In our line of work we get to meet hundreds of amazing entrepreneurs each year who each have a great story to tell about how and why they decided to start their own business.
Our Newcastle Startup Week festival has been created to help raise the profile and shine a light on the North East business community and the key players within it which is why we have over 50 speakers across 5 days between 15th-19th May 2017 (see our full ‘Schedule’ at https://newcastlestartupweek.com/schedule/).
We’ve also appointed some ‘Newcastle Startup Week Ambassadors‘ – up-and-coming entrepreneurs and influencers who we think have the potential to do great things in the future. These are helping us spread the word about our event both online and offline, inspiring others to come along to learn more about what it takes to start and grow their own business in the region.
With this in mind we’re delighted to announce that our 4th ‘Newcastle Startup Week Ambassador’ is Rita Roushdy (Founder & Managing Director of Elévon World)…
1. Hi Rita, can you please give a brief summary of who you are and what you do?
I’m Rita Roushdy, Founder & Managing Director of Elévon World, a fashion company that provides business, sales and marketing support to new fashion designers.
For the past 3 years, Elévon World has been a fashion events platform for new and upcoming fashion designers, showcasing and selling designers’ items and creating opportunities for boutique owners and large department stores to discover and approach the next big designer in the fashion industry. But now, it’s time to develop our brand into a more consistent and self-sustainable business that focuses on long-term sales and revenue generation, using the network orchestration business model.
2. How many people are in your business? Is it just you or do you have business partners / employees?
Due to taking a new direction with the business, we’ve had to put any hiring processes on freeze. I’ve spent the past few months re-tuning the business model and meeting with potential partners and potential board members before re-launching again later this year.
We also aim to partner up with big brands across the fashion industry’s ecosystem such as manufacturing organisations, fashion brand managers as well as modelling agencies and advertising organisations and more, to be able to help our fashion designers in any aspect of the business they require, by connecting them with the right people that can help them.
3. How did you get started? What was the inspiration or motivation for doing it?
As a former fashion designer, I’ve found that it is incredibly hard to balance all aspects of the business alone, and didn’t have the financial resources to hire any help. So, that’s what prompted me to build a company that takes the pressure off startup fashion entrepreneurs collectivley by helping them reach their target audience and now we’ll be focusing on supporting their sales and revenue.
4. What are you working on right now? What’s next for your business?
Currently, I’m speaking to a few investors for Elévon World, networking and building the dream team and board of directors that will work together to steer this company into becoming a global fashion platform.
As well as working on taking Elévon forward, I’m also solidifying my already great Project Management knowledge and experience by studying for PMI certificates, such as: PMP, PRINCE2, Agile and Project 2010 – which will all be in the bag by the end of March 2017.
5. What are you most looking forward to about Newcastle Startup Week?
To be honest, I’m very excited about the whole week! You’ll find me with business cards at the ready at every event haha!
What I’m most excited about is Day 3 – “Funding & Finance” for two different reasons; with Elévon currently seeking investment, it’s a great opportunity to network with some of the great investors I hear are attending and speaking, and of course I’m also hosting / speaking at the after party at Motel One later that evening, so this is a day that holds a lot of excitement for me!
Want to come to our 'Funding & Finance' day afterparty on Weds 17th May? Find out more at https://t.co/aO1EzOSQkD pic.twitter.com/6h9AxY9LlM
— Newcastle Startup Week (@nclstartupweek) February 27, 2017
6. What advice would you give to someone starting out in business / following in your footsteps?
Find your purpose, first and foremost, without that you’ll be going round in circles and not know why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Do your research but then just start, there are no failures or mistakes just lessons. And if something is not working quite the way you thought it would, take your time and figure out what you need to change, then start again.
You’ll find that you’ll always need to improve aspects of your idea time and time again, so be prepared and openminded enough to change because an idea that you think would work first time, may need a slight re-tune in order for it to be more efficient, effective and the great success that you want to see.
Want to meet Rita?
Get your ticket for our 5 day (+ night) Newcastle Startup Week festival in May by clicking on the link below: