We were proud to host the very first Been There, Built That event, sponsored by Preston Partnership, and it was far from your typical business talk.
Held at Cotton Court Business Centre, the evening brought together local entrepreneurs and professionals for an honest, no-fluff conversation with two standout speakers: Luke Massie, founder of VibePay, and Kirsty Henshaw, founder of Kirsty’s Ready Meals and former Dragon’s Den contestant, hosted by Cotton Court’s Rob Binns.
Kirsty shared reflections from the early stages of her journey, landing investment on Dragon’s Den while still working shifts at her local pub. The TV moment opened doors, but it was the hard graft behind the scenes that built the brand.
Both speakers opened up about bold decisions that shaped their businesses. For Luke, it was shifting VibePay into online payments, against investor pressure to stay focused on ticketing. The pivot proved vital. When Covid hit, live events vanished overnight, but the demand for digital payments exploded. Vibe survived because it had evolved, and Luke had taken a risk.
A big theme of the night was around backing yourself, even when you don’t have all the answers. Pretend you can do it, and figure it out as you go. As well as listening to and learning from everyone you meet. As Kirsty was told…. “You’ve got two ears, one mouth”
Luke shared how to be taken seriously as a young entrepreneur:
“This is what I’m trying to achieve. Can you help me?”
He spoke about building a trusted network: Can I work with them? Do I trust them? Would I introduce them to my family?
And when it comes to investment, “If you’re not aligned with their values, don’t take the money.”
Entrepreneurship isn’t about having it all figured out, it’s about figuring a way through it, whatever the challenge. Constantly asking “What do I need to do now?”
We’re looking forward to the next event in the series, 9th July at Society1. Tickets available here
To watch the highlights and key moments of the first Been There, Built That Event click here