What happens when two lifelong friends take a niggling idea, turn it into an app, and then march it straight into the UK’s toughest business stage? You get Prsnt — the instant gifting app that won over Peter Jones, Sara Davies, and Touker Suleyman on Dragons’ Den.
In this episode of The Gift Club Podcast, Hadie sits down with The Prsnt Guys, Omid and David, to unpack the real story. It’s a story of persistence, timing, and grit. The duo talk candidly about how the spark for Prsnt came from everyday frustrations with gifting — the missed birthdays, the faff of wrapping paper and post office queues, the clunky gift card experience. They wanted something simpler: the ability to send a coffee, pint or meal to a friend with just a few taps on a phone.
What followed wasn’t smooth sailing. They faced painful marketing missteps, doubts about timing, and the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship — one day on a high, the next day convinced it was all over. Yet, moments of truth kept them going: hearing how parents used Prsnt to send Uber rides so their kids got home safe, or how new mums were relieved to receive a meal instead of another bunch of flowers. That emotional connection was proof they were on to something.
Then came Dragons’ Den. Omid and David reveal how they prepped for weeks with Dragon headshots on their office wall, how a three-hour grilling tested their resilience, and what really happened once those famous lift doors closed. Spoiler: it wasn’t all handshakes and champagne.
Whether you’re in gifting, rewards, incentives or just love a good founder story, this episode will inspire and entertain in equal measure. Prsnt isn’t just reinventing how we gift — it’s showing what’s possible when passion, timing and preparation collide.
