When fintech start-up Toucan was introduced to SQN (now rEvolution) by a mutual acquaintance in June last year, we began the first tentative steps to what has become a great partnership. What CEO and co-founder Matt Crate described as ‘a bit like a first date that went well’ has since blossomed into a prosperous working relationship built on transparency, trust, and mutual respect.
One of the early secrets with which we were entrusted was Toucan’s appearance on BBC One business show Dragons’ Den. Matt, together with fellow co-founder Melody Truong, would face a refreshed line-up of Dragons including new entrepreneur recruit Steven Bartlett, founder of Social Chain. No pressure then, for a fledgling start-up with aspirations of modernising the charitable giving market.
We like to think we have become a valuable sounding board for Toucan over the past eight months, as they have worked tirelessly to ready their app for launch, while having the Den appearance at the back of their minds. Our remit has been to lay the important foundations of a PR and communications strategy, as well as developing content for in-app and web use with Toucan’s expanding in-house team.
We have been welcomed warmly into the Toucan nest and followed their journey to launch and onto Dragons’ Den with excitement, enthusiasm, and intrigue. We were fortunate to join the rest of the flock on a live watch-along of the Dragons’ Den broadcast last night, sharing all the reaction and emotion of the experience.
At the same time, our team was busy preparing media assets ready to make the most of Toucan’s appearance in The Den. The launch of Toucan’s app, which is available to download now, is a success story of a start-up which has entered the market during the pandemic, proving that a remote operation can work: making the most of Google Meet, Slack and other collaboration tools, Toucan has taken flight against all odds.
We have had the pleasure of meeting Matt and Melody in person on a few occasions and can understand why the Dragons were so taken by their passion and conviction in the business. The dramatic episode ultimately saw them take an offer from Steven Bartlett in a pitch that will go down in Den history. We are proud to say that ‘we’re in’ and playing our part in helping Toucan to soar.
