As an employee of an early-stage start-up, I find myself searching for ways to improve my skills and gain more knowledge about the world of business. A perfect way to do this is through TED talks – in a world where time is ever becoming your most valuable resource, I love TED Talks for short and powerful snippets of knowledge provided by experts in various fields. In this blog, I will share with you my five must-watch TED Talks for aspiring entrepreneurs.

What are TED Talks?

Before we jump into my selection of TED Talks, for those that don’t know what the concept of a TED Talk is – a TED Talk is a showcase for speakers presenting great, well-formed ideas in under 18 minutes. This short talk model works since it only demands the audience’s attention for a short period of time, decreasing the chance of minds wandering or daydreaming about lunch. In fact, some of the greatest TED Talks have been as short as 5 minutes long!

5 TED Talks that every aspiring entrepreneur should watch

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, here are five TED Talks that you absolutely must watch. Each of these talks provides valuable insights into the world of business and entrepreneurship. They will help you gain a better understanding of what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur.

TED Talk #1: “The single biggest reason why startups succeed” by Bill Gross

In this TED Talk, Bill Gross, founder of Idealab, shares his insights on what makes startups succeed. He has analyzed hundreds of startups and found that the single biggest reason for success is timing. Gross explains that the timing of a startup can have a massive impact on its success. He gives examples of companies that succeeded because they were in the right place at the right time, and companies that failed because they were too early or too late to the market.

TED Talk #2: “The power of an entrepreneurial mindset” by Bill Roche

Bill Roche is a serial entrepreneur who has started several successful companies. In this TED Talk, he shares his insights on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Roche explains that having an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial for success. He gives examples of how he has used his entrepreneurial mindset to overcome challenges and achieve success.

TED Talk #3: “What they don’t tell you about entrepreneurship” by Mark Leruste

Mark Leruste is an entrepreneur and the founder of The Unconventionalists. In this TED Talk, he shares the things that people don’t tell you about entrepreneurship. He explains that entrepreneurship is not all about success and glamour, but it is also about failure and hard work.

TED Talk #4: “It doesn’t take money to make money” by Brandon Leibel

Brandon Leibel is an entrepreneur who has started several successful companies without any outside funding. In this TED Talk, he shares his insights on how to start a successful business without any money. Leibel explains that it is possible to start a business with little to no money, and he gives examples of how he has done it.

TED Talk #5: “How to Know If You’re Meant to Be An Entrepreneur” by Kiki Ayers

Kiki Ayers is an entrepreneur and the founder of Ayers Career College. In this TED Talk, she shares her insights on how to know if you are meant to be an entrepreneur. Ayers explains that being an entrepreneur is not for everyone, and she gives examples of the traits that successful entrepreneurs possess.

The Impact of TED Talks on Entrepreneurship

As an aspiring entrepreneur, I hope watching these five TED Talks will provide you with valuable insights into the world of business and entrepreneurship. If you haven’t already, take some time to watch these TED Talks and start your journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur today!

The post 5 Must-Watch TED Talks for Aspiring Entrepreneurs appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

Energy Elephant

Energy Elephant is an Irish start-up dedicated to combatting the effects of climate change and adhering to sustainable practices through its energy management solutions.  They offer an all-in-one energy and sustainability management platform that helps organizations around the world to improve sustainability, reduce costs, and save time. By helping businesses to monitor and reduce their energy consumption, they are helping to lower carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Energy Elephant is also committed to operating as a sustainable company. They have implemented sustainable practices in their office, such as recycling and reducing energy usage, and have offset their carbon emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. In 2022 they won a 2nd place award for Finnovating Most Sustainable Startup.

PURE Clothing

Based in the West of Ireland, PURE Clothing is another Irish start-up dedicated to combating the effects of climate change through its promotion of sustainable and ethical practices within the fashion industry. Fast fashion poses a major threat to the environment and refers to the rapid production and consumption of inexpensive clothing, which is often quickly discarded and replaced. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the negative impacts of fast fashion, and consumers are increasingly seeking out sustainable and ethical clothing options.

PURE Clothing has a strong commitment to reducing its environmental impact, ensuring its clothing is produced in a responsible and sustainable manner. Using only eco-friendly materials and organic cotton within their production processes, their products are made to last. PURE Clothing’s efforts in sustainability saw them awarded the best project in Natural Environment at the Business Spirit Awards in 2020, which focuses on responsible innovation.

Native Events

Native Events is an Irish startup, which was established in 2017 in response to the lack of sustainable solutions available in the events and cultural sector in Ireland. The company is committed to combating the effects of climate change and adhering to sustainable practices by working with an expanding community of partners, including events, festivals, and cultural organizations, to ensure a systems-wide transition to sustainability and regeneration. 

Native Events believes that transitioning the sector to a more sustainable and circular model is the pathway towards a more balanced way of being, thriving inside planetary boundaries. They offer a range of sustainable solutions, including solar-powered sound systems, small and large-capacity batteries, temporary solar solutions for outdoor events, sustainable and circular signage, reusable cups, and upcycled furniture and decor. Native Events is dedicated to providing sustainable and innovative solutions to power events, productions, and projects while minimizing their environmental impact.

YourRetrofit.ie

YourRetrofit.ie is a new technology start-up headquartered in Dublin, helping reduce the carbon footprint of homes and CO2 emissions by outlining solutions to improve your home’s energy performance. The carbon footprint of housing already represents around 20% of all global CO2 emissions. The residential sector, however, intends to become the most prominent electricity consumer by 2050. With the worsening energy crisis affecting consumers globally, utility bills are expected to soar further in the coming years. 

YourRetrofit.ie is a free-to-use, unbiased, platform which identifies the specific energy deficiencies of your home based on the contents of your BER data. The platform condenses this complex information into simple-to-understand, tailor-made advice regarding the upgrade options suitable for your home and your budget. It presents unbiased options and empowers homeowners with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions which best suit their circumstances. As an added bonus, the platform partners with a number of businesses which can support individuals through their retrofit journey, offering valuable savings that can maximise the benefits of the retrofit.

Shieldescrow

Shieldescrow is helping to combat problems of fast fashion, overconsumption, excess waste and increasing GHG emissions by facilitating products in a second life cycle. Founded by Conor Lyden in Cork in 2017, Shieldescrow offers a secure payment gateway for people to buy and sell second-hand items. Through their partnerships with preloved.co.uk in the United Kingdom and Malaysia’s largest classified marketplace, Mudah.my, Shieldescrow is gradually becoming the desired payment solution for pre-owned products. Shieldescrow additionally offers a peer-to-peer payment application, facilitating individuals in private exchanges, making it easy and safe for people to embrace the second-hand reselling market. 

While speaking about his developed product, founder & CEO, Conor Lyden stated that “the current systems in place are linear and based on a throwaway culture, meaning that items are discarded at a rapid rate. Our payment gateway has helped accelerate growth within the classified marketplace space and is helping reshape the industry so that consumer-to-consumer purchases become more accessible to all”.

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the negative impacts of fast fashion and overconsumption. Online resale platforms such as Depop and Facebook marketplace are continually rising in popularity, indicating a repositioning in consumer trends to seek alternative sustainable and ethical options. By promoting the use of second-hand products, Shieldescrow is helping to combat the effects of environmental degradation. Using these eco-friendly applications is not a complete solution in the fight towards sustainability. Nonetheless, it’s a step forward in the right direction towards a greener, more circular economy. 

Overall, these Irish start-ups demonstrate how businesses can contribute sustainably to the environment. Through their innovative solutions, they are making a positive impact on the environment and encouraging others to follow suit. Their efforts are an inspiration for businesses worldwide, showing that it is possible to operate sustainably while also being successful. As we continue to face the challenges of climate change, it is crucial that more companies follow in their footsteps and work towards a more sustainable future.

The post 5 Irish Start-ups Committed to Creating a More Sustainable Future! appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

Rental scams have been occurring for some time now and transpire throughout the year.

However, with the academic year set to commence, students returning to third level education are now desperately seeking accommodation.

Scammers often advertise rentals that do not exist or are not available to trick people into sending money.

While you may be hunting for an affordable, comfortable, well located rental, it might also be essential to ask the question; could this be a scam?

Scammers taking advantage of desperate students

Evidence indicates that targets are usually students under the age of 25. Their state of urgency to secure accommodation makes them particularly vulnerable to rental scammers.

The probability of being scammed is even higher if the student is a foreign national.

These students are more than likely to arrange everything online prior to their arrival. If they are already located within the country of their studies, these students are usually based in temporary accommodation paying high rates.

Desperate to secure a long term solution, they end up playing directly into the hands of the fraudsters.

How to Recognize a Rental Scam.

Landlord is out of the Country

Most commonly scammers will create their own listing using the imagery and property details of another genuine rental. They may alter minor details such as the price and change the contact information to their own.

When contacted about the property they will claim to be out of the country, either on business, holiday, or due to the fact they live abroad.

Therefore they are unable to show you the rental in person and will request you pay a deposit and/or first month’s rent to secure the listing.

Once paid, all contact will cease and the scammer will disappear with your money.

Scammer Rents Accommodation

Another common scenario occurs when the scammer rents a home or apartment for a short period of time. During their stay, they take multiple photos and advertise it for rent, claiming to be the property’s landlord.

They show multiple potential tenants around the property and request an immediate payment. They may even provide a set of fake keys to make the transaction appear authentic.

However, when you arrive to move into your new home, the keys do not work and the scammer has disappeared.

Application & Identity Fraud

A scammer may request you submit an application to showcase your interest in their listed rental.

They may request you to submit a copy of your photo ID and proof of address. In addition to scamming you out of your money, they can then use this information to carry out identity fraud.

This tactic can be used in conjunction with the previous two scams or on its own.

How to Avoid a Rental Scam

It can be very easy to fall victim to a rental scam especially in a time of desperation when available, affordable housing is scarce. It is therefore important to remain vigilant and follow the below recommended guidelines.

If the price of the rental seems too good to be true and lower than the surrounding listings, it’s probably a scam.

If the listing contains grammar and/or spelling mistakes, is advertised on social media or if all the communication is had via social media or WhatsApp, it is probably a scam.

You should always arrange to meet a prospective landlord in the accommodation to be rented. A good landlord will make sure to meet you prior to the rental in person or digitally. If a genuine landlord does live out of the country, they would arrange for another individual or letting agent to meet with you.

Finally, never transfer money to a landlord using methods which cannot be reversed, such as cash, bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. It is recommended to pay a rental deposit using Shieldescrow.

Shieldescrow is the only platform specifically designed to protect your funds when transacting with strangers. Considering Shieldescrow securely holds your deposit until you have received the keys, you can ensure you will not be scammed.

Through Shieldescrow, renters can ensure a more secure, protected, risk-free transaction process.

Shieldescrow is an instant transactional solution for any payment, eliminating the prospect of fraud and scams.

The post Student Rental Scams on the Rise appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

Facebook Groups can be a scammers paradise, with many exploiting the desperation of others by posing as genuine customers and merchants.

In this article, we describe the story of a recent Facebook Group scamming, which occurred in the months preceding Ireland’s largest music and arts festival, Electric Picnic.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. It is a daily occurrence.

Social media users are not always what they seem. It can be very easy to fall victim to a scammer, as they are often highly convincing and well organized. Read about what can happen when you do not have a safe and secure transaction platform looking out for you.

*Although this story is based on real events, the name Erica is a pseudonym, used to hide the identity of the individual scammed.

Targeted on an Electric Picnic Ticket Facebook Group

In an attempt to secure two-weekend camping tickets to the music and arts gathering, Erica joined an Electric Picnic Facebook Group for buying and selling tickets.

Within her negotiations, the seller’s malicious intentions became rather apparent due to the language they used, their lack of knowledge surrounding the festival and the pricing of a ticket.

After finding a gentleman to sell her two tickets, Erica maintained her hesitancy, conducting a thorough background check into his Facebook page, friends and recent posts. She also requested evidence, asking for proof of purchase displaying his name and a screenshot of the Ticketmaster account. He supplied each request.

He was presented as a sincere and empathetic person so Erica saw no reason to terminate the transaction, and therefore progressed.

This particular Electric Picnic Facebook Group was rather familiar with online scams. However, despite their advertisements and recommendations to use Shieldescrow, Erica decided to transfer the funds through a different payment platform.

From this moment forth, a variety of complications arose. The gentleman began to request more money, asking for an additional fee which was not previously negotiated.

When this tactic failed, he demanded she reissue the original payment, stating the first payment had not gone through.

Despite Erica’s best efforts, he insisted the tickets would not be sent until the additional payments were paid. All the while maintaining a sympathetic and apologetic temperament.

At that moment, Erica realised she had made a mistake. She had been coerced into falling for a scam. She attempted to message one more time, to confront him of his fraud. However, once challenged, he disappeared.

How to Protect Yourself Against Scams

The Electric Picnic Facebook Group provides a wonderful place for people to connect and to buy, sell or trade. For the most part it is composed of real, genuine individuals looking to transact legitimate tickets.

However, scammers have gotten more sophisticated in recent years and they are not always easily identified. It is therefore important to protect yourself by transacting through Shieldescrow.

Shieldescrow is an instant transactional solution for any marketplace or Facebook Group, eliminating the prospect of fraud and scams.

If Erica had opted to use Shieldescrow, she would have been safeguarded during the payment process.

Shieldescrow positions itself between the buyer and the seller of the product to ensure a more secure, protected, risk-free transaction.

Utilizing Shieldescrow’s buyer protection and fraud detection features, buyers and sellers can transact with a whole new layer of security, maintaining full peace of mind.

The post Scammed out of over €500 buying Festival Tickets! appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

As a consequence, this has resulted in a large cohort of people being unable to maintain the costs and care associated with their household pets.

New owners as well as breeders, puppy farmers and scammers have made the conscious decisions to dump their lockdown animals, abandoning them or placing them within the care of a rescue centre.

The cost of caring for an Animal in 2022

Purchasing a new pet can be exciting. However, they are a big commitment. They are expensive and require plenty of exercise, a healthy diet, and a loving home.

The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals reckons a dog’s potential lifetime cost could range from anywhere between £25,000 to £30,800, varying depending on the dog’s size, breed and how long they live.

Prior to their purchase, numerous individuals fail to conduct adequate research into the costs surrounding an animal’s care and maintenance. The Covid-19 Pandemic had a large part to play in this as according to the BBC, more than 3.2 million UK households bought their first pet on impulse within March 2020.

The increasing cost of living is forcing households into financial hardship and as a result they are no longer able to afford to keep their animals.

Animal Rescue Centres are being stretched to the breaking point

As a result of this crisis, rescue centres have been placed under fierce pressure. The RSPCA reported a 29% increase in the number of pets in their care in comparison to previous years, blaming the rising cost of living and the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Hope Rescue stated they were the busiest they had been in 16 years, having received 300 dogs since January 2022, double the amount from pre-pandemic levels. The charity additionally reported 20 to 30 calls a day from owners declaring their financial situations had changed and were no longer able to afford to care for their pets.

Rescue centre’s have already accommodated more animals than they can cope with or find homes for, with cats and dogs being placed on a waiting list for a space, as they are at full capacity.

How secure selling of pets can help decrease the abandonment rates of pets

We understand the financial hardship which has been imposed on many in recent times and when it comes to animal welfare, we want your pet to be healthy and happy.

Securely rehoming and selling your pet in a safe environment can help reduce the current abandonment rates, while also ensuring the best possible outcome for your animals.

Shieldescrow is a secure payment platform which allows you to buy and sell anything without the risk of being scammed. Its Escrow style payment service and its partnership with Preloved enables you to find the perfect buyer or seller.

Preloved’s ID verification platform offers customized tools that allows them to verify your identity in a safe and trusted manner. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, verifying identity is important, especially when it comes to high-value or emotional purchases.

If you are looking to buy or sell a pet, Preloved’s partnership with Shieldescrow is the safest way to transact online.

Shieldescrow is a transactions platform that acts as an additional safety net for online payments on Preloved, helping their wonderful users transact with complete peace of mind. Shieldescrow works for both online and face-to-face transactions, allowing Preloved users to buy and sell in a safe way.

The post Abandoned Pets Increase as Owners Struggle from Rising Cost of Living in the UK & Ireland appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

How to Detect Fraud when Purchasing & Trading Funko Pops

There are many people online who will attempt to take advantage of you within your quest to obtain your next desired Pop. Scammers often deem collectors to be an easy target, with fraudulent transactions taking place every day. The customer can often be left discouraged after their purchase to discover either an incorrect, damaged or nonexistent Pop. It is essential to protect yourself from all possible harm and transact exclusively in a safe environment when negotiating with an online merchant. Shieldescrow is a secure payment platform which allows you to buy and sell anything without the risk of being scammed. If you are looking to purchase your favourite Funko Pops, Shieldescrow is the safest way to transact online. Their team of fraud analysts ensure suspicious transactions are flagged, paused and investigated before any funds are released.

We provide Buyer Protection on all your Funko Pop Transactions

Shieldescrow can remove all buyer hesitation, leaving you to shop in complete confidence. The secure platform positions itself between the buyer and the seller of the Funko Pop to ensure a safe and protected transaction process. Once an agreed amount has been negotiated, the buyer can utilise Shieldescrow to proceed with payment. Either the buyer or the seller can create a transaction through the platform and via a shared link will invite the other party to join. The agreed amount is then deposited by the buyer into a secure Shieldescrow account, known as the Shieldescrow Hold. The seller will see the funds have been lodged and sequentially dispatch the product for delivery.

Alternatively, if agreed, both parties can meet face-to-face to transact the Funko Pop in person. Whether shipped or physically transferred from one hand to another, Shieldescrow’s payment process remains the same. Shieldescrow will retain the funds within the Shieldescrow Hold until both parties are satisfied with the transaction. This process ensures protection for both the buyer and the seller, meaning they can transact with peace of mind. A complaints period is provided for the buyer. During this time, they can inspect the Funko Pop, verifying its condition. The funds are not released until the complaints period has elapsed and the buyer confirms they have received the Funko Pop in an acceptable state.

The Safest way to Sell Funko Pops Online

Throughout all transactions, Shieldescrow not only protects the buyers but additionally the sellers. In exchange for full buyer protection, our payment solution relies on the customer to pay the small transaction fee, meaning there are no transaction fees for the seller. Shieldescrow additionally safeguards all sellers from fraudulent complaints and dishonest returns, whereby a customer may attempt to return an item unrelated to the one originally received. Shieldescrow takes full liability for the transaction, with their support team on hand to mediate and resolve all disputes. Utilising Shieldescrow’s buyer protection and fraud detection features, sellers can add a whole new layer of security to their trading platforms, instantly removing the biggest barrier to attracting cautious users.

Uncertainty and unpredictability are concepts which often surround the processes of online transactions, especially within marketplaces when dealing with unknown sources. It is therefore important to protect yourself and recognise how to transact safely with another. Through Shieldescrow, buyers and sellers can ensure a more secure, protected, risk-free transaction process. Shieldescrow is an instant transactional solution for any marketplace, eliminating the prospect of fraud and scams.

Begin your first transaction today and start buying your beloved Funko Pops with complete peace of mind.

The post Safest Way to Trade Funko Pops in 2022 – What to look out for! appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

1. List the ticket online

Firstly, you need to choose a way to list your ticket online. Some popular options include classified sites such as Preloved, DoneDeal, Claz or Craigslist. If the event is big enough, for example, Electric Picnic or Glastonbury, there may also be Facebook groups set up specifically for reselling those tickets. Lastly, many people choose to try to resell their tickets to people they already know via social media, sharing posts or stories advertising the ticket to their followers.

2. Set a price

Pricing a resale ticket can be a difficult task. You want a price close to what you paid initially so you don’t lose out on money but sometimes charging the face value price is unrealistic when you take into consideration the potential demand for the tickets, the number of other tickets for sale and how close the event is to the time of listing your ticket. A good measure is usually to search classified sites to see how other people are pricing their tickets and to then price your ticket at the same level or to undercut their price.

3. Decide on method of handover and payment

Once you’ve found a buyer the two of you must decide on how you are going to exchange the tickets and the money. This can be a difficult process to navigate when the two parties are strangers as people can find it difficult to trust someone online that they don’t know. The seller can have doubts about the buyer’s potential to pay and the buyer can have doubts about the ticket being invalid and the whole sale being a scam.

How does Shieldescrow work?

Shieldescrow provides a method for both parties to exchange the tickets and the money in a safe and protected way. With Shieldescrow, the buyer or the seller creates a transaction for the tickets through our website or app and have the other party join the transaction via a shared link. The buyer then deposits the agreed sum for the tickets which Shieldescrow holds in a safe account, known as the Shieldescrow Hold. The seller then can see that the funds have been lodged and can then either post the tickets in an online transaction, in which case the tickets are tracked by Shieldescrow or both parties can agree to meet face to face to hand over the tickets in person.

Shieldescrow will hold the funds until both parties are satisfied with the transaction. This way both the buyer and seller are protected and can transact with peace of mind. The buyer is given a complaints period during which time they can inspect the tickets and verify that they are valid. The funds are not released until the buyer confirms they have received the tickets and until the complaints period has elapsed. The seller is also protected from fraudulent complaints and from having an item returned to them that is different from what they originally sent.
Shieldescrow also supports the sale of e-tickets, making ticket resale that much easier. With this feature users can resell tickets through trusted third party ticket transfer services such as Ticketmaster Ticket Transfer, using Shieldescrow as their payment method.

The platform is perfect for the reselling of tickets with the complaints period offering buyers ample time to verify the authenticity of the tickets before the funds are released to the seller. By using Shieldescrow, buyers and sellers alike can make the ticket resale process that bit safer. Begin your first transaction right here and start selling your tickets with complete peace of mind.

The post How to Resell Tickets Safely Online appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

1. Verify the seller

Firstly you should always try to verify how legitimate the seller in question is. Typically when you’re buying something from a stranger online you’re making this purchase through a classified site like eBay or a listing platform for buying and selling between strangers like Depop. Oftentimes the best way to check how legitimate a seller is is to see how many previous or active listings the seller has available and on top of that read any reviews you can find from previous customers about that seller. If a seller has no reviews or listings it can be a bad sign, it’s better to buy from a seller who has some reviews from past customers to get a sense of how trustworthy they really are. And of course, don’t buy from a seller with poor reviews. If they are unwilling to use a platform such as Shieldescrow which provides a safe option for peer-to-peer payments, then it may be that they can’t be trusted in a transaction. 

2. Communicate

Next, once you spot something that seems authentic from a seller you deem to be credible, you should initiate communication with them to discuss details like the price, the payment method, shipping details etc. If a seller is difficult to contact or inflexible it can often be a major warning sign. For example, you should be able to request further information or photos from a seller about the product and if they refuse, it is reasonable to be sceptical of how legitimate they are as a seller.

3. What payment method should I use?

The major obstacle to overcome however is the payment method. This can be the aspect of the online buying process that people are most sceptical about, especially when transacting with a stranger. However, with Shieldescrow’s peer-to-peer payment solution, they can be made that much more secure allowing you to transact with peace of mind. 

About Shieldescrow

Shieldescrow is a secure transaction platform that protects you from being scammed online when you want to buy or sell with someone you don’t know. It offers a secure holding account through which funds can be deposited by the buyer, held and eventually transferred into the seller’s account. Shieldescrow holds the funds until certain transactional milestones are completed ensuring both parties are happy with the transaction. 

Shieldescrow offers a milestone-based transaction model to cater to different transaction needs. Shieldescrow provides both buyer and seller protection by giving buyers a complaints period upon receiving goods and conversely by protecting sellers from fraudulent complaints being lodged against them. This protection makes the transaction process that bit more secure.

So if you’re looking to buy safely online from a stranger and don’t know where to start, Shieldescrow can put your mind at ease by handling any payment concerns and protecting both parties during and after your purchase.

The post The Safest Way to Buy From a Stranger Online appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

Whilst there are a multitude of payment methods available, finding one that both parties are confident in and can trust can be difficult. Transacting through marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist and DoneDeal can often lead to safety issues for users mainly due to the lack of a secure payment solution. However, one method which overcomes all the common security pitfalls is Shieldescrow.

Why Shieldescrow is the safest payment platform for you:
Shieldescrow was designed to overcome the biggest security issues that are encountered between strangers transacting online. Shieldescrow offers support and protection on both ends whether you’re the buyer or seller as well as offering a unique user flow that caters for transactions carried out both online and in person.

Transacting Online:

Online transactions tend to be the most popular form when it comes to classified marketplaces and are better suited to transactions happening across a greater distance when the item in question needs to be delivered via courier. For an online transaction, the buyer pays the full amount into the Shieldescrow Hold. From there, the seller is given 48 hours to post the item in question and enter the tracking details. This tracked delivery service is one of the key features of Shieldescrow’s payment method that other methods fail to offer. Once the item has been delivered and signed for, the buyer is again given a complaints window of 24 hours which once elapsed, releases the funds to the seller.

Transacting In Person:

Shieldescrow’s model is ideal for in person transactions too where both parties are located within close proximity to one another, or for larger items that cannot be shipped like a car. It involves one party creating a transaction via the Shieldescrow website or app, entering details like: the price, currency and description of the item. The second party then joins the transaction via a shared link. Then, the buyer places a refundable deposit in Shieldescrow’s secure holding account, showing the seller that the buyer has genuine intention to buy. Once the money has been lodged the two parties can agree on a time and place to meet in person where the buyer can inspect the item and the two can agree on a final price. Once an agreement has been made, the buyer enters the remaining amount into the Shieldescrow Hold and the seller hands over the item. The buyer is then given a one hour complaints period during which time they can inspect the item further to ensure it is ‘as described’ by the seller.

So, if you’re looking for a safer, more secure payment method when buying or selling on classified sites, Shieldescrow can without a doubt offer you that extra peace of mind. For quick explainer videos on how each model works check out our website at: https://Shieldescrow.com/.

The post How To Stay Safe When Buying From Online Marketplaces appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.

Despite the significant growth in online commerce platforms, peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions continue to be plagued by lack of trust between buyers and sellers, resulting in over $220bn of inhibited transactions annually.  Fuelled by the continued decline in cash usage post-COVID and the accelerated shift towards e-commerce and digital payments, the market opportunity is growing at over 15 percent annually.  Buyers remain reluctant to transact with sellers unknown to them, therefore preventing successful transactions. 

Shieldescrow provides the critical remedy; a transparent and secure milestone-based transaction platform for both buyers and sellers.  As a Shieldescrow Buyer, you can track the transaction across each step of the journey with funds held securely and not released until the milestones are complete and you’re happy with the purchase.  Likewise, Shieldescrow Sellers have transparency over where funds are being sent, verification of the Buyer’s identity, as well as neat features to collect and ship the item in question.  Regardless of whether you are transacting in person or online, Shieldescrow gives you peace of mind for a successful and secure transaction. 

Conor Lyden, Founder and CEO of Shieldescrow announced: “This fundraise is an important step for Shieldescrow and will enable us to leverage the network and experience of our investor base to accelerate our growth in 2022 and beyond.  Most people will be familiar with the concept of Escrow; a third-party holding funds on behalf of two other parties. We believe more than Escrow is required for a successful transaction between two unknown parties. The reality is that the money is only ever half of any transaction between two parties. The other half is usually a product that has to be delivered or a service that has to be completed. Rather than just holding the money, we manage the entire transaction from start to finish to ensure each milestone is successfully completed.” 

“We are excited to partner with Conor and his team to support Shieldescrow’s growth ambitions”, noted Patrick Pinschmidt, Co-Founder and General Partner at MiddleGame Ventures.  “The company is well positioned to play an integral role in unlocking friction around marketplace transactions by providing confidence to both sellers and buyers.  In competitive online markets with thin margins, the Shieldescrow platform differentiates itself by reducing the incidence of abandoned transactions and offering revenue opportunities from successful transactions, as well as better data tools for business customers.”

2021 saw Shieldescrow successfully partner with a number of large marketplaces around the world, securing agreements with global names such as Preloved and Mudah, the largest marketplace in Malaysia.  The partnership with Preloved unlocks access to one of the latest classified advertising sites in the UK across 500+ categories.  This new injection of funding will enable Shieldescrow to accelerate its growth with the roll out of new features and extend marketplace partnerships globally to meet increasing customer demand. 

About Shieldescrow:

Shieldescrow is headquartered in Cork, Ireland and have offices in Croatia, the UK and the US. The Shieldescrow platform is available for buyers and sellers to use on Mobile App or on Desktop. To find out more information, visit www.Shieldescrow.com 

The post Shieldescrow Raises $3.4m To Bring Confidence and Security to Online Transactions appeared first on Shieldescrow Blog.