#Lawyers in Koh Samui

[samuilawfirm]

Cybersecurity in Thailand: Protecting Your Business in a Digital Age

In today’s digital age, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for businesses worldwide, including in Thailand. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, protecting sensitive information and ensuring the integrity of business operations is more crucial than ever. At Sukhothai Inter Law and Business Co., Ltd., we understand the complexities of cybersecurity and offer comprehensive…

[bravecompanynews]

Spanish actor’s son jailed for life for grisly Thai island murder - Journal Today Internet - #GLOBAL https://www.merchant-business.com/spanish-actors-son-jailed-for-life-for-grisly-thai-island-murder/?feed_id=181997&_unique_id=66d00e68d34ae The case has generated enormous interest in Spain because the defendant’s father Rodolfo Sancho is a well-known actor – Copyright AFP Lillian SUWANRUMPHAMarco SIBAJAA Thai court on Thursday jailed a famous Spanish actor’s son for life for the grisly murder of a Colombian plastic surgeon on a tropical holiday island, in a lurid case that has gripped Spain.Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, a 30-year-old chef, was found guilty of the premeditated murder of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on the tourist island of Koh Phangan last year.The case has generated enormous interest in Spain because the defendant’s father Rodolfo Sancho is a well-known actor, and scores of Spanish reporters have flown in for the trial.Bussakorn Kaewleeled, a lawyer for the victim’s family, said they were happy with the outcome.“The plaintiff is satisfied with the sentence because he will be put in prison for life and they receive some financial compensation,” Bussakorn told reporters outside the court on the island of Koh Samui.“The verdict has been delivered, both sides have the right to appeal according to Thai law,” Bussakorn added.When asked about Sancho’s reaction, she said: “He is sad, but we can’t forget the loss of the dead one”.Sancho claimed he killed Arrieta, 44, in self-defence, and admitted hiding the body, but denied destroying the Colombian’s passport.The trial heard that Sancho chopped up Arrieta’s body and put the parts in plastic bags before distributing them around Koh Phangan.While Thailand still has the death penalty for some crimes, including premeditated murder, it rarely carries out executions — the last being in 2018.Arrieta’s family said before the verdict that they favoured a sentence of life imprisonment.“Let him be left in Thailand so he can take time, all the time that God gives him to live, to think about what he did,” Darling Arrieta, the victim’s sister, said in an HBO documentary about the case.“He not only dismembered my brother, he dismembered a family.”– Self-defence claim –Sancho and Arrieta agreed to meet in person after getting to know each other online.Sancho’s father said in the same HBO documentary that Arrieta had threatened his son, and then “there was a fight, and in this fight, there was an accident”.The defence argued that Sancho acted in legitimate self-defence after Arrieta tried to force him to have sex.“He tried to rape me, and we fought,” Sancho said in a statement quoted by the Spanish daily El Mundo.A lawyer for the victim’s family, Juan Gonzalo Ospina, said in a recent interview with El Mundo that Sancho was living a “false reality”.Ospina said it was proven at the trial in April that Sancho had bought knives, plastic bags and cleaning supplies ahead of the crime, and kept them in the room where the killing took place.“A Thai court on Thursday jailed a famous Spanish actor’s son for life for the grisly murder of a Colombian plastic surgeon on a tropical holiday island, in a lurid…”Source Link: https://www.digitaljournal.com/world/spanish-actors-son-jailed-for-life-for-grisly-thai-island-murder/article http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pexels-photo-27348493.jpeg BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

[newsssc]

Daniel Sancho's sentence: the two doors open to his future in Thailand

Missing Less than two weeks until Daniel Sancho knows the judge’s verdict from the Court of Koh Samui, which will dictate a sentence that has been much talked about, before, during and after the trialwhich was scheduled to take place between April 9 and May 2. The leak of numerous pieces of information and the change of script that the lawyers in charge of the defense strategy in Spain have…

[samuilawfirm]

Thailand Contract Law: Essential Principles for Business Owners

In the dynamic business landscape of Thailand, understanding contract law is essential for business owners to navigate legal obligations and safeguard their interests. Whether you’re a local entrepreneur or a foreign investor, having a grasp of contract principles can help you make informed decisions and ensure the smooth operation of your business. This article explores the key aspects of…

[applythaivisa]

Samui Solicitors

Samui Solicitors is a well-established law firm located on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, in the Gulf of Thailand. The firm provides a comprehensive range of legal services to individuals, businesses, and corporations across various industries. They have a team of experienced lawyers who have a deep understanding of Thai law and are fluent in English, Thai, and other languages.

The firm's primary areas of practice include real estate and property law, corporate law, immigration law, family law, and criminal law. They offer a range of services related to these areas, including legal consultation, contract drafting and review, due diligence, dispute resolution, and representation in court proceedings.

One of the key strengths of Samui Solicitors is their in-depth knowledge of Thai real estate law. They have helped many clients navigate the complex legal requirements involved in buying or selling property in Thailand, including title searches, property transfers, and lease agreements. They also provide advice on property taxation, zoning regulations, and construction permits.

Samui Solicitors has a strong reputation for providing excellent legal advice and representation to foreign clients. Their team understands the unique challenges faced by foreigners living or doing business in Thailand and has a wealth of experience in handling cross-border legal issues. They also have a network of trusted partners in other jurisdictions, allowing them to provide comprehensive legal solutions to clients with international interests.

Overall, Samui Solicitors is a reliable and reputable law firm that provides high-quality legal services to clients in Koh Samui and beyond. They have a team of dedicated lawyers who are committed to providing practical and effective solutions to their clients' legal needs.

Visit our website: https://www.samuisolicitors.com/

[danishkhan786]

Condo Pattaya

Globaltopgroup

With land property and land accessible to anybody in Europe and the west at unnecessarily costly expenses, the clearly freakish Asian goal of Thailand transforms into a reasonable decision to anticipated monetary sponsor. It's irrefutably a fact's that Thailand is home to coordinate intensity and moistness, white sandy coastlines, extraordinary yet humble housing workplaces, ruling cultivating based industry, stimulating nightlife, brilliant women, multi-cooking diners and unimaginably warm nearby individuals no question. Accordingly addressing this huge number of extraordinary qualities that the domain of Thailand has, buying as well as placing assets into property in Thailand seems, by all accounts, to be genuine in any case. Thailand has a consistent economy, offers great guidance, is development driven and blooms with pay made from the movement business and cultivating produce.

Looking at areas of property interest in Thailand; other than notable scenes like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket one could in like manner scour land decisions around Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Rayong independently. For learners we have a heads up before it's too late, it's basic to become familiar with the Thai way to deal with living which is more cordial than moderate. As such it would be great to rent a house or condo suite for a start to get a veritable energy of Thai comfort and mix in with the close by neighborhood. On the cash related point of view, housing and loft suite ownership could start wherever from around 500,000 Baht upwards. It is in like manner fundamental for an unavoidable buyer to view at central local area comforts as well as permission to explicit metropolitan districts on occasion before diminishing on picking property, as a matter of fact. Assuming no one really minds, in like manner note that the Thai government by and by presented a movement of obligation impulses in 2005, similar to past expense inspirations for a drawn out period that completed in 2003. The evaluation measures pivot around inspirations for arrangements of reused houses, stamp commitment special case, move cost decline, decline on agreement enrollment charges, in danger charges limited of property for business use and legal protection from unlawful practices.

Right when we examine a house accessible to be bought in Thailand, we can talk about a couple of critical clues that one necessities to keep in mind while buying property in Thailand. In any case one should advise and assign a selected and qualified Thai lawyer. This is plainly a decision that will rest toward pariahs who have little data on the Thai market. Regardless of what your decision to buy a condo suite or a penthouse you ought to get hold of genuine organizations. When in doubt, a close by Thai lawful guide would help you understand and wrestle with the intricacies of game plans and arrangements. A famous lawful instructor would attempt to go to the level of readiness you subsequent to winning Thai land guidelines and further discredit any language hindrances to approaching agreements. On a greater perspective, Thai legitimate instructors merit their piece since they're more than exhibited wellsprings of dominance and information.

Picking property with incredible qualifications is essentially huge. Ensure that the property engineer is a selected and a spread out player watching out. A sound specialist could probably teach you on the sort with respect to property that would oblige your bill. Property architects could display units with various plans and styles to pick from. They would attempt to go to the level of offering recognitions from satisfied clients other than.

 

A basic part about spread out property originators in Thailand is the game plan of real aide gets that clearly portray the specialist's work and commitments. On the business point of view, benevolently ensure these architects give you clear portion schedules and recommendation various modes and strategies for portion. A house accessible to be bought in Thailand could be your next home so purchase your theory with remarkable thought and care.

Various monetary sponsor are looking for stable properties to contribute with the objective that they can get high advantages. Estimations show that near portion of the rich people in the world acquired their money by placing assets into land properties. Notwithstanding the way that stocks and money can drop, the value of property in Thailand is modestly consistent. After you have bought the property, it eventually relies upon you live in it or rent it to someone. There are numerous inspirations driving why you should buy properties in Thailand. Various pariahs have live and work in Asia since a really long time before. Thailand has various places to get-away so it is an engaging spot to leave. Pariahs who developed north of 50 years old can apply for the retirement visas. In Thailand, there are numerous extraordinary schools. It similarly has a fantastic clinical benefits structure. People in Thailand are all around arranged so they will undeniably welcome you with a charming welcome.

Thailand is a mind boggling spot to plan your excursion since it gets warm environment among November and February. The expenses of the properties nearby places to get-away, for instance, coastlines and mountains make them cost far lesser than the properties in the European business areas. Pariahs will really need to purchase properties with preferable assumptions over in their nearby countries. The extreme suitable

More info] https://globaltopgroup.com/properties-available to be purchased in-pattaya/

[conradproperties]

What You Need to Know About Buying Property in Thailand

Buying Property in Thailand

In recent times Thailand has emerged as one of Asia’s property hotspots. Every week new developments are announced in destinations such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui. There is a huge range of property in Thailand, from studios, to large houses with substantial garden areas.

This also means that there is a large difference in the price of these properties, so there is something to suit most budgets. Although the price of property in Thailand continues to go up, real estate is still relatively cheap compared to western standards. For a foreigner to buy property in Thailand legally, certain processes have to be followed.

Buying a Condo in Thailand

The most relatively easy way for a foreigner to acquire property in Thailand is to purchase a condominium. The Condominium Act of Thailand means that non-Thai nationals can purchase up to 49% of the rooms in any condominium development.

The funds for the purchase of the condo need to be transferred from a foreign, to a Thai bank account.Although buying a condo in Thailand is quite a straight forward process people should be aware of the associated risks. All paperwork and contracts relating to the purchase should be studied carefully, and different condominium developments will have separate by-laws and regulations. The buyer should acquire all the other documents relating to:

- The actual land upon which the condo is, or is going to be built. - How the project is to be financed. - The credentials and identity of the seller, or project developer.

When the research has been conducted, and the relevant information has been acquired, potential buyers should be confident about going ahead with the purchase. The buyer should be have ascertained that the title of the owner is good, and that buyers title will be good when they take ownership.

The developer should have the capital necessary to complete the project, and all contracts should be clear and fair. It’s important that a management company with a good reputation is conducting affairs to avoid complications.

If somebody wants to buy an “off-plan” property in Thailand a reputable lawyer should be hired to ensure that important aspects of the contract are covered. These include the timescale of the project, penalties for non-payment, room specifications and floor plan, and refunds for the development not being completed on time.

​ The Leasing of Land

Foreigners are unable to legally own land in Thailand, but they can lease land. The maximum duration of this lease is 30 years for a residential property. When the 30 years are up the lease is terminated as currently land offices are refusing to issue renewals.

Forming a Thai Company

A foreigner wanting to buy property in Thailand can create a Thai company, only in name, and then land can then be purchased under the name of the company. It’s important to consider that the company has to be owned completely by Thai people when ownership of the land is transferred to the Thai limited company. In recent times strict measures have been implemented by land offices to make sure that Thai shareholders are genuine within these companies. When the property comes under ownership of the company a foreigner can possess 49% of the shares in the Thai company. A lawyer with a good reputation should be used throughout these proceedings.

Marriage

It’s possible for a Thai spouse to buy land in Thailand. The foreigner has to legally declare that the funds for the purchase of the land belong to the Thai spouse, and that as a foreigner, they have no rights relating to the ownership of the land. The foreign spouse, to protect their interests, should register a lease on the land.

Finally

Some foreigners are purchasing property in Thailand as an investment, whilst others just want a holiday home. There are a number of options available, but people should always use the services of a reputable lawyer and aim to buy from a well-renowned developer. It’s also important for those wishing to buy property in Thailand to consider stamp duty, the transfer fee and withholding tax.

[realestatedigitalsales]

Real Estate - House Hunting in … Thailand

Real Estate - House Hunting in … Thailand

Real Estate - House Hunting in … Thailand

By Vivian Marino   Real Estate - Considered a low-key alternative to tourist spots like Phuket, the island of Koh Samui attracts foreign buyers with reasonably priced new construction.

An Island Estate in the Gulf of Thailand

$1.9 MILLION This contemporary villa is in a gated development on Koh Samui, an island off the eastern coast of Thailand that has developed in recent years from a secluded fishing community into a popular tourist retreat. Villa Silavaree, as the home is called, was built in 2011, one of 19 villas in the gated Santikhiri Estate, on the island’s less-populated southern coast. The current owners, an American family living elsewhere in Thailand, have been using it as a weekend home and an investment property to rent. The half-acre compound is in a tropical hillside setting with waterfalls, a pond, gardens and panoramic views of the ocean and coastline. The villa’s name is derived from the Thai words for stone (“sila”) and water (“varee”), said Tim Skevington, the chief executive of Richmont’s Luxury Real Estate, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate that has the listing. “The property is so named because of the use of waterfalls and water features, and the amazing natural stone outcrops that one sees throughout Samui Island.” The property includes four structures: a two-bedroom main house, two one-bedroom guesthouses, and staff quarters with a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen that “could alternatively serve as a guesthouse or spa area,” Mr. Skevington said. He said a storage area near the pool deck was converted to an additional bedroom. The two-story main house has a wraparound travertine terrace on the first level with numerous amenities, including an outdoor kitchen, bar and barbecue; a changing room with a bathroom; and covered areas with ceiling fans for lounging and dining. A few steps below is a saltwater infinity pool bordered by glass. Sliding glass doors open to a wraparound deck with panoramic views of the lush hillside and Gulf of Thailand.CreditClaudio Cerquitti

Sliding glass doors open to a wraparound deck with panoramic views of the lush hillside and Gulf of Thailand. CreditClaudio Cerquitti The top floor has an open plan with a living room, a kitchen-and-dining area and a guest bathroom. The kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances, cherry wood cabinets and Portuguese slate countertops. Folding glass doors open to another wide wraparound terrace. Two master bedrooms with en suite bathrooms are on the lower level. The main house is connected by stone pathways to one-level bungalows on either side, which are similarly configured and constructed of concrete, wood and stone, with terra-cotta roofs. Each has a modest living area that opens to a spacious redwood deck, and a large loft bedroom upstairs with an en suite bathroom that has a sunken tub and indoor and outdoor showers. Throughout the buildings on the estate, there are high ceilings with teak beams and numerous ceiling fans. Floors are honed travertine and Thai rosewood, and there is an abundance of teak cabinetry. Rooms are decorated with a mix of artwork and furnishings from Tibet, Bali, Burma and Morocco. The furnishings are not included in the asking price, Mr. Skevington said, but may be bought separately. The spa-like en suite baths have sunken tubs and indoor and outdoor showers.CreditClaudio Cerquitti

The spa-like en suite baths have sunken tubs and indoor and outdoor showers.CreditClaudio Cerquitti Koh Samui, about 20 miles from mainland Thailand, is part of the southern Surat Thani Province, known for its rubber trees and coconut plantations. The Santikhiri Estate, on its southern shore, offers residents a pool, a clubhouse and a hilltop yoga studio. The gated development is close to several spas and wellness centers, restaurants and beaches. Samui International Airport, on the northeastern side of Koh Samui, is about a 40-minute drive. Nathon Pier, the main ferry port, is about half an hour away, and Bangkok is about 475 miles north.

Market Overview

Prices for single-family detached houses (excluding land), condos and townhouses in Thailand have grown steadily since the 2008 global recession, according to recent housing data from the Bank of Thailand. Koh Samui is seeing similar growth, agents said. “Mirroring Bangkok to some extent, the upper-tier homes in well-maintained estates are maintaining and increasing in value, and the lower end of the market is steadily attracting young or more budget-conscious buyers,” Mr. Skevington said. As monsoon season draws to a close in December, agents expect home sales to pick up and continue to grow through February. “That is high season in Thailand, and many people look for vacation homes during that period,” said Benjamin W. Hart, the managing director of Integrity Legal, which has offices in Bangkok and the United States. Koh Samui is often regarded as a low-key alternative to tourist spots like Phuket, Thailand’s largest island. Tourists are drawn to Samui’s 88 square miles of diverse geography, from its white-sand beaches to its coconut groves and mountainous rain forests. John Jepson, a founder of Samui Property Locator, said he has seen many new developments in recent years, reflecting rising foreign interest, particularly from the Chinese. “Every year we have new project launches,” he said. “There’s probably 10 to 15 new projects coming on the market since the beginning of this year.” The half-acre compound is entered through antique Batak wood doors, along a stone pathway.CreditClaudio Cerquitti

The half-acre compound is entered through antique Batak wood doors, along a stone pathway. CreditClaudio Cerquitti Many of them, he added, are smaller developments like the Samui Green Cottages, a villa community in Chaweng, on the eastern coast, expected to be completed next summer. Luxury properties on the island start at around $450,000, Mr. Jepson said, and typically increase in price as they get closer to the water.

Who Buys on Koh Samui

Foreigners are active in the island’s housing market, real estate agents said. “The great majority of buyers are from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, Britain, France and, increasingly, from China,” Mr. Skevington said. Some developers have been marketing directly to China, Mr. Jepson said, which helps explain the increase in interest there. He said he has also seen some Middle Eastern buyers, specifically from Dubai. “For my agency, 90 percent of the prospective buyers are from overseas,” he said. Many foreign buyers are looking for luxury homes in a tropical setting for retirement or to use for vacation, with rental income potential. They also want access to amenities, and “Samui is loaded with five-star hotels, restaurants and beach clubs, spas and world-class wellness centers,” Mr. Skevington said.

Buying Basics

The Thai government imposes restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate. Foreigners cannot buy land, but they can own the buildings on the land. A common arrangement is to buy a house with a land lease, typically for a 30-year period, said Luca Bernardinetti, the chief executive of the Mahanakorn Partners Group, a law firm in Bangkok. (The 30-year land lease on this particular Samui property was recently renewed, Mr. Skevington said.) A saltwater infinity pool bordered by glass sits outside the main house.CreditClaudio Cerquitti

A saltwater infinity pool bordered by glass sits outside the main house.CreditClaudio Cerquitti A foreign buyer may be able to own land through a private company, but the process can be complicated, lawyers said, and there are various restrictions. Foreigners are allowed to own condominium units. However, foreign ownership in a condo building cannot exceed 49 percent, Mr. Bernardinetti said. Most real estate agents recommended that buyers hire an experienced local lawyer to guide them through the process and to handle the necessary due diligence. “Due diligence is really important — there are some scams that people can get roped into,” Mr. Hart said, adding that he has seen this happen with “off-plan,” or preconstruction, sales. A lawyer can also represent a buyer at the closing through power of attorney. Read more https://global.goreds.today/real-estate-vietnam-the-next-frontier-in-asias-luxury-real-estate-market/   Read the full article

[onehumanerror]

I have never left the country without the watchful eye of my parents. This was my first time away from home for four weeks.One month. On the other side of the world. Thailand. Even typing the very word sends shivers down my spine of sheer excitement and warms my heart with love and admiration. And that may seem like an exaggeration but I can assure you that it’s not. 

My boyfriend and I journeyed to five places in total whilst in Thailand. Bangkok, Chang Mai, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Krabi. Each and every place so very special in their own way. I couldn’t possibly single out just one, because there were no comparisons, each place so unique to the other, and the most  unforgettable memories in all five. 

In Thailand, we ate in sky-bars from unbelievable heights overlooking crazy landscapes of monstrosities of buildings. We rid tuk-tuk’s  and bike taxi’s that brought us close to death on several occasions. We trained with professional fighters whilst going to many Muay-Thai classes and meeting the most fascinating and passionate souls. We visited historical temples that made me speechless with how beautiful the architecture was. We walked many streets of craziness, with stalls selling anything you could possibly wish for. We got lost in shopping malls that were seven stories high. We ate lots of  food such as Pad Thai, Mango sticky Rice, Chicken-cashew-nut and bread, cheeses, pizza, pasta and much, much more. We also ate the most incredible desserts, food that we have never seen before or even heard of that tasted better than good. We visited parks - such as Lumpini, and saw the most incredible wildlife. We took a boat ride and saw both the poverty and rich of Thailand, living side by side. We went to see a Muay Thai fight and all the excitement it entailed. We saw the most incredible 360 degree skyline. We had amazing massages by truly gifted women. We saw the most magical waterfalls. We fed rescued elephants. We stayed in the most beautiful hotels. We fell in love with the world whilst watching sunsets that took your breath away. We went to see lady-boy shows. We had the most delicious breakfasts (Coffee Club). We went to a Ping-Pong show. We went to impressive gyms. We Paddle-boarded for the first time. We drank from coco-nuts. We had an incredible encounter with a very special woman whilst doing a cooking-class. We snorkeled in emerald oceans.  We saw incredible scenes from view-points all around Thailand. We had many conversations with Thai taxi drivers.

One of the most special parts of Thailand was the souls we met along the way. Which consisted of Murray McLaughlin, a 60 something year old that had been travelling and still is for the last 39 years of his life, he told us a lot and taught us a lot, we had an amazingthree hour conversation about life, religion, sexuality, existence, politics and so on. We hope to meet him again someday, I don’t don’t doubt that our paths will cross again.                                                    

We met a Jew by the name of Erin next, we met him whilst on the elephant trip, he was a lawyer from New York, still rather young, he told us a little about himself and met up with us on two occasions. He was somewhat vegan but still had a thirst for a steak and a red wine when at home. He was an interesting character to our story to say the least. 

On our first day in Chang Mai we met a fascinating young woman by the name of Orathai. She was our taxi driver, she treated us like we were her kids, playing 70s music and singing along to Ed Sheeran. Her energy was contagious and her soul renewed my faith in humanity for a little while. She took us to hidden temples. I miss her even now. 

We met a young man by the name of Jacob Woodcock in Koh Tao. He had just finished his high-school part of the military and was now moving on to the Academy to become a fighter pilot at theyoung age of 22. We met him on the ferry and kept in touch. He was intrigued by us, as we were with him. We had deep conversations about life over great food and drink, we even took him to a lady-boy show, we met him a couple of times, even watched the world-cup together. I think it’s  true to say that we made a friend for life and even made arrangements to see each other in the near future. 

We then met a very special little lady by the name of Aye. She was our teacher during the cooking course. She took us into her home, just the two of us and taught us passionately and lovingly. She had a smile that could light up the room and a inspiring attitude towards both food and life. It was an unforgettable experience and she was an unforgettable person. 

Last but not least, the Muay Thai crew. The people we met in Muay Thai  are a dying breed. They are people with such passion, respect, integrity and discipline that it is almost too good to be true. I have never in my life come across people which such self-determination and gratitude towards their sport and life itself. Truly inspiring people - bursting with various personalities. They didn’t have much, they didn’t need much -  but still were smiling so brightly. Probably the most genuine, real, authentic people I have ever met. Again, training by them and along side them, will forever be an incredible experience that I, we, will never forget. 

My heart fully belongs to the country that is Thailand. 

PeAce & LOve  

     ~ Ailbhe 

[cuppaofme]

Anxiety and depression

Here’s the timeline

7-10 years old - Primary school - I had a strong sense for justice and I also had a very religious class teacher who spoke a lot about the bible. I never turned religious but one of her biblical sayings stuck with me: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I stood up for other kids when they were being bullied or even if just talking about them behind their backs but otherwise I stayed in the sidelines.

11-12 years old - I begged my mother that we would move to another city. At that age I skipped every party and gathering as possible because I felt uncomfortable being truthfully my vulnerable self around other people. Later on I thought that was probably because I was generally restless and had a sense for adventure. 

14-16 years old - Secondary school - I was a hopeless romantic and mostly enjoyed my time alone tormenting myself with it. I didn’t really have a friend group. I had separate friends although we’d all been. My then best friend and I had a notebook where we wrote letters to each other. One time I forgot it on a table when we left the classroom, rushed back to find it but it was not there. Those were my then deepest secrets. The week after, the notebook was returned to the spot it was taken from, with a note along the lines: “Really? You are old enough to know this is bs.”

16-18 years old - High school - I had a small group of friends. I always felt that we were the outcasts, the nerds... We were the people who dressed up at every possible occasion: hippies at a carnival, ice hockey fans at the final. I loved arts and at the end of high school got an award for it. I met my very first boyfriend online and decided to apply for university close to him, 2 hours away from home.

19 years old - University - I moved away from home. I called my mum 10 minutes after they left crying, because I didn’t know how to be alone and I cut my finger while cutting carrots. I started a BA in media and communication. I had taken an interest in photography in high school and took a voluntary film photography course. In it, we had to decide a theme. Mine was the feeling of emptiness after moving away from home. It was personal. I hated to come back to the apartment and not have anyone to talk to. I teared up when I presented the theme to others in the course and they smothered their laughter. I still sometimes torment myself about that.

20 years old - I broke up with my first boyfriend because we wanted different things from our lives. I had a strong need to explore the world and go to exchange in Italy. He wanted to be lawyer and stay where he had been born and bred. My University didn’t have an exchange contract with any school in Italy so I found and arranged it out of my own back. 

21-22 years old - I lived a year in Italy. I studied a little, learned Italian, lived a lot and fell in love with tiramisu, freedom, my own potential and someone who knew how to do romance. I became part of a love triangle and a group of hippies. I travelled more within that year than I probably had within my whole life prior. I had my first panic attacks that I can remember. Later on, I realised that what then felt like a romance for a lifetime was just a game. I refuse to think of that year as anything but a song for freedom and love. Him - him, I can forget.

23 years old - Just 6 months after coming back from Italy, I went to Spain for an internship. I kept exploring. I experienced what betrayal feels like when my closest friend there decided to go for a guy she knew I liked and who I’d spent a lot of time with. The moment I saw them kissing in front of me, in a bar we had all arrived to together - it felt like from a movie. They didn’t see anything wrong with it. He was supposed to stay at mine that night. I read her messages to him on his phone when I got home and I was so angry at myself. He wanted me to get over it because he liked to talk to me - I was understanding. She wanted to act like it never happened because she had cheated on her boyfriend and was in denial about it. I refused both. I felt alone and misunderstood. I feel others around me thought I was overly dramatic - except for one. Sirkka (RIP) always looked out for me. I graduated university later on that year.

24-25 years old - I had a terrible flat mate who created an atmosphere of verbal abuse. I refuged to a friend of mine who was kind enough to share her studio flat with me while I tried to sort my things out. It was the peak of the economic crisis and I couldn’t get a job. I escaped by moving back home for 6 months because I got a government backed internship in an advertisement agency. I worked as a volunteer in music and film festivals to keep life interesting. The very same agency lobbed me to a high profile music company to work as management assistant.

26 years old - I had been in a bad relationship for 1.5 years - we fought and made up - it was exhausting. It was obvious that the relationship had an expiry date and we were on a break (once again) to figure out if we should stay together. I went on my very first holiday outside of Europe on my own to figure myself out. Little did I know, I also went to meet the British love of my life on the beach of Koh Samui. It’s probably obvious what happened to that bad relationship.

27 years old - We lived had lived in a long distance relationship for just under a year. It was expensive but we saw each other every 1-2 months. He took a career break and came to live in my homeland with me for 8 months. We lived in a studio apartment in a calm neighbourhood. I hated my job. My boss released her stress onto my by shouting at me. I let her. My boyfriend was eternally understanding at my increasing and constant exhaustion and anxiety. We held hands wherever we went.

28 years old - I moved to UK to 2 years after we met for us to be together. It was an emotional move. Only one friend came to my going away party and even that was because it was her birthday and we had the party together. Before settling, we did a 1.5 month trip to South East Asia and Australia to influential places that I continue to talk about to this day. I had never been interested in UK for travel - let alone to live there. I struggled the first year. I found it difficult to connect with anyone. It felt like I was dating again, I didn’t know how to connect with people in a long term way. Every time someone told me they’d like to hang out again and I pulled out my calendar, the standard response was: “Let’s see.” And normally I would not hear back from them.

29-30 years old - I worked at a chain restaurant and the mail distribution centre before settling into Tesco as a customer assistant. I finally started to make connections with people I worked with and the attention I got, soothed my lonely mind. I knew I couldn’t talk to anyone at work on a deeper level but yet still I let them affect me and I let it go too far allowing it to affect my relationship. We broke up. I got into another bad relationship that ended up with me having to call the policy (3 times) because he either threatened me or to kill himself. I travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia to find myself again. I didn’t. Later on that year, the love of my life and I got back together. Or maybe more like - he allowed me back into his life. I’m the one who asked to break up. I’m the one who asked to get back together. Thankfully, our strong connection lasted for those horrible 9 months and if anything I believe it grew stronger. A month later, I started cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) because he arranged it after I had had a month of panic attacks.

31 years old - I hid my relationship at work. I didn’t want to be the shop gossip anymore and I didn’t trust anyone around me. The few friends I had made through him had made their stand clear during our break up although it was a very friendly one and we specifically said we didn’t want it to affect any other relationships. I felt so out of place, tired, confused and lonely yet I felt so deep gratitude towards him and my family for supporting me through what felt like my personal hell.

32 years old - I’ve now lived in the UK for 4 years. I’ve had a round of CBT, we’ve turned a basic builders van into a camper and there are months when I feel incredibly live and happy. Those months are often followed by another full of confusion, sometimes panic attacks and anxiety. I feel like I’m the age where I should now be thinking of having a family, be excited about life and build a home. The only thing I’m 100% sure about is my relationship and my family. The rest feels like constant juggle with bullshit expectations of either me, someone else or society. I don’t feel like I have anyone else around me who know me and the question I keep asking myself sometimes is - who would come to my wedding. Who would want to celebrate alongside of me. Does that even matter? Have I been such a bad friend that even the people who I thought were friends for life, have now taken their distance. Who am I? What has made me this person? I used to be the forever positive romantic who always wanted to help and support others. Am I not that anymore?

[mikevrivera]

Ten entrepreneurs to watch in 2017

Over the past decade, SmartCompany has spoken with thousands of entrepreneurs about creating nimble businesses that deliver everything from dog food to high-end fashion. No matter the product, these company founders are focused on similar challenges: sustainable growth, meeting customer desires, and exploiting opportunities before competitors beat them to it.

In celebration of our 10th birthday, here are 10 Australian entrepreneurs to keep an eye on in the year ahead—and the companies they’ve nurtured.

Nick Molnar—Afterpay co-founder and managing director

Young Rich Lister Nick Molnar and Afterpay co-founder Anthony Eisen floated their payment instalments company on the Australian Securities Exchange in May 2016, and since then, the share price has rocketed 109%. 

The platform lets shoppers take home items from stores that offer the service, and then pay Afterpay for their purchases in instalments, due each fortnight. The business recently showed a 142% increase in the number of retailers using the platform compared with last quarter, and a 100% quarter-on-quarter increase in retail users.

The platform’s growth has been fuelled largely through word-of-mouth, with the company encouraging shoppers to enthusiastically lobby their favourite brands to start using the payments system.

“Our customers are our biggest advocates and they’re really passionate about our brand,” Molnar told SmartCompany last year. 

Lana Hopkins—Mon Purse co-founder and chief executive

The bag building game is now a global proposition for Lana Hopkins and her team.

The business is barely two years old, but Hopkins and co-founder Andrew Schub have created a multimillion-dollar company in Mon Purse that now has a foot in the door in the UK and US thanks to deals with Selfridges and Bloomingdales at the end of 2016.

While Hopkins tells SmartCompany she “couldn’t have written a better script if I tried”, the brand’s pitch to customers is highly calibrated to the rising interests in personalised goods. The founders know their brand, and are riding the wave of strong interest in the “design it yourself” bag and purse range.

“It’s affordable and you don’t need to mortgage a home to buy your bag. It’s about quality and it’s about technology,” Hopkins said last year.  

Beau Bertoli and Greg Moshal—Prospa founders

Few business can boast a growth rate of more than 1000% within their first five years, but small business lending platform Prospa shows no signs of slowing down.

Beau Bertoli and Greg Moshal have carefully studied how SMEs use capital to formulate their business loan platform, which took out the top position in the 2016 Smart50 Awards with a three-year annual growth rate of 1074%.

The founders have business partnerships with Xero and Westpac, and have previously told SmartCompany their success comes from keeping goals clear and specific.

“Our greatest successes have come when we were very precise about expectations,” Bertoli said.

Alyce Tran—The Daily Edited co-founder

Anyone dreaming of transitioning from a day job into their own million-dollar operation should review Alyce Tran’s career path so far. The young lawyer has turn her blog The Daily Edited into a $5 million leather goods business that boasts an Instagram audience of more than 150,000 fans. With a partnership with David Jones well underway, the business is poised for another big year.

Along with co-founder Tania Liu, Tran has carved out a strong look and voice for the business, and is one to watch when it comes to engaging with users on social media.

“More people are on Instagram at night than watching TV. So put content up there and put some energy behind it,” she told SmartCompany in 2016. 

Steve Shelley—Deputy co-founder

Steve Shelley and Ashik Ahmed spent eight years bootstrapping their staff management software business, but after securing $33 million in Series A funding from Boston firm OpenView last year, there are big growth plans on the horizon for Deputy.

The $10 million company delivers employee roster, timesheet and workflow programs to SMEs, as well as bigger clients like NASA, and has a 25,000-strong customer base.

In 2016, StartupSmart reported the business has its eye on expansion across the Asia Pacific and its latest round of funding will likely come in handy when the founders are pitching to clients from their new Singapore office.

Kayla Itsines—The Bikini Body Training Company co-founder

Kayla Istines and Bikini Body Training Company co-founder Tobi Pearce were the youngest entrants on the 2016 BRW Young Rich List, with a combined estimated worth of $46 million.

The fitness entrepreneur’s “Bikini Body Guide” programs have reached millions around the globe and continue to do so, although the company has always kept quiet on exact audiences and profits generated by the fitness empire.

What we do know is the reach of the brand’s social media profiles: Itsines has more than 10 million Facebook fans, 6.3 million Instagram followers and 390,000 Twitter followers. These platforms prompt tens of thousands of engagements with every post, while fuelling sales of the brand’s programs and merchandise.

Richenda Vermeulen—ntergity founder

The founder of impact-driven digital agency ntegtrity says she’s been able to grow her business by keeping honest and sharing stories. She believes strong team connections are the key to long term success—a lesson she recently blogged about on the company’s website after taking her whole team, and their partners, on an intensive strategy boot camp where they all shared a villa for a week on Thailand’s Koh Samui.

In a climate where startup founders and entrepreneurs say building sustainable businesses that have a direct social impact is the most important thing, ntegrity is an example of one operation that continues to grow while keeping a focus on impact-driven projects

Vermeulen told StartupSmart this month that as ntegrity expands, her own willingness to rely on others for expertise and support has been key, with the belief that the ability to work through roadblocks is a matter of personal introspection.

“The person who I was five years ago is not the person I am now and that’s a good thing,” she says.

“One of the best things about being an entrepreneur is you’re not stale.” 

Zoe Pointon–OpenAgent co-founder and chief executive

The chief executive of the real estate agent comparison platform has previously said you should work for a startup before launching your own.

Her own entrepreneurship journey began at a very young age, which has no doubt come in handy when making big decisions after she and co-founder Marta Higuera closed a $12 million funding round in August 2016.

OpenAgent is getting started on a national expansion plan, with Pointon telling StartupSmart last year the team is confident in their focused approach and the ability to disrupt this one specific area of the real estate market.

“Real estate is an area where people that are thinking about buying or selling have a lot of pain in the process and there’s nowhere near enough transparency,” she says.

Luke Anear–SafetyCulture founder and chief executive

SafetyCulture closed one of the biggest high growth venture investment rounds in 2016, and this year we’re watching what the cloud-based workplace safety company will do with the $30 million it scored from venture capitalists.

The business was created from Luke Anear’s Townsville garage in 2004 and it found a niche by providing easy-to-use auditing app technology for workplace safety. Ten years later it had gained investment from the likes of Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar.

Anear is no stranger to funding rounds, and has previously told StartupSmart there’s value in getting to know your investors very well prior to inking a deal.

“It’s like a marriage that you can’t get out of. Look to a range of different investors and consider other options to increase revenue before considering investment,” he says.

Having just opened offices last year in San Francisco, Kansas City and Manchester, the next 12 months will give SafetyCulture the chance to take on the world.

This article was originally published on SmartCompany. 

Follow StartupSmart on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and iTunes. 

The post Ten entrepreneurs to watch in 2017 appeared first on StartupSmart.

from StartupSmart http://www.startupsmart.com.au/advice/growth/young-entrepreneurs/ten-entrepreneurs-to-watch-this-year/

[samuilawfirm]

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