Entrepreneur Foundation

Setting up a new business isn’t

Ezi …but Herts Chamber can help

Whilst celebrating entrepreneur month it is true to say that necessity is the mother of invention, a phrase that definitely rings true for IT and software specialist Bob Gokani.

When he turned 50, he

started suffering with hayfever and struggled to administer the eye drops necessary to alleviate his itchy, sore eyes.

With a sensitive blink reflex, Bob realised that he needed some help to ensure the drops went into his eyes instead of around them. He says: “I had hoped there was something out there to help. But there was nothing. There were some devices, but they were cumbersome, expensive or impractical.” So, Bob designed an applicator himself – and EziDrops was born. Now in full production, with stockists including Boots, Amazon, Alliance Healthcare and RNIB, and a growing export market, Bob credits the Herts Chamber’s Entrepreneur Foundation for giving him vital support on his journey. “Early on I was looking for a lot of help and I was directed to the Chamber. It was during COVID, and I was sent a timely, free invitation to join the Entrepreneur Foundation, so I took advantage.” “I have met so many people trying to set up a business without help, but there is a lot of help out there. Good people offering good help. “The Chamber has been invaluable. Jeremy Bishop, Briege Leahy and Colin Spiller … we’d book a call and I was able to ask about key challenges. They’d give direct help for my concerns. “Starting your own business is a lonely planet to be on, but there is a support structure there. You just had to reach out and look for them. It’s also all about the basics, everyone doesn’t see. You have all these different challenges – the accountancy system, the CRM, marketing, legals – people just see the product, but there’s all the basic infrastructure to set up. I didn’t know any of this. “So, to have all this support available is great.” Having cut his teeth on EziDrops, Bob has now developed a similar product for administering ear drops and has quickly discovered there is a big market for it. “I still have my day job. All the money from EziDrops goes straight back into the business to support its growth. I attend a lot of trade shows and I now have distributors in South Africa, Switzerland, Greece, Qatar, Australia… “I did apply for Dragon’s Den at the beginning, but I didn’t get a response. Now I don’t need to!”

2023 Entrepreneur Foundation Recruitment

The Chamber are now looking for our third cohort of Entrepreneurs, so if you are aware of any new start-up businesses in Hertfordshire or any local entrepreneurs who would benefit from being supported by the Entrepreneur foundation, please ask them to get in touch with us at enquiries@hertschamber.com for more information and an application form.