From Wedding Conversation to Global Validation: Celebrating Michael Nweke and Lucky Nweke, People’s Choice Winners

January’s Global Demo Night was a powerful reminder of why early-stage founders matter — and why community-led validation can be just as important as capital. In a high-calibre, globally distributed room of founders, operators, and investors, Michael Nweke and Lucky Nweke emerged as the People’s Choice Award winners, voted for by peers after a closely fought evening of pitches.

This wasn’t a polite win. It was earned.

The panel featured senior operators and technologists from both US coasts — people who didn’t arrive pre-convinced and weren’t there to be kind. They asked sharp questions, pushed on assumptions, and tested clarity. In that environment, Michael and Lucky’s idea stood up — not because it was flashy, but because it was grounded, human, and increasingly relevant to how we think about digital assets and legacy.

Their journey, like many great startup stories, didn’t begin in a boardroom or accelerator. It began at a wedding.

A Founder Story Rooted in Real Curiosity

Michael and Lucky met years ago at a wedding in Nigeria. What started as an informal conversation became an ongoing exchange about technology, trust, and the future of digital value. Over time, Michael’s personal curiosity — sparked by early exposure to crypto and a simple but profound question, “What happens to my digital assets when I’m gone?” — evolved into a serious founder problem worth solving.

That question became the foundation of Heir Trust (formerly referred to as Airtrust during early exploration): a blockchain-enabled concept focused on inheritance, continuity, and trust in the digital age.

Michael, now based in the UK and studying digital marketing at postgraduate level, brings a strong grounding in customer insight and storytelling. Lucky, based in Nigeria, brings deep technical experience across blockchain, fintech, and cryptography. Together, they represent a cross-border founding team tackling a globally shared problem — exactly the kind of perspective that thrives in a global founder community.

Their reflections from Demo Night captured what many first-time founders feel but don’t always articulate: validation matters. Honest feedback matters. Being listened to by experienced people who don’t owe you encouragement matters even more.

Why the People’s Choice Vote Matters

At Canopy, the People’s Choice Award is deliberately different from a judges’ trophy. It’s not about polish. It’s about resonance.

It asks a simple question: Which idea stayed with you after the pitches ended?

In January’s Global Demo Night, that answer was clear. Michael and Lucky’s pitch resonated because it was:

• Human-centred — rooted in a personal, relatable founder question

• Globally relevant — digital inheritance cuts across borders, cultures, and wealth levels

• Early, but thoughtful — open to feedback, not defensive about assumptions

• Confident without arrogance — a rare and powerful balance for first-time founders

For early-stage investors watching, this is often the signal before traction: founders who listen well, articulate clearly, and adapt quickly.

For first-time founders in the room, it was a reminder that you don’t need to be “ready” to show up — you need to be honest about where you are.

What Comes Next for Michael and Lucky

Winning the People’s Choice Award isn’t a finish line. It’s leverage.

Michael and Lucky are already using the momentum to pursue advisory relationships, partnerships, and further pitch opportunities — including Game Changers in Derby and applications through student and founder pathways that connect ideas to market access.

They’re clear about one thing: feedback doesn’t end on Demo Night. It starts there.

They’re also committed to giving back — supporting other founders in the community with technical insight, shared learning, and peer encouragement. That mindset is exactly why these awards exist: not just to spotlight individuals, but to strengthen the ecosystem around them.

Lessons for First-Time Founders Watching From the Sidelines

If you’re early in your founder journey, Michael and Lucky’s story offers three simple takeaways:

1. Start with a real question you care about — not a pitch deck trend

2. Say yes before you feel ready — Demo Night is part of the work, not the reward

3. Treat feedback as fuel, not judgement — especially when it’s challenging

You don’t need perfection to earn belief. You need clarity, curiosity, and the courage to show up.

Join the Next Global Demo Night

Global Demo Night exists to create moments like this — where first-time founders get real visibility, early-stage investors discover thoughtful ideas early, and the community decides what resonates.

If you’re building, exploring, or simply curious about what founders are working on around the world, we’d love to have you there.

👉 Come and join us at the next Global Demo Night
Sign up here: https://lu.ma/Canopy