THE FOUNDER of Shoobs, an online event ticketing platform, has spoken out about the company’s expansion into global markets.
CEO Louise Broni-Mensah told BBC Business Live that the idea for the website came from her own struggles of finding out about urban events and also purchasing tickets for them.
Broni-Mensah sought to develop a solution to having to trek across London to purchase tickets to events in person.
She said: “I just thought surely there’s a better way. This seems so archaic, so old school Why can’t I buy tickets to hip hop parties in the same way I buy tickets to hip hop concerts, for example?”
Broni-Mensah is now expanding the business into the United States. Shoobs has just launched in New York and there are plans to launch the platform in other cities across the country.
Shoobs is centre stage in Times Square, NYC! World domination here we come! #BlackGirlMagic [2] pic.twitter.com/j2j5bBfkKi [3]
— Louise Broni-Mensah (@LouiseBroni) April 19, 2018 [4]
The expansion has been made possible in part as a result of funding from a number of investors. Y Combinator, a competitive accelerator programme in Silicon Valley has provided funds to Broni-Mensah, making her the first black woman to receive funding from well-renowned incubator.
Most recently Broni-Mensah has secured funding from Morgan Stanley investment bank.
Less than 1% of venture capital investment is awarded to people of colour.
Broni-Mensah said that she experienced challenges along the way but that she has never let it get in the way of her ambitions.
“I appreciate that I am breaking glass ceilings in what I’m doing but I am fiercely ambitious so I’ve never allowed, you know, the fact that I don’t necessarily fit the ideal model for a tech founder to stop me in my tracks and neither should anybody else.”
As well as selling tickets, Shoobs also offers event organisers promotional services.
Discover more black businesses at The Voice Black Business Fair taking place December 8 from 10am-6pm! Get your FREE tickets available here [5].
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