A recent survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that 21% of businesses cited economic uncertainty as a major challenge, while 16% highlighted competition and rising material costs as significant concerns. Many businesses also reported struggling with fluctuating demand, as consumer spending remains highly variable in the current climate.
Recognising that UK businesses are grappling with this complex mix of economic, technological, and environmental challenges as they try to plan for the future, a tech entrepreneur has launched a brand new business planning platform, exclusively for small businesses that make and sell products.
Kaleidoscope was founded by Michael Gould, former CTO and founder of Anaplan, an unrivalled planning and modelling engine which became North Yorkshire’s first tech unicorn – reaching a $1bn valuation in 2016 and later selling for $10bn. The new platform is designed to give businesses confidence in their decisions. From deciding what products to offer and planning stock levels, to understanding production costs and managing cash flow, it offers a simple, affordable and powerful solution that allows businesses to plan and operate effectively.
The company’s mission is to streamline the processes of analysis, forecasting, and planning in a complex and uncertain world, allowing businesses to focus on what truly matters. The software aims to help decision-makers gain a clearer understanding of their world, whether in business, philanthropy, government, or beyond and explore possible futures that lead to better, more informed decisions.
The Kaleidoscope platform is currently in the development stage and the team is working with a number of small businesses in a unique early adopter program. Businesses will have the opportunity to shape the future of the platform while benefiting from its advanced planning tools.
“At Kaleidoscope, we want to offer businesses a platform that not only meets today’s complex decision-making needs but also evolves with the future of work,” said Michael Gould, founder of Kaleidoscope. “Our early access program is a two-way partnership: businesses get the tools to run more efficiently, and their feedback helps us refine and expand the platform.”
The early adopter program allows SMEs to experiment with Kaleidoscope’s customisable, connectable modules, pre-built building blocks powered by a cutting-edge calculation engine. By using the platform during the development phase, participants will help shape the user experience (UX) and influence future features.
Kaleidoscope’s vision is to deliver a platform built around customisable, connectable modules—pre-built building blocks designed to address specific business challenges. The platform is powered by a robust calculation engine, allowing users to tailor the solution to their unique needs.
As new modules are added, organisations can build a comprehensive, interconnected data model, creating a single source of truth for their business. This holistic visibility enables businesses to understand the ripple effects of every decision and make smarter, data-driven choices.
After earning a Mathematics degree and a MSc in Computation from Oxford University, Michael has been working as a software engineer and technology entrepreneur for more than 40 years, most recently as founder and CTO of Anaplan.
He enjoys making the connection between users and software and is just as happy talking with people about what they want, as he is delving into the technology. Outside work, Michael looks after his large family with birth and adopted children, as well as fostering young refugees.
