The idea for the Okuru app came about during the Covid pandemic, when there was a need to simplify the way family and friends maintained loving connections, with physical gift-giving becoming increasingly difficult. Grace Seah-Tan saw an opportunity to create a solution that would not only help people connect easily with loved ones, but would also support small businesses in the process. Okuru is an online platform for sending well-meaning digital gift cards with just a few clicks, allowing you to give a thoughtful gift effortlessly, strengthen family and friendship connections and put a smile on someone’s face. Here Grace talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind her business, the challenges they have overcome, how she balances work and family, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The Passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Okuru was born out of a desire to solve a personal challenge that many faced during the pandemic. With physical gift-giving becoming increasingly difficult and costly, especially for sending gifts overseas, I saw an opportunity to create a solution that not only addressed this problem but also supported small businesses. My passion for helping local businesses thrive and my love for meaningful gifting inspired the creation of Okuru, a digital platform that simplifies the process of giving and receiving gift cards. We are a proud West Australian business.
The Launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
The word Okuru means “to send” in Japanese. The idea sparked from the need to find a convenient way to send thoughtful gifts without the logistical challenges of physical shipping. I started by researching the gift card market and reaching out to small business owners to understand their needs. With their feedback, and after speaking to various mobile app developers all over the world, I proceeded to work with a Perth-based development team to create a user-friendly app that met our requirements. Our initial launch in December 2023 was modest, focusing on building a strong foundation and a community of supportive local businesses.
Since then, we have attracted hundreds of app downloads and user signups.
The Innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough for Okuru came when we were successful in applying for the Australian Government R&D Tax Incentive Grant. This helped us develop our unique app-to-app protocols that ensured secure storage and transfer of digital gift cards with protection against fraud and scammers. This innovation gave both customers and businesses peace of mind, significantly boosting user trust and adoption. Additionally, partnering with key influencers and participating in startup programs, such as Spacecubed’s Plus Eight Sprint Program, helped us gain valuable exposure and credibility in the market.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Balancing work and family is always a delicate act. I prioritise setting boundaries and allocating dedicated time for both. It helps that my husband and I are empty nesters with very limited responsibilities to look after the grandkids who live overseas.
Early mornings and evenings are reserved for household duties, while the day is focused on business activities. Leveraging technology, such as scheduling and automation tools and remote working, helps me manage my home and business responsibilities more efficiently. Open communication with the rest of my family ensures they understand my commitments and allows us to support each other effectively.
