Starting-up

60 second start-up: Amplify Trading

The trader and trader-trainer Will De Lucy gears up for his Smarta grilling.

0-5 seconds: Sum your business up in a sentence

Amplify Trading is a rapidly growing trading company that uses the latest technology to provide on the job training to teach individuals how to trade financial futures, using company funds.

5-10 seconds: What's the business model?

I didn't take into account how long some of the simple business processes can take.

Revenue from trader's contribution to training costs and trader profit split.

10-15 seconds: Who are your competitors?

Companies that offer trading educational packages.

15-20 seconds: What's your USP?

We offer the best possible avenue for an individual to get into a trading career without risking their own financial capital. With continuous one-on-one mentoring from experienced traders we can develop individual talents and recruit promising traders to postions on our trading floor.

20-25 seconds: How have you funded it so far?

It's self-funded.

25-30 seconds: What were you doing before?

I've been trading futures since leaving University.

30-35 seconds: Where did the idea come from?

There is a significant gap in the market between an amateur trader at home using a spread betting account and the professional trader on a City trading floor. Recent technological advances have enabled us to extend these professional advantages to remotely based individuals.

35-40 seconds: What's the smartest thing you've done so far?

Setting up the company with a business partner. Many of the challenges that we have overcome so far are as a result of having two people who can compliment each others strengths and weaknesses.

40-45 seconds: What's the stupidest?

Not taking into account how long some of the simple business processes can take, such as setting up a company bank account.

45-50 seconds: If your business was a biscuit, what would it be?

Discovering Amplify Trading would be like stumbling across a luxurious biscuit in Waitrose that was on sale with 80% off! It will offer our customers the trading opportunity that they have always desired but have been unable to attain.

50-55 seconds: Which idea are you a bit jealous of?

Facebook - Love it or hate it, Facebook has an ethos of continuous improvement that has made it impossible for competitors to keep up.

55-60 seconds: Where are you going to be in 12 months' time?

Because much of our business is based online it can be very easily mapped onto other international locations. We intend to expand rapidly, finding new traders in other major financial centres.

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