Celebrating Dan – People’s Choice Winner in Cornwall

 September was a milestone month for the Canopy Community. Three Demo Nights, three cities, and one standout founder who inspired audiences in both London and Cornwall. That founder is Dan, creator of Fate at Eight—a bold new dating app designed to restore real human connection. With the rallying cry “Stop the Swipe”, Dan’s startup challenges the endless scroll of dating apps and replaces it with the simplicity of dinner, conversation, and authentic relationships.

For first-time founders, Dan’s journey is proof of how early validation and customer feedback can shape an MVP into something stronger. For early-stage investors, it’s a reminder of why backing ambitious young founders can deliver unexpected impact.

Two Stages, Two Perspectives

At just eighteen, Dan became the first founder ever to pitch up at two Canopy Demo Nights in the same month—London and Cornwall. Each gave him contrasting insights.

London’s Demo Night was dominated by students and younger professionals who could imagine using Fate at Eight in their early twenties. Cornwall’s audience leaned older, engaging with the product in a very different way. For Dan, this was invaluable. He heard what worked, what didn’t, and where the crossovers lay. When two different customer groups highlight the same feature request, that’s powerful product validation for any startup.

Presence Beyond His Years

Anyone watching Dan pitch could see his natural presence. Mid-way through his London presentation, he revealed his age—and jaws dropped. At eighteen, he commanded the stage with the confidence and composure of a seasoned entrepreneur.

Dan credits some early support from a teacher, but mostly a natural ability to project and connect. For a founder still building an MVP, having the storytelling skills to win over a crowd is a major advantage when the time comes to pitch to angels or early-stage funds.

Lessons for First-Time Founders

When asked what advice he’d give to other first-time founders preparing for Demo Night, Dan was clear: keep an open mind.

It’s easy to fall in love with your own idea and get tunnel-vision. But Demo Nights are designed to break that bubble. With investors, mentors, and peers all giving feedback, you can sharpen your pitch, validate assumptions, and stress-test your MVP in front of real customers.

For founders hoping to raise their first round of investment, this practice is gold. A well-delivered five-minute pitch can open doors to angel investors, seed funds, or even your first advisory board members.

Why This Win Matters for Investors

Winning the People’s Choice Award in Cornwall was more than applause. It was community validation—proof that customers and peers believe in both the founder and the product.

For investors, that’s a signal worth watching. Fate at Eight is addressing a real human need, and the founder behind it has shown resilience, adaptability, and the confidence to test ideas in multiple markets. These are the qualities that reduce risk and increase the likelihood of success in the critical first three years of a startup.

Looking Ahead

As Canopy heads toward Web Summit in Lisbon this November, we’re preparing for our biggest Demo Night of the year. Founders like Dan remind us why these stages matter: they are places where ideas find validation, MVPs find customers, and investors discover the founders shaping tomorrow’s solutions.

Congratulations again to Dan, our People’s Choice Winner in Cornwall. We can’t wait to see where Fate at Eight goes next—and we’re proud to have been part of the journey at the very beginning.

👉 Want to connect with this rising founder? Reach out to Dan directly on LinkedIn and follow his progress.

watch the full interview - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrMrateB2yVVf3BrnWuVR9WYX1ExPw_Hq&si=M1GhQsmMYT_ulsd9 

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Got your own startup idea you want to get off the ground?  The Canopy Ideation program may be just what you need to help jump start the journey https://www.canopy.community/store