CEO Today Global Awards 2024 - 62 - - UNITED KINGDOM - today and have played key roles. Initially, Simon made his facility available, and we were on the edge, but we knew we needed a bit more of a buffer. I reached out to friends in the Caribbean who had some cash lying around. They invested in just an idea at the time, but they took a chance. Six of them are still investors today, and two of them work in the business, bringing their skills and know-how. Did you consider other funding routes like bank loans or crowdfunding? Given the economic situation in 2008, banks weren’t friendly towards new products. People didn’t understand what we were trying to do. We decided to tap into our network for funding. Today, it’s easier to raise money, but starting out was difficult. The biggest barrier for new entrepreneurs is getting that seed investment. We were lucky to have cash from our yacht work and decided to invest it in this business instead of buying a house. After getting your first premises, how did you grow from there? Michael found our first property in Leeds. We faced setbacks but eventually opened our first site. It was successful, and landlords began offering us more properties. We self-funded the next few sites, leveraging the success of the first one. We focused on finding the right properties and continuously evolving our offerings. For example, we were one of the first trampoline parks in the UK, which helped create awareness. Our growth has always been through choosing the right property location and maintaining strong relationships with landlords. What were some of the challenges in terms of leadership and growth? The biggest challenge was recognizing when loyal staff members had reached their peak. We had to make tough decisions to bring in external expertise while maintaining our culture. It’s difficult but necessary for growth. We’ve always surrounded ourselves with people who believe in us and the product. Another challenge was understanding the safety standards and ensuring our product was safe and enjoyable. We worked on establishing safety standards and now collaborate on international standards. Can you talk about your product offerings and the focus on families and kids? Initially, we thought our product would be more fitnessfocused, but it evolved to be more fun-oriented. We created an environment that encourages activity without people realizing they’re exercising. We worked hard to get our product into schools despite initial challenges. Our focus has always been on safety and providing fun activities for all ages. We also do SEN (Special Educational Needs) sessions, toddler groups, and fitness classes. The MAX concept evolved from this, incorporating activities like golf, darts, and bowling to appeal to a broader audience.
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