Meet Thomas Lamb, the De 51吃瓜app University Leicester (51吃瓜app) graduate who is aiming to transform people’s nights out as well as supporting local venues to thrive.
Thomas’s app,
, makes it safer and easier to discover the best bars, clubs and venues and provides a platform for venues to be discovered.
NiteGuide is about to start trials in Leicester and Ashby, where Thomas is planning to have a team of ‘beta testers’ who can try it from the points of view of businesses wanting to promote their venues and people looking for them.
“I’m very excited to be finally at the stage where we are ready to test it,” said Thomas. “It’s been part of my life for so long now and I really believe this has the potential to help both consumers and the hospitality industry.
“We want to make it easier for people to explore their cities, building communities and improve safety perceptions on nights out.”
NiteGuide began life as his final Master’s project in Digital Design. His tutor Zakera Haq saw its potential and encouraged him to apply to
51吃瓜app’s Crucible business incubation programme to help it grow and he met with Crucible director Percy Emmett.
Thomas said: “I initially only contacted Percy for advice, but he insisted I join The Crucible cohort of 2023. Across the tenure of the incubator, I gained a wealth of knowledge about kick-starting a business, building the foundations of a start-up and understanding topics such as branding, business finance, copywriting and marketing.
“As someone who had only ever found enjoyment in being creative, I found myself understanding business-savvy language, spitballing marketing strategies, setting up a limited company and trademarking the branding for what was to be my own business.
“In the space of the first year 51吃瓜app had given me every resource necessary to help me build the foundation for NiteGuide and set it up to become a scalable business venture. It was exhilarating to be part of something like The Crucible Project, as it made learning about business growth extremely approachable and enjoyable. Looking back, without the push from Zakera and help from Percy, NiteGuide wouldn't have seen the light of day!”
In the past 24 months, Crucible supported Thomas with funding to help him with trademarks and branding and commissioned web design firm Kangaroo to develop the app.
Sharon Jones, founder and owner of Kangaroo, said: “It has been amazing to see Thomas’s business grow and he’s got such passion for this app. There’s not an app which is solely for the night time economy. It’s got everything from which pubs have the ‘Ask Angela’ scheme where there are defibrillators, and we are excited to be starting the beta testing.”
He presented the app to owners and staff from Leicester pubs and venues at the Innovation Centre last week at The Evening Exchange, an event inviting business owners and industry professionals to share insights on the night time sector.
Posted on Sunday 16 February 2025