ⓧ Aikidomonk

Gamer - Mostly COD on Twitch & You Tube

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[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@YouTubeCreators tell Jimmy that lmfao

[ⓧPirateLord @PirateLordX]

The UK seems rather cooked for founders right now and it's sad to see daily almost folks quitting their dreams to build a better future and innovate, for seemingly various reasons including some of the following.

What do you think?

This is my view:

1. Grants seem to be frozen or slow as many Local Authorities and Councils and public bodies wait for the Government's April budget, so no small grants are open.

2. The Tech org Innovate UK seems rather bureaucratic in its nature of handling innovation grants. So unless you're a University-backed or corporate-backed entity most startups are not then this is seemingly impossible to access or break into.

4. The whole investor space seems to be warped right now with an all-time low in investor confidence. Even with AI, Deep Tech and Fintech and Web3 where innovation is at a massive opportunity right now globally.

5. Web3 though slightly matured seems to be still deeply misunderstood with scams still taking headlines and founders raising then rugging or even slow rugging i.e. not delivering and moving on, claiming mental health reasons and such like, pivoting to new industries or simply vanishing.

6. The creative sector and space is hugely underfunded and ignored with AI taking more market share and slowly leading to tech killing the space entirely, COVID, strikes, AI, wars and cost-of-living crisis has only exacerbated this as well.

7. Solo founders (like me) are getting ignored, not supported, get no attention on socials, so are increasingly dying out unless they have a golden parachute already protecting them and many do not unless already wealthy.

8. Everything seems to drag on and take ages to deliver, whilst bills ramp up and prices go up faster than incomes and wages and rewards, leading to critical negative cashflow impact and crises why most indie-founder (like me) gets increasingly crushed. Like the system is not designed for true innovators and folks beginning from nothing like we read they did in the good old days (often hyped exaggerated and lied about)

However ...

Life is not all about the doom and gloom.

I am not trapped.

I have my advantages:

a. I am a polymath

b. I am deeply creative

c. Have many, many ideas to seed, nurture, develop and build

d. I am super fast at execution

e. I am a Web3 native (now) of sorts

f. I am storytelling-driven lad

g. I am decent at tech, film, writing and branding

h. I am a founder with multiple IPs created to date I can leverage upon

Most folks only have one of the above, I have 8.

This is why I can escape the 'UK is cooked' meme when many feel that they cannot, some running off to some other country and such like, turning their back on our Great Country where they made their money in the first place, refusing to give back.

So what does actually work for founders in 2025?

Forget the Grants

Forget the VCs

Forget the bureaucratic systems

Focus on the real channels and avenues to found, fund and create from:

Possible Solutions (not financial advice, always follow the rules and regulations and never rug your community or teams. Note: Any mention of tokens, NFTs, pre-sales, memberships or fundraising methods are general observations of what some founders do globally. They are NOT recommendations, not endorsements, and may not be suitable, legal, or compliant in every jurisdiction):

1. Some founders run micro pre-sales with their communities to raise funds for building, but only where fully legal and compliant. (Only where legal and compliant. Many jurisdictions treat token sales as high-risk or regulated activity. Always get legal advice before even considering it).

2. Do a limited edition NFT release story and lore-driven. (Not investment products, just digital collectibles. Always clarify this to your community).

3. Consult and Coach and support other projects and individuals and raise funds that way for your project. Do a one-off flash offer for your services. Black Friday is coming up.

4. Create a monthly membership for a community and use Patreon, Ko-fi, X, Skool or such like even YouTube to run it. Not only OnlyFans out there Degens.

5. Hustle content on X and YouTube and get paid. Get a schedule have a process that works to deliver fast, yet decent content, not AI slop to get a decent following. P.S. I need followers so follow me here and on YouTube.

6. UK has a SEIS/EIS tax break (DYOR) for new companies and emerging ones if eligible so Angel investors get like up to 30% to sometimes 85% (right profile HNWs) for eligible companies investment, so you can present your innovative high-risk project more clearly to those who qualify. DYOR and always seek advice first. Also you can get HMRC who can check your papers and provide advance assurance to show that your company and business case are eligible so this forward looking stamp of approval can be sent to investors, but be wary of steps to complete before and after process, I can consult if you want help on this and won't charge you a fortune or can direct you to my colleagues who run great sites that automate this process for a fee and we are probably cheaper than accountants' charges. Again lots to understand before you begin, so don't rush and do this process properly. Note: SEIS/EIS involves significant risk of capital loss. Eligible only for certain investors. Again, DYOR. Also, do not solicit investment publicly unless you follow FCA promotion rules. Discuss SEIS/EIS privately, with appropriately classified investors only.

7. Crowdfunding, can be done for perks think Kickstarter or Indiegogo or for equity via Seedrs and Crowdcube etc. Again if you have the advanced assurance set out in part 6. above as this helps with your process as people often view SEIS/EIS eligibility more favourably due to potential tax treatment (but it still involves significant risk). Potential tax treatments exist in some cases, but these depend entirely on eligibility and come with significant risk. Equity crowdfunding platforms come with their own checks, compliance and approvals. Never solicit equity investment directly on social platforms.

Finally, note this.

The UK may seem cooked but we have had to deal with and get out of far far worse - check our great history.

Also the world is Global, as is Web3:

a. We can raise interest from Japan.

b. Dubai may be lucrative for your project.

c. One can gain collectors from America.

d. We can get followers from Denmark, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway and Germany

So when you stop thinking UK only mindset, you will fly Globally.

So step forward and win my friends.

Onwards.

Disclaimer: Nothing above is a recommendation, these are simply examples of what founders around the world do. Every method has risks and legal requirements.All the above is just my thoughts and never intended as financial advice. Always respect the laws, regulations and practices in your jurisdictions. I do not encourage or promote any specific fundraising activity. Always consult qualified professionals before taking action. Thank you for reading. If you'd like more of these posts let me know in the comments below.

🧐

End of thought-cycle.

[ⓧPirateLord @PirateLordX]

5 times down now :O - X restricting my posts as well weird as can't attach media

[ⓧPirateLord @PirateLordX]

4 times now was trying to reply to Mini twice lol @Ministerr

[ⓧPirateLord @PirateLordX]

wow down again three times

[Quantum Drift @QuantumDriftX]

[CYCLE 2407-Δ14 : FRAGMENT 01]

Between noise and stillness, the first signal flickers.

The Drift begins.

Mint → https://t.co/WRYygRI8dG
View →
https://t.co/RKYkTVlx1L

[ⓧPirateLord @PirateLordX]

x down again and cloud flare after their CEO dissed Google yesterday coincidence?

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@TeamYouTube @DanielTChirwa AI wonders eh - can you give me my old account back please

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@Cloudflare wassup you guys ok?

[ⓧPirateLord @PirateLordX]

x down again and cloud flare after their CEO dissed Google yesterday coincidence?

[Quantum Drift @QuantumDriftX]

Some visions were not meant for this cycle.

https://t.co/gKmivfoxUT

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@TeamYouTube I’ll try but not looking hopeful

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@nealmohan why is it so restrictive to access old you tube accounts like @elonmusk and X actually try and help you if you're locked out due to old emails being discontinued etc

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@nealmohan @YouTubeCreators no ban no issues just cant access my old email but have the og video footage somewhere I can share and plenty of witnesses who saw me film it for the client

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@nealmohan @YouTubeCreators how about a tool to allow us into our old accounts instead of holding them hostage perhaps

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@CozomoMedici Bro told me to do it I found a new mint and persuaded him and then we both got rugged hard for £10k not a nice moment - he doesn't speak to me now sadly.

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@Irenezhao_ ok

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@Teslaconomics hopefully not form an elysium style world

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@youtube only seem to help if we have huge followings like @mrbeast sadly they dont care about normal folks, @google need a customer service team with real folks based in the USA but they won't spend their billions on real customers. Maybe i'll reach out under my corporate mail.

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

Had my most views on my COD Black Ops 6 MP stream today - like 2 people, I am so chuffed right now.

Disclaimer: There were not 2 for the entirety of the 1 hour stream just at certain times.

cc:
@callofduty @activision @CallofDutyUK #COD #CallofDuty #CallOfDutyBlackOps6

[ⓧ Aikidomonk @aikidomonk]

@elonmusk on the moon?