The online gifting platform Kidcrowd, created by 21 year old Huddersfield entrepreneur Melissa Roberts, has received investment to support its plans for future growth.
An innovative, gifting solution, Kidcrowd offers a digital platform that enables relatives and friends to help a child save money towards a larger gift or experience, whilst reducing the stress of trying to find presents. It also teaches children valuable lessons about the benefits of saving money, and at the same time, helping the planet become more sustainable by reducing the amount of plastic and waste.
A business model fuelled by a passion to give gifts that support the long-term future of children by driving down plastic waste often associated with children’s toys, Kidcrowd is free to use and is fast becoming a popular solution amongst consumers who are keen to do their bit for the environment whilst supporting future generations.
Passionate about supporting tech starts up, private investor Caroline Freeman has committed over £30,000 of investment to Kidcrowd, acquiring a 15% stake in the business now valued at £200,000. Caroline is now working as a Business Consultant, and has a background in branding and marketing within the film & leisure industry, as well as successfully turning around a loss-making business.
Caroline commented: “If anyone is going to make an innovative tech start up business a success, it’s Melissa. She’s the embodiment of a true entrepreneur, full of passion and drive. Kidcrowd is an innovative product which is disrupting a traditional market in a really positive way for the good of our future generations as well as the planet, and I believe will become a serious player within the gifting and ecommerce markets. Not only is Kidcrowd a product that reduces global warming and wastage, it teaches our children about the value of money which should make for a whole new generation of entrepreneurs.”
Melissa, who has just been named 10th in a round-up of entrepreneurs making a difference in the tech world in TechRound’s 29 under 29, began her own web design business at the age of 18; building her skill set through hands on experience. It was at a networking event back in 2018 that she first connected with Caroline.
Melissa explains: “Caroline was one of my very first clients at Beanie Media and one of the first professionals I had ever met at the grand old age of 18. We have always had a strong relationship and I am thrilled that Caroline has chosen to invest within the business platform.
“We are at the beginning of our journey, and with the support from Caroline, we can focus on strategic growth and planning our route to success. The investment will be split between investment within the platform itself and developing new technology to enhance the user experience, as well as marketing to engage with new consumers.”
The team are currently working on an app version of Kidcrowd, which should be available by the end of 2021. Packed with new features and content to appeal to modern day parents, the app will also move the company from operating solely in the gift-giving market, to operating in the financial services and ecommerce markets.
