Eureka
Moment
The idea for Purpl came to me in a store. I saw that they offered a student
discount and I wondered, ‘why isn't there a disabled discount?' Once the idea
was in my head, I knew I had to do something about it.
After doing lots of research, I created Purpl to support the disabled community
in offsetting the extra costs of living with a disability (which average £1,010
a month according to Scope). I also wanted Purpl to be more than just
discounts, I wanted to build a trusted space filled with practical information
to help people navigate disabled life.
Long term, my goal is to launch a foundation that offers grants to people who
need additional financial support.
Finance
I initially funded the business using a payout I received from my Critical
Illness cover. Since then, we completed a friends and family investment round,
and most recently, we closed another investment round.
Regrets
Honestly, I have no regrets. If I hadn't trusted my instinct and followed
through on launching Purpl, that would've been my regret. Of course, there are
challenges and things don't always go to plan, but I've always had a "where
there's a will, there's a way" approach to life and that's helped me as a
founder.
What Would You Have Changed?
I wouldn't change anything. Our website only launched in July last year, and
the response has been incredible. We've partnered with some major brands,
including an exclusive deal with Morrisons that's actively helping so many
disabled people in our community.
For further information visit Purpl
