Business Archives

How to find initial customers

If you have just started your business in any sector and your primary objective of earning revenue is through providing services; then your burning question should, “How do I find initial customers?” Finding initial customers can be a bit tricky since there are a lot of measures and steps that need to be undertaken to get to that point. We will be discussing some smart points on how you can find initial customers to boost your business.

Strategies on finding initial customers

We will now be taking a look at some of the strategies for finding an initial set of customers as they are important in taking your business forward,

Create a list – Since you have laid the groundwork for establishing a business, you would have met a potential set of customers. You could have met them through social media interactions, focus groups, and other similar instances. Create a list and add them as potentials that would help you in establishing your business. You can even set aside some time to browse online for potential clients and interacting with them.
Referrals – Ask around and know people who might have an interest in buying what you are selling. Getting good referrals can also be important in getting more like-minded customers and connections that are interested in you. You can even speak with your friends who are veterans and get ideas on how to score big through referral connections.
Work upon your network – You need to search for some local business networking groups and gain perspective about your domain and industry. Understand how you would be able to help others as opposed to how they can help you. Creating a connection with these business owners is a great way to meet prospects if you are selling B2B or B2C.
Show off – Yes, you heard it right. You need to showcase your services at trade events that would attract a sizeable amount of customer base that you would cater to. Doing this will help you in getting clients, potential customers, interested buyers, referrals, and even great contacts.
Industry events – Another important way in finding prospects and initial customers is through industry events. There is no need to have a separate booth installed for yourself where you would want to sell your services. Instead, you can just meet your clients, have a one-on-one interaction about the industry, its potential growth, how each of you is contributing towards making it flourish. Focus on creating your connections first instead of making a hard sale of your services, that might not bode well. Building a relationship is a slow process and you must nurture it with time to see it grow.
Team up with business owners – You can also find an entrepreneur whose products and services are not competitive and also ask them to connect you with some of the potential customers and clients. Having a partner who has an understanding of these matters also goes a long way when it comes to developing contacts with initial customers. You can use the online social network to connect with business owners and ask them for their assistance with regards to approaching the initial customers.

Conclusion

Getting the initial set of customers whilst starting your business can be challenging since it is the initial phase of revenue generation. There would be a lot of things involved, a lot of disappointments, and a lot of learning; but when you get there, it is important to nurture your relationship with them with care. Make sure that they are satisfied with the work that you provide to them, as this would help you attract more customers.

Lean Startup Methodology

What is Lean Startup Methodology?

If you are an entrepreneur and you had an idea on launching a startup, then you must have heard about the “lean startup methodology”. Entrepreneurs usually build their product for their startup and then they assume that customers will flock around to buy them which is the incorrect way of approaching this scenario. Lean Startup methodology provides you with a step-by-step and scientific approach to launching a startup that will take feedback from the users to guide you and then enhance the development of your product.

The methodology provides some very key differences between the traditional business models and the startups. It stems from innovations as opposed to a rigid business model that is already in use and still being used by many companies around the world.

Principles of the Lean Startup Methodology

Let us, deep-dive, into some of the principles of the lean startup methodology,

Entrepreneurs are ubiquitous

If you own a startup firm, then you are an entrepreneur who can apply the lean startup methodology. Irrespective of the space that you are working at, be it your living room or garage, or office space; if you can save time and space and this methodology works for you, go for it.

Management

Startups also need management. The process will not be traditional but entrepreneurship involves non-protocol-based and risk-inclined management which you might have to employ.

Validated Learning

Lean startups are about creating a viable business model through validated learning. This will mean considering the above points and accordingly basing your decisions.

Innovation Accounting

If you have a startup, and you have the lean methodology in place then entrepreneurs would need to objectively monitor their progress, set up deadlines, and make the right decisions as per the relevant data.

Build, measure, learn

This loop enables validated learning through minimum viable products where the experiments are conducted. This is one of the main principles of the lean startup methodology.

Business Model Creation

Business models are the baseline of any business, and one of the easiest ways to make it is through a standard business canvas or a one-page business plan. The reason for making it this simple is because lean startups are dynamic and fast-paced. It keeps the entrepreneurs on their toes which is why a one-page business model is an obvious choice.

This is the point where you initiate the problem-solving process, create your hypothesis and a plan of action. This now takes us to the following part of the process, which is the three stages of the lean startup, and these are as follows,

Problem/Solution Fit – Validating that the issue to be resolved is genuine, do customers want a solution to this problem, and would they pay you for it?
Product/Market Fit – You should be validating the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and the business model. Your product will then be trying to mitigate the customer issues based on how you have designed it and will also determine if it is fit for the market.
Growth Stage – Once your startup is fully functional you would need to think about growth opportunities and scaling the product to a wider range of customers. Funds would need to be brought in and this will require making your product better for a smoother experience.

Conclusion

Lean Startup Methodology is helpful if entrepreneurs want a scientific, proven, and step-by-step way to create a startup. It provides them with options and opportunities as per the relevant data it pulls which in turn is helpful to build a startup that is sustainable in the long run.

How to get funding for a business

Introduction

There will be time when you need to raise money or get a new financing round in business. There are many ways to invest cash into your business, but debt or capital is the two most common. Both are very different, and you can see which one is right for your business. Let’s dig deeper to understand and simplify the process. You should know how to raise funds for a business.

Debt finance is the process of borrowing money from a lender and paying it back with interest over a period of time. The most common way to raise debt is to borrow from a bank or NBFC. Debt lending is a common way to raise money for millions of companies across the country. When you collect money through a loan, you haven’t let go of any stock in your business, which means your property remains intact. This makes loans a popular option among borrowers. After all, in addition to an innovative business idea, new businesses depend on financial resources to make their expected rapid growth sustainable. Of course, the amount of capital a company needs depends on the business model. But where did the funds come from?

In addition to traditional creditors such as banks and state institutions, several sponsors nowadays specialize in financing new businesses.

Top funding options apart from a traditional bank.

Crowdfunding

The concept of crowdfunding is very similar to mutual trust at a basic level. This option involves multiple investors and offers a fixed amount based on business ideas, goals, action plans, and profitable plans. All you need are people who believe in your business ideas. This is one of the easiest ways to raise money without a loan.

Consider Self-funding

Commonly known as bootstrap, this plan is an ideal action plan when it is difficult to convince others of your business ideas and visions. Investors often seek traction before investing. The first self-financing round allows you to demonstrate your thoughts’ feasibility and build investor confidence in the new round of financing.

Bootstrap is an excellent idea for startup financing, especially if your initial business requirements are small. It also gives you the freedom to be your boss. You can’t answer anyone, which also allows you to control your income growth.

Private Lending

In addition to the funding options mentioned above, private lending can be a viable option for businesses seeking capital. These are often individuals or investment groups that offer loans with terms and conditions that can be more flexible than those of traditional banks. This can be particularly appealing to startups or businesses with unique funding needs who might not meet the strict requirements of banks.

Some platforms that connect borrowers with a private lender are adopting a “”people-first”” approach, emphasizing transparency, personalized service, and a focus on building long-term relationships with borrowers. These platforms can be a good starting point for businesses exploring private lending options.

Get in touch with the Venture Capitalists.

Venture capitalists, a safe destination for big bets, offer professionally managed funds looking for funding for startups. The best part of venture capital investment is the experience and follow-through they bring. Venture capitalists usually invest in stocks, and they leave when a company initiates an initial public offering or is acquired.

Venture capitalists often look for startups with sufficient traction and a strong team. However, if you choose to raise funds from venture capital, be flexible enough to be informed and accept scrutiny.

Try Angel Investment

Cash surplus people invest in promising startups and try to gain market share when they reach their potential. They can work alone or collectively in a network to find new companies with great potential. This funding option has a business mindset that wants you to be interested in your success and expect up to 30% equity.

The investors for startup are expected to be of high interest and low investment compared to venture capitalists. Still, it’s important to remember that even Google, Yahoo, and Alibaba were the result of angel investing.

Borrow vs. fundraise: which is best for your business.

Fundraising

Advantages

Finding an investor may be a better strategic move to help you grow your business, Des Marteau said. Investors often offer more than just capital. They may have business connections, manufacturing capabilities, distribution experience, etc. He was inaccessible by other means. If that’s what your business needs, you may also be able to receive a much more considerable amount from a venture capitalist or angel investor than from a loan.

When using a crowdfunding route, unlike certified equity investors, entry barriers are much lower than getting a loan. Instead of going through a lengthy application and credit check process, anyone can launch a crowdfunding campaign with just a few clicks. This is also a wise option if you need to raise a small amount of money. Both commercial lenders and investors tend to negotiate large amounts of capital.

Finally, financing works for businesses at any stage. On the other hand, most lenders’ “business hours” requirement eliminates startups that need to procure seed capital to get going.

Disadvantages

One of the most significant drawbacks of equity financing is the need to relinquish ownership of the business. According to Chan, investors are more likely to maintain a larger share of earnings than mortgage repayments and often seek in-house decision-making power as part of their stock.

Consumer crowdfunding sponsors may not demand fairness, but these platforms usually have low success rates, and campaigns take a lot of time and energy to raise money.

Borrow

Advantages

Loans are one of the most profitable ways to fund your business. When you get a loan through a bank or SBA (Small and Medium Business Administration) lender, the interest rate is usually lower than a personal loan. You can also enjoy some tax incentives. Taking a loan also allows you to increase your business credit score when you repay the loan.

Disadvantages

The application process is very long if you consider getting a traditional bank loan or an SBA bank loan. You often need to meet a long list of prerequisites, including being an established business rather than a new company. Mr. Chan also pointed out that the loan also means that if the loan cannot be repaid, there is a risk of losing collateral.

Benefits of alternative funding

Alternative lenders often charge a higher interest rate for their convenience, although the approval and financing process is usually much faster. Evan Singer, general manager of SBA loan provider, is beneficial in the easiest business loan. It helps in a pinch. They might not be a good long-term strategy because of the highest rates. I warned you.

Rapid application process.

It can take weeks, or even months, for a bank to confirm a loan application. Also, disagreements and concerns about collateral valuation (because banks usually underestimate collateral to reduce their risk exposure) can slow down the process.

At the other end of the speed, the spectrum is alternative financing. Evaluating an application typically takes a few days, or up to a day for National Business Capital & Services.

Access to unsecured business finance solutions.

All bank loans are secured by business and personal assets. This is not always the case with alternative financing, where many financing solutions are not guaranteed in approval of business loan. For example, National Business Capital offers unsecured working capital loans, credit lines, and Merchant Cash Advances.

Impairment or lousy credit approval.

Banks claim good personal and business credit scores. The latter is especially problematic for some applicants who don’t even know they have a business credit score in the first place.

Corporate financing through a capital increase

One way to raise money for your company without going to the bank is to decide to increase your equity capital. This will allow the entry of capitalist partners who will fund the company to exchange shares or participation.

Before publishing your capital increase offer, we recommend that you first research and elaborate on the amount of funding you need and then adjust the offer to your financial goals.

One way to do this is to use Equity Crowdfunding, which follows the same system as crowdfunding, with the difference that investors receive shares in the lending company. This allows the company to raise funds.

Tips for finding the best funding options

Financing to companies by factoring

This is one of the more common ways to raise money among large companies than small businesses. Therefore, this is a way to proceed with collecting company invoices without resorting to commercial discounts.

Corporate financing through venture capital

If your company is a startup with high growth and innovation potential, this is one of the best options for raising private funding for entrepreneurs. Venture capital is a company managed by so-called general and limited liability companies responsible for the funds raised through private investors.

Financing to companies through IPO

This is a financing tool for large corporations, as it requires a minimum of € 1.2 million in capital to do so. If your business is listed, it will be an important way to raise money for your business.

Funding my company with public assistance

Before assessing a company’s financing through this option, remember that the aid or subsidy is a public incentive, not the source of funding itself, as the subsidy rarely fully covers the project’s entire cost.

Conclusion

Financing is an essential aspect of realizing your business vision. Funding and financing are both basic modern business scenarios that support the growth of startups startup. The first round of funding, commonly known as seed funding, forms the basis for financing. Series A, B, and C funding rounds follow. Seed funding usually refers to the essential initial funding round, but Series A, B, and C differ in the business’s maturity and investors’ types. Financing the series will help you evolve your start-up into a full-fledged organization by supporting it with the funds calculated in crucial steps.

5 lessons you can learn from some of the world’s best businesswomen

A businesswoman is defined as someone who is actively involved in the business world. She is responsible for undertaking activities, whether commercial or industrial, to generate cash, sales, flow, etc. Many great businesswomen worldwide work in an important position in a company or who own their own company. Nowadays, businesswomen are much in demand, and almost every country has top businesswomen with them. Many young businesswomen stepped into the business field at a very young age and still are doing wonders. Still, at the very same time, some businesswomen have been excellently ruling their businesses from the past.

5 lessons you can take away from some of the most successful businesswomen in the world

1st lesson

The first lesson to learn is always to put yourself first. We have always been that serving is one of the top characteristics of good businesswomen but along with this one of the most things which we are unaware of is that we only try to instruct our employees about what to do rather we should always think and start asking what it is which we can do to help them.

2nd lesson

First, Impressions are powerful and are long-lasting. This is the second lesson which we need to learn. We should always keep in mind that first impressions are everything and are very long- lasting in anyone’s mind. Starting from the greeting, the handshakes and the presentation, everything you do should be formal so that the other person feels valued and respected. Whenever in a meeting, walk with full confidence from the door and give it your best. In this way, your first impression will be much powerful and empowering.

3rd lesson

Don’t concentrate much on what you say. Rather concentrate on how you say it. Even if you are pointing a mistake at someone in front of them, try not to shout a raise your voice against them. The use of a positive tone of voice or a negative response might influence the other person’s thinking. Your reactions and behaviour matter more than the actual words which you say in the office. Whatever you want to say to your employees, clients or anyone present in the office, you should always come to your anger and talk politely to everyone. This is the key to maintaining good relations in the office.

4th lesson

It is completely ok for the leaders to work in the business. A good businesswoman does not think if she is just a leader or mentor and should not do the employees’ work. In challenging circumstances, be certain that you and your staff put out their best effort to help your company flourish. Always think your business to be small so that it grows bigger each day. And if you start thinking that your business is already in a good state and has already achieved many things, then your business might grow small.

5th lesson

Stop comparing yourself access with others and start focusing on building your business more. You can surely learn more from others, but once you start comparing the success they have, the new might get discouraged, and your good going business can get worse. Learning from other companies or even from your employees to better your business should always be done. You need to stay focused and work hard and make your business better each day.

The above mentioned are the most important lessons that every business aspirant should know and learn to be successful like these businesswomen.

How Women Successfully Perform Home Based Business

Home business refers to a small business that operates from the business owners’ home—the number of employees in-home business isis very small in number. Usually, the immediate family of the business owner, and sometimes it is also called a family business. Many people want to have a home business as they cannot go outside and work. We got plenty of the best home business ideas for those people, and a few of them are listed below.

Home-based business ideas for women –

1. Blogging
When it comes to home-based business ideas for women blogging is the first in the best picture which comes to mind. The advantage of blogging for most women is that They get flexible hours for work As per their convenience. Blogging is not much difficult to do, and You need to create a website of yours and start writing articles about your favourite things. You can include many items in your blog based on your interest, such as you can start with food blogging, Beauty blocking, travel blogging etc.

2. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is referred to as the practice of writing for earning money. It is working on one’s own and not being employed by a company. The freelance writers considered their clients need and create a written text according to that. Working as a freelancer can either be working from home or also from a rental office space. The money the freelancer charges depends on the amount of work they will have to put into the project. The amount may vary according to work done.

3. Social Media Influencer
A social media influencer has an active account in any social media platform and has established credibility in a specific industry. Is social media influencer access to a large audience and achieve this by maintaining an active online presence on their social media accounts. Many social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram Radio can find the number of social media influencers. The more the number of followers these influencers have, the more amount of money they earn.

4. Life Coach
A life coach helps people deal with all the difficult circumstances in their lives and make them believe in life again. If you are one of those people who Would like to help people, being a life coach is a good option. Many people experience stress in their day to day life, and some people can’t even bear with that stress, and sometimes this dress causes serious emotional issues within them. As a life coach, you can help them out in these situations and on a handsome amount of money. Also, if you add a certified life coach, then the amount of money can increase.

5. Owning Rental Properties
If you have rental properties such as cars, houses, furniture, pottery, party chairs, air conditions or even any kind of electronic items, then you can easily rent these things to someone and get a good amount of money in return. The best way to promote this business is to create an app to list these things, and people can have a clear idea about them. The app users will know what they want to rent from you after seeing the list. In this video, work will be in a structural and organized form.

As we know in today’s time, women are no less than anyone and particularly in the home-based business, they have done excellent and are pretty successful. The home mentioned above business ideas are ideal for anyone sitting in their home and want to earn a good amount of money.

Why Portfolio Diversification is Important

Asset management is the direction of all or part of a client’s portfolio by a financial services institution, usually an investment bank, or an individual. Institutions offer investment services along with a wide range of traditional and alternative product offerings that might not be available to the average investor.

When the stock market is flourishing, it appears almost impossible to sell a stock for less than what you paid for it. However, since we never know what the market will do at any given time, we must never underestimate the value of a well-diversified portfolio in any market environment.

The investment community preaches the same thing the real estate market preaches for buying a house when it comes to developing an investing strategy that tempers possible losses in a bear market: venue. To put it another way, you can never put all of your eggs in one basket. The principle of diversification is based on this core theory.

What is Diversification:

Most financial advisors, fund managers, and individual investors use diversification as a rallying cry. It’s a portfolio management approach that combines various investments into one. Diversification is the principle that investing in a number of things would give you a better return. It also implies that diversifying one’s investment portfolio would lower risk.

Diversification is a term that has been around for a long time. With the benefit of hindsight, we can examine the market’s gyrations and responses when they started to falter during the dotcom crash and again during the Great Recession. We must note that investing is an art form, not a reflex, and that the time to practise disciplined investing with a diversified portfolio is until diversification is needed. When the average investor “reacts” to the market, 80% of the harm has already been done. A strong offence, more than most places, is your best defence, and a well-diversified portfolio paired with a five-year investment horizon will withstand most hurricanes.

One might desire to add index funds or fixed-income funds to your portfolio. Investing in stocks that track different indices is a fantastic way to diversify your portfolio over time. You can further hedge your portfolio against market fluctuations and uncertainty by adding some fixed-income solutions. Rather than investing in a particular field, these funds aim to mimic the performance of large indices, so they try to reflect the value of the bond market.

Another advantage of these funds is that they often have low fees. It means you’ll have more cash in your wallet. Because of what it takes to run these funds, the management and operational costs are low.

Make frequent additions to your investments. Using dollar-cost averaging if you have $10,000 to spend. This strategy is used to help smooth out market volatility’s peaks and valleys. The aim of this approach is to reduce your investment risk by consistently spending the same amount of money over time. Dollar-cost averaging is when you invest money in a certain portfolio of securities on a regular basis. When prices are low, you’ll buy more shares, and when prices are high, you’ll buy less.

Purchasing and holding is a good strategy, as is dollar-cost averaging. However, just because your investments are on autopilot doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to the powers at work. Keep up with your savings and keep track of any shifts in the overall market. You’ll want to know what’s going on with the businesses you’ve invested in. You’ll be able to say when it’s time to cut your losses, sell, and move on to your next investment if you do it this way.

If you’re not a trader, make sure you know what you’re getting for your money. Some companies charge a recurring fee, while others charge per transaction. These expenses can quickly add up and deplete your budget. Being conscious of the price you’re paying and the value you’re receiving. It’s important to remember that the cheapest option isn’t necessarily the best option. Check to see if your fees have changed.

Investing can and should be a pleasurable experience. It has the potential to be educational, insightful, and enjoyable. Even in the toughest of times, trading can be profitable if you use a disciplined strategy and use diversification, buy-and-hold, and dollar-cost averaging strategies.

Equities can be excellent investments, but don’t put all of your money in one stock or sector. Consider starting your own virtual mutual fund by investing in a few companies you’re familiar with, trust, and even use on a daily basis. However, stocks aren’t the only factor to remember. Commodities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and real estate investment trusts (REITs) are other options (REITs). Often, don’t limit yourself to your own home base. Consider expanding your horizons and going global. You’ll spread the risk this way, which might result in bigger rewards.

Some claim that investing in what you know would lead to the average investor being too retail-oriented, but understanding a business and using its products and services can be a safe and wholesome approach to this market. Yet, don’t get carried away and go too far. Make sure you limit yourself to a manageable portfolio. It’s pointless to invest in 100 different cars if you don’t have the time or money to keep up with them. Try to keep your savings to no more than 20 to 30.

One might want to add index funds or fixed-income funds to your portfolio. Investing in stocks that track different indices is a fantastic way to diversify your portfolio over time. One can further hedge your portfolio against market fluctuations and uncertainty by adding some fixed-income solutions. Rather than investing in a particular field, these funds aim to mimic the performance of large indices, so they try to reflect the value of the bond market.

Gamestop to appoint Ryan Cohen as Chairman

According to the various reports, GameStop Corp, which has been the subject of a recent Reddit-fueled trading frenzy that it plans to elect activist investor Ryan Cohen as chairman, placing him in charge of the videogame retailer’s transformation. Since joining GameStop’s board of directors in January 2021, Chewy co-founder Cohen has pushed for the company’s transformation into an e-commerce powerhouse capable of competing with big-box stores like Target and technology giants and companies like Microsoft.

The reports also suggested that the company announced, six individuals, including Cohen, would be nominated for election to its board of directors at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders. In premarket trade, GameStop stock was up over 3%, breaking a three-day losing streak. The news comes after GameStop raised the valuation of the new stock it would sell from $100 million to around $1 billion on Monday, hoping to profit from a boom in its stock as a result of the Reddit-fueled rally.

Various reports also suggests that the GameStop stock has risen over 900 percent in extremely volatile trading as amateur investors mobilised on social networking platforms like Reddit staged a tenacious buying spree, defeating Wall Street hedge funds that had shorted the stock.

Moreover, Larry Cheng, co-founder and managing partner of investment company Volition Capital, and Yang Xu, senior vice president of global finance and treasury at the Kraft Heinz Co., are also on the board of directors. Kurtis Wolf resigned from GameStop’s board of directors, according to a regulatory filing. According to GameStop, his departure was not the result of any disagreements with the organisation about its activities.

Bitcoin Payments to buy a Tesla

As per the various reports, after investing in Bitcoin just a few weeks ago, Tesla has now begun to formally recognize Bitcoin as a payment method for its vehicles.

Tesla revealed last month that it had changed its investment strategy and would now be adding crypto currencies and gold to its portfolio.

As per the various reports, Tesla states that they revised thier0 investment strategy in January 2021 to give us more flexibility to diversify our portfolio and optimize returns on cash that is not needed to maintain sufficient operational liquidity. They may invest a portion of such cash in such alternative reserve assets, such as digital assets, gold bullion, gold exchange-traded funds, and other assets as defined in the future, as part of the policy, which was properly approved by our Board of Directors’ Audit Committee. Following that, they have invested $1.50 billion in bitcoin as part of this strategy, and we would acquire and retain digital assets on a short- or long-term basis.

Various reports states that Tesla also confirmed that, in addition to the huge investment in Bitcoin, it would like to begin accepting the crypto currency as a payment method in its business operations. Tesla began charging a small non-refundable order fee a few years ago to discourage people from messing with the company’s ordering process. Tesla is hoping that the switch would boost revenue by attracting some of the crypto currency millionaires to the company. However, due to the heavy energy usage associated with mining the cryptocurrency, managing the blockchain, and making transactions, the automaker has been chastised for going against its goal with this investment in Bitcoin.

Some claim, on the other end, that Bitcoin could serve as a vehicle for renewable energy investments, as green energy sources become more affordable than fossil fuel-powered sources.

Despite the global pandemic wreaking havoc on all major economies on the planet, the crypto currency market has continued to develop.

During this pandemic, several crypto companies have sprung up to meet the ever-increasing demand for Bitcoin and other crypto currencies. And, can be expected to grow more in the future.

Microsoft’s Emergency Patch is been Monitored by U.S. Government after a Hack

As per various report, the U.S. government is closely tracking on an emergency patch released by Microsoft Corporation, post an alleged hacking group breached in company’s mail server software, which created a tension in the biggest software making industry

“We are closely tracking Microsoft’s emergency patch for previously unknown vulnerabilities in Exchange Server software and reports of potential compromises of U.S. think tanks and defense industrial base entities,” National security adviser, Jake Sullivan tweeted.

This news broke out with Jake’s tweet on Twitter raising a concern of the national as well as international data breaching theft. “We encourage network owners to patch ASAP,” Jake added. The tweet was also attached with a link including Microsoft’s notice of the security update.

The reports also suggested that ever since the SolarWinds Corp—a Texas-based software firm—was hacked, Microsoft’s almost ubiquitous suite of software is under the radar. This Texas-based software firm served as a springboard for various intrusions across sectors. The hackers mainly took advantage of diversification set by customers’ Microsoft services to segregate their objectives by finding the affected networks. Similar hackers who attacked SolarWinds also attacked Microsoft, mostly accessing and downloading source code. The affected aspects were calendaring products, emails, as well as Exchange.

This American multinational computer corporation, Microsoft established in 1975 by Harvard College dropouts Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Currently, it has become the largest software company and also one of the most valuable organization in the world. The company invests the developing and supporting various list of software services and products which caters to different needs of users. There was witnessed some downfall in the year 2000, but later it retained its top stature in both personal computing and other businesses. Microsoft made a fortune in directly dealing with the consumers as the operating system was heavily used by numerous people including new generations.

Bitcoin is the big business | the Rise of Blockchain

Before indulging our brains in the vast world of Bitcoin, let us first understand blockchain technology. For start, ‘the blockchain’ does seem to be complicated and difficult to comprehend, but its core concept stands on basic grounds of understanding. It’s a database type, which stores data in its big piles of information electronically on a computer system. Unlike other typical databases, blockchain is similar to the way the data is structured and stored. It basically collects information in groups which is apparently also known as blocks, which holds information in it. It’s similar to the quanta but without quantum physics. These blocks are connected to each other, as one block gets filled with the data, it further data starts to get storing in another block. As it is connected in a chain, hence the name ‘blockchain’. Based on this technology is one of the popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

Currently, Bitcoin as we can say is officially sailing in the uncharted oceans. Before COVID-19 pandemic with a known value of USD 4,000 which later skyrocketed to almost 900 per cent growth and that is a huge rise. This has been witnessed by many observers, which is not just restricted to certain investors and financial advisors but also the vast number of individuals with the internet at their grasp. A 900 per cent rise seems quite impossible to believe in such a little time but it all depends on how a currency is valued. The value of any currency depends on the beliefs of people, if people think and believes that something, anything, is precious and worth exchanging the value of that ‘thing’ increases. Later, other parameters like availability arrive and draws the picture of inflation giving it a numerical value as per the nation’s trading norms. Similarly, Bitcoin has experienced a sudden rise in its worth, as people have started to believe more in its potential and direct transaction methods i.e. without a middle entity. An interesting fact about Bitcoin, there are just 21 million of them.

In 2017, Bitcoin first raised to USD 20,000 and it secured everyone’s interest in its favor. And by the year 2018, it broke the most searched word of the Google search engine. These searches were mostly the resulted due to people’s curiosity and flow of interests in this digital currency. Though, the Bitcoin has taken quite upward stepping making it more valuable. Since, the fall of 2020, the Bitcoin market value is forecasted to be increased more in the coming time. The reports suggested that new Bitcoin wallets are being created every day with a purpose of trading. Nowadays, Bitcoin has heavily being appreciated by various companies for their future transaction, as it seems reliable. Whereas, it is also been treated as a best way of an investment opportunity. Bitcoin have started a digital transformation, slowly but effectively, but none knows to what extent. Though its main purpose of being peer-to-peer electronic cash is getting served, it may also lead to a decentralization of global currency system. Thus, it is banned in many countries.

Ever since, Paypal has featured Ethereal, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and Bitcoin making it easier for people to own and buy Bitcoins. Account holders can hold, sell and buy above digital currencies. The company is also planning on using similar platform Venmo. Moreover, ever since the Elon Musk invested a billion in Bitcoin, it has attracted many young investor and next gen tech savvys out there.

As like every other system, Bitcoin also gives a room for a doubt. The risk factor stays as no previous similar system has been used or tried, so there is chance that Bitcoin might turn out to be bubble. But, as there is fear of emergency expenditure utilized by central bank might lead to hyperinflation, the Bitcoin is resulted as the best source to store assets. Yet, as per various reports it can be only used for portfolio diversification, as its correlation with other assets such as cash, bonds, share is quite low.

The world is changing and so should we, but must never neglect the voids that any new technology or ideology possess, as it might or can turned out to be threat. Currently, the Bitcoin’s age is blooming, let us see whether the future holds the same grounds for the digital currency or not.