A Bristol entrepreneur has won £25,000 from Deliveroo after pitching his business idea to the company’s chief executive and founder.
Callum Jenkins, who has also been working as a Deliveroo rider for two years, picked up the top prize for his commercial drone services company after presenting to boss Will Shu at the Dragons’ Den -style competition.
Callum’s winning pitch focused on future applications of drone technology, such as mapping, surveying and modelling, for his company ESNO Media, which he set up in 2018.
Last year, Callum gained traction with ESNO after working with companies in the automotive, property and construction sectors.
He says the Deliveroo funding will help him invest in “cutting-edge” software, take on specialists and utilise market-leading drones.
This, in turn, will help generate new revenue and expand the business into a technology-based drone company.
“It was so inspiring to pitch in front of Will Shu and leading investors; what an amazing opportunity,” he said.
“The Big Pitch’s investment will be hugely beneficial, enabling me to expand ESNO faster and develop our new concept.”
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Part of Callum’s pitch focused on a longer-term concept he wants to develop, working on an innovative software-based service that will be used along with the drones. The idea is to gather more insightful data on environmental challenges contributing to climate change.
A spokesperson for Deliveroo said: “Riding for Deliveroo allowed Callum to follow his dreams of becoming an entrepreneur and work around his schedule of creating his company and working with clients.
“It provides a freedom and flexibility that other jobs don’t allow, and you are also your own boss, which we know Callum loved.”
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Callum graduated in 2017 and was inspired to set up his company after spending some time pursuing videography while travelling.
He says he was also inspired by entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson, and his own parents, who worked for themselves.
He added: “I love being an entrepreneur and the Big Pitch is helping me in my long-term dream of building a global business that has a positive impact in the world.”