People's Choice at the UNiDAYS Showcase Final: Meet Oscar Heaney and FarFrom Travel

Oscar Heaney had barely handed in his dissertation when he decided not to look for a job. Instead, he went all in on a startup he’d built with a team he met at a hackathon during his final term at university. That decision just earned him the People’s Choice award at the UNiDAYS Showcase Final, held at Revolut HQ in London — in front of a panel that included Simon Squibb, Rachel Sestini, Dr Elizabeth Shaw, and Liam Jeffery.

It was a ten-startup showcase. Oscar went seventh. He left with the audience vote, a new potential host on his platform, and a story worth telling.

What FarFrom Travel Actually Does

FarFrom Travel is a travel marketplace with a difference. It connects travellers with property owners who offer free accommodation in exchange for a few hours of help each day — what the industry calls a work-for-accommodation exchange.

Think staying at a vineyard for two weeks, picking grapes for a couple of hours each morning, then spending the rest of your day exploring. Or helping out at an alpaca farm, a historic estate, a glamping site, or an animal sanctuary. FarFrom has over a hundred properties across the UK — farms, Airbnbs, private houses, glamping sites, and more — all offering exactly this kind of arrangement.

For travellers, it’s a way to see the country affordably while having an experience that actually means something. For property owners, it’s a way to get reliable, meaningful help without the cost of paid staff.

Oscar launched the platform in February, following grants and early investment secured through his university. His team came together at a hackathon, each member bringing something the others didn’t have. The complementary skills were the point. The idea was good enough to give it a proper go.

The Pitch That Won the Room

Pitching seventh out of ten had its advantages. By the time Oscar stood up, the nerves had quietened, and his prior demo night experience meant the format held no surprises.

“Making it as exciting and engaging as possible — you don’t need to go right into the details of everything. You just need to sell the idea, sell yourself in a way that you know what you’re doing, there’s a reason for it.”

He did exactly that. The audience voted him their favourite on a day where every founder gave their best.

Simon Squibb’s feedback was generous and practical. He offered to list his Norfolk property on the FarFrom platform — and an hour of his time to give Oscar direct host feedback. It was the kind of outcome that validates everything about what FarFrom is trying to do.

A Week of Wins

The UNiDAYS award didn’t arrive in isolation. Just this week, FarFrom Travel won the East of England UK Startup Award in the travel, tourism, events and hospitality category — earning a place at Ideas Fest in September to represent East Anglia in the national finals.

Two wins, in under 4 weeks! Oscar took both with the same quiet confidence that carried him through the showcase.

What Comes Next

FarFrom is currently raising its SEIS round, building on the momentum of the UK pilot. The next six months are focused on international expansion — with pilots planned for Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and ambitions to stretch into Italy and France if capacity allows.

The goal by the end of the year: hosts in those countries ready and waiting for travellers to book in.

Oscar is also carrying his twelve months of virtual incubation with Canopy Community into the next chapter — and has already committed to coming back as a mentor for the next cohort. That instinct, to reach back and help others as they find their feet, says as much about him as the wins do.

For anyone thinking about pitching for the first time, his advice is disarmingly simple:

“Just make it engaging and something that excites people enough that they want to know more and ask questions.”

He did exactly that. And the room responded.

Connect with Oscar

If you’d like to know more about what Oscar is building at FarFrom Travel — whether you’re an investor, a property owner, or simply curious — reach out to him directly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-heaney-b9511925b/ 

About Canopy Community Demo Nights

Canopy Community hosts monthly demo nights across Europe and globally online, bringing together early-stage founders, investors, and advisors from across the world. Each event features live startup pitches, expert panel feedback, and the People’s Choice award — voted for by the audience and judges combined. Whether you’re a founder ready to pitch, an investor looking for early-stage deal flow, or a supporter of the startup ecosystem, there’s a place for you at demo night. Find out more and register at lu.ma/canopy (link: https://luma.com/canopy).

Watch the full interview back https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZeLfi34VoU