'Mini-gifting' app Prsnt wins regional start-up award

Brighton-based Prsnt, which offers gifts from a range of high street brands for the same price as a birthday card and a stamp, was named best start-up in the south east of England by the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses (FSB).

Prsnt has now also been entered into the FSB's national awards.

Co-founder and CEO of Prsnt Omid Moallemi said: “For us to be nominated was a huge achievement because it validates the company with a well-respected organisation and give access to a huge range of businesses that can see what we’re up to through the network.”

The company formed in March 2020, at the height of the pandemic, with a beta version of the app launching in December that year.

The app allows 'mini-gifting' to friends and family, with recipients able to digitally unwrap their present

The app features personal reminders for birthdays and anniversaries and offers an environmentally-friendly way of gifting, with the recipient “unwrapping” their present on their smartphone screen to reveal their gift.

Recipients are then able to respond with a thank you video or a message.

Mr Moallemi said: “This is the modern way of gifting, removing all bottlenecks in terms of hassle, whilst also addressing sustainability.

“Prsnt fulfils the momentary need to celebrate somebody you don’t get to see as often as you would like.

“You don’t want to just send a WhatsApp or a text message - it feels underwhelming as it may not reflect the way you feel about them. With Prsnt, you can send them a little something instead - something a bit more thoughtful.”

The long-term vision for the app’s creators is to increase the degree of personalisation the app offers, to provide a set of gift options for each user’s friend or family member.

A planned desktop version will also allow for group sending to open up possibilities for use between business-to-business, as well as business-to-consumer.

The North Laine-based start-up will find out whether it will take home the title of Start-up Business of the Year in Glasgow on May 19.