Digiruu, founded by Aman Birdi, is an app development company whose focus is on designing and building apps that deliver the best business outcomes for customers, creating a lasting impact for businesses that embrace digital transformation. Their vision is to create technology that changes the world, and their mission is to become the number one app development company in the UK.

When applying for the MSDUK Accelerator, we had a mix of personal and business-related motivations. In 2023, the economy took a massive hit, and the tech industry was not spared. During this challenging period, I lost a lot of motivation to continue with Digiruu. However, upon discovering the MSDUK Accelerator, I felt that it could provide the necessary boost for our business. I recognised the need to approach challenges in new ways, create new processes, and view the business from a fresh perspective. My experience on the programme was exceptional. From the Welcome Event, where I met the rest of the cohort, I realised I was not alone in my entrepreneurial struggles. While I was aware that many entrepreneurs face similar challenges, it was comforting to be in a room with other founders like me.

Aman’s Learning Experience: Insights and Inspirations

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire programme, but certain modules and workshops stood out to me. Module 1: Customer Discovery and Validation was particularly impactful. The facilitators delivered the session in a way that felt down-to-earth and approachable, despite the topic requiring a lot of reflection and research. The masterclasses were also very practical, and I walked away with actionable insights. Module 4: Sales and Communication was another highlight. The facilitator was engaging and provided straightforward, practical advice. During my 1-2-1 session, I gained more knowledge about how to sell my business and walked away with actions to implement. Regarding the guest workshops, I really enjoyed the PR workshops because the guest speaker was fun to listen to and her sessions were interactive. However, the guerilla marketing workshops were particularly inspiring. They gave me the idea and confidence to start a campaign asking people what their app ideas are.

As a founder who is always trying to stay updated with the latest trends and entrepreneurial knowledge, many of the learnings were not completely new to me. However, the programme provided structure and a newfound motivation to allow myself to be creative and experimental. For example, the campaign was an idea I might not have considered before, as I would question whether it was a good use of time and money. Hearing other people’s success stories allowed me to say yes to this idea.

Implementing Change: Immediate Actions and Lasting Impact

The module tasks were a great way to implement and make changes immediately. After Module 4, we changed our sales messaging to be more concise and clearly communicate what we do. After Module 1, I tailored my approach to networking and speaking with potential clients. Instead of trying to sell to clients, I focused on understanding more about them and their needs. This approach helped me sell without hard selling, from a perspective of what my customers want and how I can provide them with the best outcome. Completing the programme felt like a fresh start after a difficult year, and I feel motivated and ready to tackle new business challenges.

Demo Day: Showcasing Digiruu

Being one of the ten businesses pitching on Demo Day was a lot of fun. I truly enjoy being on stage, so having the opportunity to showcase my business was fantastic. I received a lot of positive feedback from the audience and managed to get some good leads from being known as the ‘app guy.’ I also enjoyed watching everyone else pitch, as I was the first one to present and could then relax and enjoy the rest of the event.

Implementing Change: Immediate Actions and Lasting Impact

My biggest takeaway from the programme is not to be scared to do crazy, unconventional things. I got the spark I needed to see my business from a new perspective, and the masterclasses, workshops, and facilitators showed me that it’s okay to try new things. Also, as a current MSDUK EMB, the programme brought me closer to the team at MSDUK and gave me a better understanding of working with large corporations.