovation. Empowering Founders Entrepreneurship is a journey fraught with challenges and opportunities. The programs equip founders with the tools and insights they need. Whether to navigate the complexities of employment or scaling a venture. From refining business models to accessing funding and market expansion strategies, I work hand-in-hand with founders to turn visions into reality. With personalised mentorship and actionable guidance, I empower founders to build resilient and impactful businesses. Empowering Migrants For migrants navigating new territories, my advisory programs offer a roadmap to prosperity. From navigating cultural nuances to accessing opportunities, I provide personalised strategies and mentorship to facilitate integration and success. By harnessing individual strengths and aspirations, I help migrants to thrive in their new environments and contribute meaningfully to society. Empowering Enterprise Innovation lies at the heart of every successful enterprise. The advisory programs offer tailored solutions to drive innovation, growth, and competitive advantage. Whether it’s optimizing operations, exploring new markets, or fostering a culture of innovation, I partner with enterprises to unlock their full potential. Through strategic guidance and implementation support, I enable enterprises to stay ahead of the curve and seize opportunities in an ever-evolving marketplace. At the core of my advisory programs lies a commitment to empowerment, growth, and impact. By tailoring my approach to the unique needs of migrants, founders, and enterprise, I unlock new possibilities and drive sustainable success. Join me on this transformative journey and unlock your full potential today! About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats.I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (similar to the current Start-Up Visa). Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (which was replaced by the Innovator Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other entrepreneurs start their businesses.
3 tools to help you make more sales
If you’re on the lookout for digital tools to make more sales, this short list is for you. As an entrepreneur for over 8 years, I learnt an important lesson: if you can’t sell, you won’t succeed regardless of what you aim to do. Now, I am not going to go through the soft and personal skills that you need to make more sales (perhaps for another article). However, I want to point out 3 tools that can considerably help you in getting exposure, prospecting and converting your sales leads. Tidio Tidio has got to be one of my favourite tools of all time. Its primary product is AI-assisted chatbots. These chatbots and lead converters are highly customizable, allowing you to tailor your communications with prospective leads. Moreover, the Tidio platform in itself is quite user-friendly, and easy to use whilst also offering more service extensions such as email marketing. Hunter.io Do you know what’s the worst approach to sales? The cold approach. Generic emails with the opening of “Hello there” or “Greetings” will never work. Instead, it’s important to target and create a profile of your ideal customer accurately. But, how do you get to contact them? This is where Hunter.io comes in. Quora Did I just refer to a community platform as a sales tool? Yes Was it by mistake? No. I love Quora. I have used it for over a decade and it has never disappointed me (apart from the tabs opening in new windows all the time!). However, you may be asking why Quora can be used as a sales tool. Here’s the answer: psychology. Quora, along with Reddit, is one of the best platforms for understanding people’s problems, needs and desires, the key ingredients of a successful sales strategy. Use Quora to understand: Your target market, Their pain What bothers them What motivates them Subsequently, centre your sales pitch around the above. These 3 tools will help you boost your sales through better planning and engagement with your leads. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four prior to 2020. Currently, I help other entrepreneurs start their businesses.
Choosing a business bank account: what to consider?
One of the questions that most business owners will ask themselves is how to choose a business bank account. Choosing a bank account should always be thought through, especially for business purposes. There are plenty of business bank account options available these days. And like scarcity, abundance can also make things complicated. This is particularly the case with the emergence of digital “challenger” banks such as Starling & Monzo. As a business owner for almost a decade, I have learnt a thing or two about business bank accounts, and I want to share them with you today. Your business structure This is mainly a case of being self-employed or running a company/partnership. If you’re self-employed, a simple personal account may suffice, so long as your expenses/income is clear, so perhaps a separate personal account would be most suitable. However, when it comes to companies /partnerships (regardless of the type), you must get a business bank account. Business transactions Your business transactions are important when choosing a bank account. Specifically, consider the following concerning your (anticipated) transactions: -Average value -Frequency -Location(s) involved in your transactions -Charges by the bank Depending on your answers to the first two aforementioned points, certain banks may appeal to different customers. Therefore, it’s important to get an overview of your forecasted transactions and compare them against the offers available. Your rights upon possible account restrictions Every bank will have its own policies regarding account restrictions. This is a common occurrence and can happen for a variety of reasons, including compliance and investigations. For example, this has been a common issue among digital nomads because many do not have a fixed address. Hence, it’s important to understand the account’s terms and conditions regarding such scenarios. Business support Check to see if the business bank account offers additional support. You may not necessarily need it, but it can be helpful for some. Tide is an example of such an account, offering services such as company incorporation, support in accessing funding and so on. These are 4 things to consider when choosing a business bank account. Make sure you research your options carefully to avoid any regrets down the line. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size across several domains. For my credentials, please see here.
6 useful AI tools for founders & businesses
AI tools are revolutionising the world of work for founders and businesses. From customer service to content creation, AI-powered tools have simplified many of the old processes. In this article, I will highlight 6 AI tools that are super useful for founders and businesses. As a founder or a business, you must use your time and resources efficiently. AI-powered tools help you do so. The world of AI has advanced rapidly, and new ways of using it evolve every day. Now let’s talk about some of those awesome AI tools that will help founders and businesses maximise their offer. Canva Canva has added various AI functionalities to enhance its content creation features. For those who don’t know Canva: it is one of the entrepreneurship world’s biggest gifts to humanity. Canva is useful for both founders and other members of businesses for content creation. Recently it has added several useful AI functionalities, making it even more awesome. The YouTube video below highlights some of these really well, so make sure to check it out! Grammarly In this day and age, grammar and spelling mistakes are becoming a thing of the past. We may partially thank the education system for that. However, a big chunk of this progress is thanks to the power of technology. Grammarly is a reflection of this. It is powered by AI and improves your text and writing. Personally, I’m the type to write typos all the time, personally because I have 50 tabs open on my browser, so Grammarly has been a real treat for me! Tidio Chatbots have become increasingly popular in the last few years. Moreover, many chatbots are powered by AI, including Tidio. Tidio offers a range of benefits, including: -Easy-to-use & simple interface -Integration with various platforms such as WordPress, Shopify & Wix -Customizable AI-powered chatbots & lead generators Personally, as a founder and business owner, I am a big fan of Tidio as an AI-powered tool, and it also comes with a free version. ChatGPT I was not sure if I should mention ChatGPT, given all the hype surrounding it and its parent company, OpenAI. However, a list of AI tools for founders and businesses would be incomplete without ChatGPT. There are so many things that founders and businesses can do with ChatGPT, including (but not limited to): -Content creation -Editing written content -Provision of information -Code: generation, debugging and more Synthesia Another one of my favourite AI tools for founders and businesses is Synthesia. Synthesia is a video creation and media generation platform powered by AI. It helps you create professional videos and use AI-based characters as narrators, who look (too) similar to real humans! Notion AI Using your time and resources efficiently is crucial as a founder and/or a business. Therefore, the last few years have witnessed the emergence of many task management and teamwork tools such as Notion or Trello. Notion reserves a unique spot, as it has gone a step further by harnessing the power of AI. This functionality helps founders and businesses to use Notion AI for tasks such as: -Information management and categorisation -Translation -Content generation -Simplification of information -and much more…….. These are 6 useful AI tools for founders and businesses. As a founder, it’s important to keep yourself updated with the latest tech innovations and leverage them to your benefit. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size across several domains. For my credentials, please see here.
How to boost your networking skills as an entrepreneur?
Networking skills are crucial in all walks of life, especially as an entrepreneur. Why? It’s hardly a surprise; First, humans are social creatures. We need human interaction to survive. Second, genuinely succeeding as an entrepreneur is primarily determined by who you know and your sales ability. Trust me: it all boils down to sales. For those who do not know me: I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) company, StudyFlats, when I was only 22 years old. As the sole founder and director, I scaled the business to over 30 UK cities. Okay, enough with the self-marketing, but feel free to read more about me here if you wish. In my years as an entrepreneur, I realised that one of the key determinants for an entrepreneur’s success is their networking skills, as well as their existing network. Personally, I always thrived on meeting new people and generally interacting with others. However, I did have my periods of being shy and introverted and therefore can relate to others who feel similarly. Building my own business helped me turn my outgoing personality, as well as my flaws, into effective networking skills. Today, I want to share 3 hacks that you can start implementing RIGHT NOW to improve your networking skills. 1. Get out there & talk to people I don’t care what it is, nor does it have to necessarily be business/networking events at first. Of course, business and networking events are essential for building a network relevant to your business. However, at this point, the purpose is to get in the habit of talking to ANYBODY. The best way to start is to take part in activities that you resonate with on a personal level, such as sports. Start getting comfortable with the idea of talking to anyone and shake off any discomfort/anxiety that you have about it. 2. Surround yourself with effective networkers | “ Your network is your net worth” One of the best ways to learn networking skills is by being in the company of effective networkers. “Your network is your net worth” is a golden quote and one that is particularly relevant to any entrepreneur. Moreover, simply being in the presence of those who possess a skill that you desire will enable you to adopt their positive traits/approach/mindset. 3. Approach and talk to influential people, especially if it makes you uncomfortable I grew up in an environment where I interacted with people who were either celebrities or nationally known within their fields of expertise. Initially, I recall that sense of anxiety when being surrounded by such people. However, since being a teenager I pushed myself to start conversations with such individuals. Interestingly, those conversations were always very positive despite feeling uneasy in the beginning. Remember this: “everyone is a human being with their own flaws and imperfections, including yourself”. Once you truly realise that, social pressure will have far less impact on your networking skills as an entrepreneur. As an example of this, in 2019 I was shortlisted as a finalist by NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards for North East England. These 3 simple hacks will help you take your networking skills to the next level. As an entrepreneur, your social and professional circle is paramount to your success. Therefore, developing your networking skills should be a key priority for any prospective and current entrepreneur. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting, and content.