Case Study: trundl - Start up and finance business support
Growth Hub
Case Study
23/05/2022
Growth Hub helped business access funding
trundl is an online community of people from all walks of life who are passionate about making a difference through something as simple as an everyday walk.
The membership organisation was launched in November 2020 with the aim of encouraging people to take more exercise outdoors through the motivation and reward of raising money for charity, without them having to find all the donations themselves.
Whether it’s a quick trip to the shops, a lunchtime stroll to clear your mind, a few steps taken in rehab or a hike with the dog, the trundl app records all steps and helps you work towards individuals’ fitness goals.
Members currently pay a subscription of £3.99 per month for access to the app and, in turn, trundl donates at least 10% of its monthly income plus pledges from its growing brand partnerships to a variety of good causes, including Dogs for Autism, UK National Parks Foundation, MOVE Against Cancer, Sussex Wildlife Trust.
Founder Hilary Mines began by self-funding the business venture before collaborating with head of strategy Tess Caven to further develop trundl.
Hilary worked with the Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub to access routes for funding and business support, in order to grow the business.
The Growth Hub helped Hilary and her team access a start-up loan worth £25,000 and also introduced them to a string of support programmes and key contacts such as Cheshire and Warrington Health Matters and Alderley Park.
Hilary, who first had the idea for trundl around 15 years ago, said: “I really loved the idea of creating something that motivated differently and could bring keeping active together with giving to charity.
“During the last two years, many of us have rediscovered what’s on our doorstep and have grown to love being outdoors and soaking up the fresh air. This doesn’t always mean running a marathon or wanting to be the first person over the finish line – lots of people just want the added motivation to get outside in the fresh air, monitor their progress and feel a sense of achievement not just for themselves but by giving back at the same time.
“That’s why we set up trundl – to give people a chance to form a community and share their successes, while raising money for some fantastic causes at the same time.
“The Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub really opened up doors for us, introducing us to relevant networks, funding and, importantly, being on the other end of the phone when we just needed to sanity check something or get a bit of advice. The team, especially Fiona and Paul, have been amazing – they suggested which loans we should apply for and introduced us to so many people we would not have had the opportunity to meet without the Growth Hub.
“As a result of our contact with the Growth Hub, we’re in discussions with the NHS and Health Innovation Manchester through the ERDF Cheshire Health Matters Programme to explore how the app could benefit patients and potential collaborations, something that would never have been possible without this level of support.”