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Call us on: +44 (0) 28 8224 9494
Discover how Catherine Morris co-founded Hubb.it, a TripAdvisor-style platform for event-goers, and turned a shared challenge into a global business. In just over a minute, she shares her journey, the highs and hurdles of entrepreneurship, and what she’d tell the next generation of founders.
In this 60 Second Challenge, Catherine Morris from Hubb.it speaks with Nick O’Shiel about co-founding a platform that helps people navigate global events like festivals and conferences. Inspired by a trip to South by Southwest, Catherine and her co-founder built Hubb.it to fill a gap in the market.
She shares the realities of starting up across countries, securing funding, and the importance of telling others about your idea. If you’re working remotely, building a digital-first product, or growing a startup, Omagh Enterprise’s flexible coworking spaces and support programmes could help you do the same.
Find out more about our Coworking Spaces, Virtual Office, or how to Start a Business.
Nick O’Shiel:
Hello and welcome to the 60 Second Challenge with Omagh Enterprise Company. I’m Nick O’Shiel, and I’m with Catherine Morris of Hubb.it, who has agreed to take the challenge. Catherine, you’re very welcome.
Catherine Morris:
Thank you! You got my name right – people get confused sometimes, but usually catch on quickly.
Nick O’Shiel:
Good to hear. As you know, the challenge is to answer six questions about your business in 60 seconds. So, let’s get started. First question – can you describe your business?
Catherine Morris:
Absolutely. Hubb.it is an online global community for people who attend events. The easiest way to explain it is it’s like TripAdvisor, but for festivals and conferences.
Nick O’Shiel:
That’s helpful – people will know TripAdvisor. Why did you start the business?
Catherine Morris:
My co-founder and I met as two young women heading to South by Southwest in Austin. We wanted to connect with others in our industries and quickly realised we were having the same issues – planning the event, figuring out what was happening when we got there. We saw a gap and created Hubb.it to solve it.
Nick O’Shiel:
You’ve been at it for a while now – what are some of the best things about running your own business?
Catherine Morris:
Meeting amazing people. Knowing we’re helping attendees and organisers. And honestly, it means we get to attend more festivals!
Nick O’Shiel:
It’s a challenging time out there. What are the main challenges for your business?
Catherine Morris:
Funding is the big one – managing cash flow is tricky. My co-founder is based in Glasgow, so communication can be tough, but we make sure to talk every day.
Nick O’Shiel:
What advice would you give a young person starting a business?
Catherine Morris:
Tell people your idea! Especially in Northern Ireland – people want to help, not steal your idea. You never know who might improve it.
Nick O’Shiel:
And finally, in three words or less – your experience of running a business?
Catherine Morris:
Exciting. Nerve-wracking. Fulfilling.
Nick O’Shiel:
We’ll stop the clock there – 1 minute 52 seconds. You’ve met the challenge. Congratulations!
Catherine Morris:
Thank you!
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