Krish Patel (31) was so inspired by his grandparents’ story that it motivated him and his family friend, Tom Daly (23) to launch StoryOak, a Netflix-style video biography service.
In 2019, Krish Patel’s Grandfather passed away and he nearly lost the chance to learn about his life in more depth. After months of reminiscing with his Grandmother and looking through copious photo albums, Krish longed for the opportunity to see and hear his Grandad once again.
Krish and Tom then decided to interview Krish’s Grandmother, creating a Netflix-style video which brought to life the Grandparent’s unique love story once again. Krish gifted this to his family at Christmas and after seeing their reaction, the StoryOak brand was born.
Founder, Krish Patel explains the personal reasons behind the business, “After my Grandad passed away I regretted not asking him about his life, his loves and his passions and I knew there had to be people out there that thought the same about their loved ones. When I interviewed my Grandma I found out so many amazing stories about their teenage love story, from meeting at a paper shop my Great Grandparents managed, to my 14 year old Grandad cycling from Blackpool to Darwen only to find out that my Grandma wasn’t home. As soon as I watched these treasured memories unfold, I realised we had something really special.”
Tom Daly, Founder said, “It was fascinating to interview Krish’s Grandma and we know there are so many other people across the country trying to find an outlet to share their stories too.
“I’m really passionate about video and I’ve always loved the interview aspect of creating captivating videos, so when Krish posed the idea of creating a video biography service, for me it was a no brainer. We can’t wait to bring these stories to life and help as many people as possible create their own unique lasting legacy.”
Based in Bolton, StoryOak offers a bespoke and experience-driven service aimed at anyone who wants to share their story. From CEOs looking to share their journey through business to those simply wanting to bring to life cherished memories and leave a lasting legacy for their loved ones, StoryOak has a range of packages, catering for anyone across the UK.
To support the fledgling business, the founders have enrolled in the Natwest Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme, which supports entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey. The initial six months within the programme has supported the duo with specialist seminars and workshops, enabled access to a 24 hour work space at a Manchester City Centre office, a business coach to support with strategy and accountability and the opportunity to network with the other 60 entrepreneurs on the programme.
To date, the founders have invested a total of £30,000 to launch the business.
