Morning all,
I wanted to highlight an episode we recorded recently of two friends embarking on a very personal and inspiring journey, and Tech On Toast are with them all the way.
Alana Bralsford & Eve Williamson are the Founders of Served (Techstars ‘24).
Based on a final year project at University the two friends embarked on a mission. That mission is called Served (Techstars ‘24).
We recorded with Alana & Eve on the week they found out they had been selected as part of the Techstars programme in association with Ecolab, within 2 weeks they were off to Minneapolis to further grow their product.
They want to transform the dining experience for individuals with allergies and dietary restrictions by providing comprehensive support to restaurants. This initiative addresses a significant gap in the hospitality industry, where many establishments struggle to accommodate customers with specific dietary needs.
Dining out can be a daunting experience for individuals with allergies, often fraught with challenges such as miscommunication about food ingredients and a lack of transparency regarding allergen information.
The founders have personal experiences that underscore the severity of this issue. Eve, who has a severe peanut allergy, has faced situations where restaurant staff either doubted her allergy or were unable to provide adequate information about the food being served. This not only poses a risk to her health but also creates an uncomfortable dining experience.
Research conducted by the founders revealed that 95% of people with allergies struggle to find safe venues to eat, and 33% of those who do dine out report experiencing allergic reactions in restaurants. These statistics highlight a widespread problem that requires urgent attention.
However, like lots of other females venturing into tech they have been faced with a very familiar story. One of the most pressing issues they’ve encountered is the stark funding disparity. Shockingly, only 2.1% of all venture capital funding goes to female-led companies, a statistic that highlights the systemic barriers female founders face when trying to secure financial support to launch and grow their businesses.
Alana and Eve have spoken candidly about how this disparity is often brought up during meetings, serving as a stark reminder of the uphill battle women entrepreneurs face.
However, instead of letting these biases define their journey, they’ve channelled their energy into building solutions that speak for themselves.
Alana and Eve’s resilience is a rallying cry for change. They emphasise the need for investors, organisations, and communities to actively support female founders—not just through funding but by fostering inclusive networks, providing mentorship, and amplifying the voices of women entrepreneurs.
The episode is here and i urge all my friends to reach out and support this team on their return to the UK in January.
https://lnkd.in/enQZzn-p
