A team of entrepreneurs from Blackpool has won £20,000 to further develop their website and app designed to revitalise local high streets.
OFFiGO were awarded the start-up funding at the inaugural Geovation Conference after impressing judges at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
The idea is to develop a digital platform that shares daily offers, events and services from local retailers direct to consumers.
The website has already been successfully launched to serve Blackpool and the Fylde coast with over 170,000 people visiting OFFiGO in just 5 months.
Now the aim is to scale the business model nationwide to help Britain’s struggling high streets.
OFFiGO founder Dave Preston said: “The Geovation judges recognised the plan we have for local high streets can make a difference, we hope this award will encourage councils to collaborate with us in supporting the promotional needs of local businesses and in turn boost each local economy”
The money will go towards taking OFFiGO from beta testing to the full version which will overhaul the admin sections and have new layouts and features to promote and support businesses from all sectors locally. OFFiGO is moving this month to bigger offices in Blackpool and there are currently 3 new jobs being created. Businesses can create a free profile and promote its events and offers to consumers. Over 175,000 have visited the site since launch with over 450 businesses profiled.
Entrepreneurs pitched a diverse selection of ideas aimed at solving sustainability problems in the UK, in front of a packed house of experts, investors and pioneers.
Combating increasing rents that squeeze out nurses and teachers from living close to hospitals and schools, boosting retailers on local high streets, reducing plastic found around Britain’s streets and natural environment, safer spaces around the school gates, and tackling isolation and loneliness were among the issues addressed.
Judges awarded funds for seven out of 10 ideas, which they believed had the most potential to succeed as a sustainable business model.
The winners can now call upon the support of a network of experienced software developers, Ordnance Survey geospatial experts, Land Registry experts, and Geovation mentors to accelerate and scale their projects.
Head of Geovation Alex Wrottesley said: “We’ve had some fantastic teams at this year’s conference.
“There’s been a high-quality calibre with real passions to solve problems and we are looking forward to working with them to take it forwards.
“We’re here to help. Geovation surrounds them with useful expertise, people who can say ‘this will work technically’ or ‘this is the business model you will find most useful.’
“If we can provide them with access to technology, to tools and to expertise, then we can create innovation that works.”
