Build the CULT, Then The CODE - How SCRAN’s 22-YO Couple Are Changing Food Apps Forever!

Two 22-year-old founders reveal how they’re risking everything to build Scran, the TikTok-inspired app revolutionizing London’s dining scene before Big Tech takes over.

Maisie Roberts and Bertie Kinnings, UX Design graduates from Loughborough University, co-founded Scran, a Gen Z restaurant app combining TikTok-style discovery with booking. Maisie’s AI design expertise (Itsu, Orgueil Capital) powers Scran’s recommendation algorithm, while Bertie’s VR/AR background (BMW, Goldsmiths) shapes its immersive experience. They're building up Scran's socials to grow worldwide, balancing cutting-edge tech with viral appeal.

In this episode, Maisie and Bertie reveal:
◽️ The hidden UX flaw in OpenTable that made their app inevitable
◽️ The 3-word test for Scran-approved restaurants (and why vibes = reviews)
◽️ Why they’re exploiting the second-mover advantage in social dining
◽️ Their WhatsApp guerrilla tactic for building a beta tester army
◽️ How Hinge’s UI inspired their swipe-worthy restaurant discovery

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⏱ Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:31 Bertie’s story: UX, VR and Trackman
01:31 Maisie’s story: jewelry, UX and AI bootcamp
02:54 How they turn ideas into real, usable designs
05:20 What is Scran
05:57 The Gen Z problem they’re solving
07:02 Starting fast and why it mattered
08:54 Building as a couple
10:46 Their biggest early mistake
12:56 What success looks like for Scran
14:35 How the app works: content, bookings, community
16:30 The WhatsApp hotline and early fanbase
17:20 Trends vs substance
18:52 Their biggest challenge: team, funding, tech
21:10 Who inspires them: Hinge, WeWork, TikTok
23:33 How they actually build: Figma to dev
24:31 Is university worth it in 2025
28:29 Why they’re staying in London
30:38 UK vs US mindset: support vs doubt
32:57 Misconceptions about them
34:34 Posting online: fear and doing it anyway
36:48 Social media helped build confidence
39:38 Their brand strategy: be real, not perfect
43:44 What they’d do differently
48:38 Using Instagram to get partnerships
50:03 What Scran Approved really means
54:30 How they avoid short-term hype
56:05 The Scran badge idea
59:58 What’s next: MVP and beta launch
01:03:17 Long-term vision and legacy
01:05:40 Final takeaway from Maisie
01:06:16 Final takeaway from Bertie
01:07:12 Outro

📌 Resources
Scran
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scran.london/?hl=en 

Maisie Roberts 
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maisieroberts

Bertie Kinnings
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertiekinnings1 

Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): x.com/harveybsmith_

Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111

Additional:
◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io
◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.