Go Back To School
If you want to learn more about how to launch a business, the chances are you don’t know everything you need to know yet.
The TabThere’s nothing like finishing a degree to make you want to go back to school. Well. Not really. But if you want to learn more about how to launch a business, the chances are you don’t know everything you need to know yet.
Check out our guide to the resources that will get you up to speed on the things you need to make it.
Decoded
WHAT
They’re teaching tots to code these days: which means the class of 2020 will probably get a job before you. Crush the upstarts: attend one of Decoded’s classes, which focus on teaching you multimedia and backend skills in a single day. Admittedly that sounds ambitious – but testimonials suggest they’re not selling you magic beans. Choose from Code in a Day, Social in a Day, Data Visualisation in a Day or CodED in a Day (billed as an ‘essential introduction to Computer Science for teachers).
WHERE AND HOW
Events run regularly in London, New York and Singapore – though unless your railcard runs to flights you’ll probably want the London events. Check the Decoded website (decoded.co) for a full schedule – you can apply as a group if you want to train a future model start-up army in the art of HTML.
BEST FOR
Computer whizzes with more developed social skills: perhaps that surprisingly hot Physician.
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Ideas Tap
WHAT
Not technically a course but a creative network that connects aspiring writers, photographers, actors, directors, and producers with creative opportunities: whether that be jobs, cash prizes for creative briefs run by Ideas Tap, or competitions with longer career legs than a one-off cash instalment for example, the opportunity to work as a paid reviewer at The Edinburgh Festival, a Sky Arts Fund, or backing to launch your own ‘zine. Applying for briefs (for example, submitting an 800 word article on a theme) is a great way to get your writing out there and impress the movers and shakers in the industry you want to be in.
WHERE AND HOW
Find it online at ideastap.com. The team also has offices in London. Just upload a profile including a CV, a brief outlining your interests, and a photo that doesn’t make you look like an unemployed arts graduate and habitual self-abuser. You’ll then be eligible to take part in Ideas Tap briefs and enter for the bigger prizes.
BEST FOR
Creative souls who don’t have parents/influential sexual partners in the industry of their choice. In subject terms, this means English, History and Art students.
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General Assembly
WHAT
If Seedcamp is like university for aspiring businessmen, General Assembly is like that cool supervisor who runs the seminar that made going to university worth it, if only because when his hand almost grazes yours as he gives you class handouts to circulate, you feel most peculiar inside. General Assembly is a network of ‘campuses’ (if you’re going to launch a startup you’ll have to become familiar with this trendy US babble, and probably start using it yourself too) all over the world: there are two in east London. It runs classes (many of which are livestreamed too – register online and you’ll be sent a link to view the video). Events range from single classes to workshops running over several days, themed along business, design and technology.
WHERE AND HOW
Check out the calendar of events at generalassemb.ly (no, whatever they think that is not a catchy URL). The community is full right now, so you’ll have to hang on if you want to be a member but keep yours eyes trained on the prize.
BEST FOR
New age hippies who are actually ruthlessly good at networking.
For tips on how to ruthlessly network (not really – but there’s some other useful shit), check out rest of The Tab’s startup section.