Barclays Black Founder Accelerator 2021 member
10 10 Taste

We are a food networking company, innovating the dining experience for Uk foodies and showcasing food businesses on an integrated platform.
Why did you join the Barclays Black Founder Accelerator?
To get a mentor with tech experience and a forward thinking approach to help innovate the hospitality industry. Another reason I joined the program is to learn effective means of fundraising, and how to adapt and adjust to macroeconomic factors that could impact our business.
Why did you want to start your business?
During covid we saw a gap in the market for our booking service and a high demand for private dining. We also identified problems within the hospitality industry, such as no shows and fake reviews.
What would be your desired outcome from this programme?
I would like to learn key steps to becoming a successful start-up, as i know the failure rate is significantly high. I want to expand my network and gain a mentor who has experience in the tech and hospitality industry.
Which entrepreneur inspires you the most and why?
Will Shu (Founder of Deliveroo). This entrepreneur is my biggest inspiration because he is a calculated risk taker, he is in the hospitality industry and represents ethnic minorities. He saw a problem as a customer and decided to become a competitor in a foreign country. This story resonates with me because I believe I am on the same journey.
What has been your biggest win in your entrepreneurial journey?
Receiving sponsorship from a global brand who's products I've been using from when I was a child, that recognition motivated me to work harder to take our business to the next stage. Launching our first beta app and gaining valuable feedback which has lead to our more current improved version.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Our biggest challenge has been bootstrapping capital for development and gaining traction to our social media.
Where did you go for business advice and how did it help you?
We haven't received any advice at this current stage, which is why I've joined the program to get business advice from credible sources.
What drives you to make your business a success?
As a passionate foodie and amateur cook, I love the feeling good food can give and the emotional aspect of the industry. My motivation comes from the food businesses that acknowledge the importance of good service and genuine customer satisfaction. We aim to change the industry from transactional to transparent.
What advice would you give other founders thinking about starting their own business?
Don't deviate, just start. Having meetings and debating how to overcome hurdles that are miles away is unproductive and will just waste valuable time.