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16
17
Summer
2015
We both
always
wanted to
set up our
own company
but it was
a definite
step into
the unknown.
increased our daily visits and luckily
people responded well to the site so we
got a lot of pick up from social sharing
and word of mouth.
The second growth stage, which we
are in now, came from Angel investment.
We managed to secure funds from six
prominent business Angels who all had
significant success and experience in
growing online brands.
Not only did their financial input
allow us to grow the team, grow the
site and do some low-level marketing,
but their expertise and know-how was
fundamental. Now we stand, four years in,
getting over 2.5m views a month, selling
over 20,000 tickets a month, processing
over 4,000 bookings a month and have a
team of 25 in Old Street, Shoreditch.
My top tips for anyone reading this
who would like to be an entrepreneur,
now or in the future are:
1)
Research, research, research! If you
think you have a good idea, speak to as
many people as possible. Not just family
and friends (as they will be biased) but
actual members of the public. There is no
point blindly ploughing on with an idea if
it simply won’t work.
2)
Get it live. You can spend years
planning and thinking about an idea. The
best way to learn and improve is to get it
live. You don’t have to spend a fortune to
bring an idea to fruition. This start phase
is called a Minimum Viable Product. You
may not be 100% happy with this MVP or
it may not be your total vision but getting
it live is the key…then learn and improve
from there.
3)
The most important aspect we have
learnt is being ready to pivot. Plans will
inevitably change when you start trading,
as might the landscape you’re trading in.
If you stick blindly to your original idea,
you may get left behind. Be quick, be
nimble and be ready to change. Over the
four years we have pivoted from a purely
advertising model, to a bookings model,
to a B2B ticketing model and a B2B
booking software (Collins).
A final thought goes to some of the
amazing teachers I was lucky enough
to have. I think I have taken certain
personality elements from different
Taylors’ teachers as a boss now at
DesignMyNight.com;I had Mr Moon
for Spanish, who was fierce but fair, Mr
Andrews for English, who was wise,
listened and was very informed, and Mr
Rocher, an extrovert, laid-back, fun-
but-firm French teacher. I will always
look back with extreme gratitude at the
opportunities offered me at Taylors’
and without doubt it was the perfect
breeding ground for all the qualities you
need to become a good entrepreneur.