Member Article

LightStart welcomes renowned business leader onto the board

LightStart is a digital design house specialising in up front analysis of businesses ideas for digital projects. After identifying a real gap in the market for Business Analysis led digital projects, Simon Edwards and Dan Akers founded LightStart in early 2016. LightStart create detailed specifications and use them to develop digital products and the infrastructure that drives them. Currently based at the NatWest ‘Entrepreneurial Spark’ accelerator in Leeds city centre as Community Partners, LightStart boasts both a growing team and an increasing portfolio of diverse clients, ranging from tech startups to £60m turnover social enterprises. Recent projects include development of an innovative app for The Youth Association - a Wakefield based youth charity; digital analysis and website redesign for Locala Social Enterprise - a CIC providing NHS community services to over 400,000 people in Kirklees; and a redevelopment of end-to-end digital processes for Drydensfairfax solicitors - the UK’s largest specialist debt recovery firm at £15m turnover.

Respected business mentor, Colin Glass, from WGN has now joined the LightStart team as a board advisor and business mentor. Colin, who is currently a non-executive director of the Government-backed British Business Bank, is well known through the Yorkshire region and received an OBE in the 2017 Honours List for his services to business start-ups and entrepreneurship. Director, Simon Edwards, said:

“We are very pleased to welcome Colin Glass to the LightStart team. We have been working with Colin since we founded LightStart and we are extremely happy to be formalising our relationship.“

Colin’s business directorships include a long list of established and successful companies, and his network opens LightStart up to a broad range of people, companies and opportunities, both in Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region. Of this Colin said:

“I am proud to announce I have joined LightStart and am looking forward to working with Simon and Dan to help grow their business.“

Colin’s involvement in the business and his in-depth knowledge of the Leeds digital landscape will enable LightStart to develop their visibility across the digital network, particularly as they move forwards with the aim of becoming known and respected as hosts of exciting, new and innovative events across the city. Director, Dan Akers, said:

“I am excited to use so much of our combined 40 years of experience within a single organization, bringing together analysis, digital projects and innovative events.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophie Bartlett .