The life of an entrepreneur is a busy one. There are hectic schedules, jam-packed with calls with founders, clients, journalists, and more. With so much responsibility to juggle, entrepreneurs need agility in every part of their work lives. For Andy Davis, the cofounder of 10×10 Capital, a UK-based venture capitalist company that invests in Black founders, a smart, flexible device that can seamlessly adapt to his ever-changing schedule is an absolute priority.
Davis initially founded 10×10 in 2015 as a WhatsApp group for the Black VC community because “as a Black entrepreneur, I noticed the need for a fund run by Black investors specifically supporting early-stage Black founders on their business journeys.” It grew into an official VC fund in 2022, a transition that required further multitasking, responsibility, and organization for Davis.
That’s where Samsung comes in. Davis uses the Galaxy Z Fold5 to help him multitask: The phone’s large screen and multi-window capability enable him to have his calls, notes, and even Chat GPT open simultaneously. Davis can concentrate on what’s being said, research extra topics, share his screen, and use the S Pen to write digital notes.
“I can typically have anywhere from five to 10 calls a day with founders and investors, which can get quite hectic. Before, I had to manually type up my notes after each call which was very time-consuming,” Davis said. Now his phone keeps up with him — the Z Fold5 has enough battery to last a full day, including video calls. And with clear audio delivered by the noise-canceling Galaxy Buds2 Pro, he can even take calls in loud and busy locations, such as coffee shops or busy coworking spaces.
When running a venture capitalist company, data security is naturally a priority. With Samsung’s Knox, a defense-grade security platform built in from the chip up, Davis has peace of mind when handling the most sensitive aspects of his business. “Knox is perfect for providing enhanced security and privacy so seamless that I barely even notice it,” he said. “I appreciate that biometrics are set up as a priority so I am reassured that my founders’ financial data is safe.”
As 10×10 Capital continues to grow, having the right tech is critical for helping Davis stay on top of the demands of work. “I’ve always been passionate about helping Black founders to realize their full potential. It’s great to be able to rely on a device like the Z Fold5 so that I can deal with last minute business crises, give founders my full attention, and be fluid, flexible, responsive, and active.”
For service-industry entrepreneurs, a mobile device that can provide a seamless journey for both employees and customers is not a want, but a need. Louis Angel Scott, the cofounder and COO of Cutbox, a UK-based barber chain that offers convenient and affordable cuts, understands this clearly. Leveraging technology to enhance productivity and the overall customer experience has become central to his business plan.
Angel Scott and his cofounder initially founded Cutbox out of frustration with long wait times associated with the barbering industry. So they started a software company that offered a digital queuing app to help customers find a good barber and reduce wait times in store. Over time, they realized that opening their own stores and underpinning them with enhanced technology could provide an all-around better barbering experience for clients. The company now offers a bespoke subscription model and has five stores across the UK, with more openings projected for 2024.
Samsung created products like the Galaxy Z Fold5 for technology-leaning entrepreneurs like Angel Scott. “The Z Fold5 supports a smoother and more seamless customer journey,” Angel Scott said. When customers enter the store, they can check in, browse haircuts, view barber portfolios, book appointments, sign up for Cutbox’s subscription, and pay for their appointments — all on the Z Fold5.
And it isn’t just easy for customers to use. “The back-end experience is so seamless to access on the Z Fold5 due to the bigger screen,” Angel Scott said. “It gives me a mobile pulse of the business so I can keep tabs on customer bookings and get a sense of how each store is performing.” Angel Scott travels between his home office and the stores throughout the work day, so being able to keep track of performance without being tethered to a desk is crucial.
In stores, the phone can also be used for capturing social media. High-quality cameras and the ability to stand the Z Fold5 up to function as a mini tripod is especially ideal for hair-cut styling content, Angel Scott said. Paired with the productivity taskbar, which allows him to have multiple apps open at once, it’s easy to snap high-quality photos and preview them at the same time without having to go back and forth between apps.
Angel Scott also appreciates being able to plug the Z Fold5 into an in-store PC monitor where it can be used as a trackpad and keyboard. “It’s like having a laptop in your pocket,” he said. “It makes it much easier to review our sales report spreadsheets and other documents that traditionally could only be accessed properly on the laptop.”
Cutbox is committed to elevating the customer experience in barbershops, and Angel Scott believes that mobile technology will be crucial in that journey. “The haircare sector hasn’t changed much in decades despite other industries like hospitality improving as technology evolves,” he said. “We want to use the Z Fold5 to be able to give customers that blend of offline and online experience. Cutbox is determined to address the common customer pain points when it comes to getting a simple haircut: convenience, affordability, and quality.”
To learn more about the new generation of Samsung business devices, click here.
Read about how a healthcare COO and the founder of a travel business make the most of their Samsung devices.
This article was created by Insider Studios with Samsung.
1 May need to be activated by Samsung Labs in settings.
2 S Pen sold separately.
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