Member Article

BSF helps music producer launch app for creatives

Kuhlab, a new free mobile app designed to help creatives, has been launched - supported by a loan from Business Finance Solutions, the North West delivery partner of the government’s national £150m Start Up Loans programme.

The new app, which is free to use, is the brainchild of Warrington-based music producer and DJ James MacInnes.

Kuhlab combines the functionality of a job site, a social network and online portfolio, helping users search for new contacts, showcase and promote their work, find employment and collaborative partners in a wide range of industries, from music, film, photography, art and design to the performing arts and creative IT.

Whether a company is looking to cast and crew their latest film, find a musician for a recording or hire a graphic designer to rebrand their company the app offers free job posting, unique project management tools and GPS location based search system, making it the essential directory of creatives for employers of all sizes seeking creative talent.

The company draws revenue from targeted promotions aimed at industry specific users.

Paul Breen, Director of Business Finance Solutions said: “The number of freelancers working in creative industries in the UK has never been higher so Kuhlab, offers both them and their potential collaborators an ideal new platform for connecting and working together.

“Start Up Loans is working closely with a growing number of creative projects and has already been the catalyst for a great many start up success stories. With a solid growth plan already underway Kuhlab looks set for a great future “

Kuhlab aims to become the global leader in creative networking and talent acquisition, enabling individuals to showcase their talent and build their career wherever they are based.

Currently launched in the UK Kuhlab has plans in place to roll-out in the USA and Canada in 2016 and aims to be operational across more countries and all mobile platforms by 2019, facilitating a global network of creative collaboration.

James MacInnes said: “After two years of working freelance within the music industry, difficulties in finding consistent work, contacts and other creative talent to work with made me realise there was no unified or mobile platform for creative professionals, where they could find the jobs, contacts and talent they needed in one place.

“Thanks to the support I’ve had from BFS Kuhlab is now live, free to download from the Apple App store and will soon be helping thousands of users to connect, collaborate and create.

“We’re listening to our users and tailoring the app constantly to make sure it offers the best avenue for them to pursue new opportunities, both in the UK and soon to be in Europe and the US.”

BFS will see £15 million allocated to new start-ups across the North West over the next two years, creating around 3000 new businesses and over 5000 new jobs in the region.

With more than £7million lent to date, over 1200 BFS Start Up Loan recipients in the North West are now running their own businesses, creating employment and economic opportunities across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria. Start Up Loans are available to everyone over the age of 18 in the North West.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .