This article appears in the March 2014 edition of Insight, the global eMagazine for management accountants by CIMA which is sent to nearly 200,000 members, students and other professionals every month.

The idea of internet crowd sourcing funding for your business start-up is taking off. At a time when bank loans are hard to get, using sites like kickstarter.com to generate funds is increasing.

However, it's not simply turning up online with an idea. Crowd sourcing expert and Funding Game founder Paul Grant says that you need to make sure your proof of concept is firmly in place before you head online to fund raise. Read the full article here

If your heart’s not in your business, why are you? Leading life coach, motivational speaker and business coach Rasheed Ogunlaru asks the question we should all ask ourselves in his new book Soul Trader - Putting the heart back into your business.

I've known Rasheed for a few years and he's a great advocate for the entrepreneur. He's an exceptional coach with a very positive outlook, and yet he is wholly in tune with the challenges that most entrepreneurs face, one of which is to reignite the passion in their businesses that they started with.

His new book invites entrepreneurs to revisit the reasons they set up in business in the first place and then reveals the seven essential principles that will help them build a business sensitive to today's economic and social realities - one that is profitable, customer-focused and in tune with their own beliefs, needs and goals.

I'll be joining Rasheed and over 100 guests - including many of the entrepreneurs and experts featured in his new book - from 6.30pm tonight, to celebrate the launch of Soul Trader at the new Apartment 58 venue in London. This special event is for established and aspiring "soul traders", business owners and creative entrepreneurs and places are nearly filled. If you wish to join us, click here for more details and to RSVP.