So long Oxford Launchpad and thanks for all the things.

tl;dr We’ve loved starting Bimble in the Oxford Launchpad at the Saïd Business School and wanted to say thank you to the Launchpad and its staff on the day of its closure.

We started working on Bimble together just under two months ago. Today is a huge milestone for us in two ways: we tested a final build of the first release of our Alpha Test and also the Launchpad in the Oxford Saïd Business School where we’ve been working is sadly closing. The Launchpad is being replaced by the Oxford Foundry and we hope we can be involved there in some way too.

The Launchpad has given us more than just a place to work together, it’s given us a connection to other entrepreneurs and startups going through the same journey we have. It’s allowed us to help others in situations where we have expertise that is valuable and also be helped by others who know more than we do. Entrepreneurship is inherently a practical discipline and a team sport where helping each other and being part of a community bigger than your company is invaluable. We’ve become mentors on programmes run by the Business School and taken courses ourselves. It has been a lovely ecosystem in which to take our first steps.

Before the Launchpad existed there wasn’t a place in Oxford where companies at all stages of starting up could meet each other. It has crossed boundaries between the Universities and the outside world and we’ll miss being a part of that wider community on a daily basis. We’d like to say a large thank you to the team at the Launchpad for all you’ve done for us with such grace, sense of fun and professionalism. We wish you all the best in the move towards the Foundry over the summer and hope to come and see you there soon.