Coming up with the idea
Some people say, well how did you come up with that when millions of people are listening to dance music? I think it was just this combination of DJing plus the mechanical, technical side of my degree that made me think; yeah it would be easy to make a computer do most of the work mixing tracks.
Leaving university without knowing what to do
From there I didn’t really have a clue where to start. When I graduated in 2000, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I trained as a patent attorney where I got to know the inside story and managed to get a patent granted which I needed to develop my idea.
Looking for funding
I left my job in 2003 because I knew that I had to spend all my time doing this if it was going to succeed. It took ages to get the funding together to develop a prototype of my idea until The Princes Trust and Business Link stepped in with grants.
Getting the prototype and business plan together
I still remember when we had just got the prototype through, I was just putting in all the data that it needed, pushed go, and the first mix I had, it was like ‘wow, it actually works!’ and I knew I had to get this going.
I began to get the business plans together but had never studied business, so it was starting from scratch. The next year was largely getting more funding together, then eventually to the Dragons’ Den to ask more investment.
Getting my idea onto Dragon's Den and winning!
I still remember when we had just got the prototype through, I was just putting in all the data that it needed, pushed go, and the first mix I had, it was like ‘wow, it actually works!’ and I knew I had to get this going.
I began to get the business plans together but had never studied business, so it was starting from scratch. The next year was largely getting more funding together, then eventually to the Dragons’ Den to ask more investment.
I've learnt that business plans change all the time
The one thing that has surprised me is how the business plans change all the time. Initially we thought we would have this system running in an office, people would have to choose their tracks burn the mixed tracks on a CD and post it to them. But since then, technology has changed and people are downloading the tracks online.
If you do your research thoroughly and you think there is a good market for it, then absolutely go for it, but do your research first because you don’t want to waste your time or anyone else’s.
Devote your life to something you love
If I could pick any job (apart from Formula 1 driver!) then this would be it because I get all the new dance music through to listen to, I’m meeting loads of people, getting invited to big events from Sony, and it is just really great fun.
You really have got to devote your life to it and sometimes it can be taxing but, when you enjoy it as well, it is all worth it.
