This quarter, we’re highlighting the achievements of Tash Grossman, who was with Gate One from 2020 to 2022. Tash joined in May 2020 and officially left in March 2022. She started out as a junior consultant, was quickly promoted to consultant and then took on the role of Incubator Manager whilst transitioning from consulting to entrepreneurship!
After leaving Gate One, Tash has gone on start Slip, a receipt data start-up, with the goal of bridging transaction history with customer insights. Retailers like JD Sports and ALDO use Slip to send digital receipts for in-person purchases where customers can then sign up for more emails and download loyalty apps. This approach saw the likes of clothing retailer Beyond Retro increase their newsletter sign-ups by 226% in a single month. Grossman has raised $4 million since starting the company in 2022 from investors like Adjuvo, Haatch and Unbundled VC, and projects the company will surpass $1 million in revenue in 2025. We caught up with Tash to discuss her journey since Gate One and how her experience with us shaped her career path.
Q. Hey Tash! Congratulations on your recent mention in the Forbes 30 under 30 list, what an achievement. Can you tell us what you are looking forward to in 2025?
There’s a lot to be excited about! International expansion is a big one – not only does it mean more travel (always a win), but also a chance to learn about different shopping habits and retail cultures around the world. But above all, I’m most excited about growing the team. Bringing new people on board who believe in our vision has always been the most rewarding part of the journey.
Q. What has been your highlights with Slip?
There have been so many, but one that really stands out is the first time I received a Slip receipt while shopping at one of our retail partners. It was a real “pinch me” moment – I couldn’t believe something I built was real!
Q. What are the challenges you face as an entrepreneur?
There are plenty, but one that constantly comes up is figuring out the difference between an opportunity and a distraction. When you’re building something, everything can feel exciting – but not everything will move the business forward. Learning when to say “no” is just as important as knowing when to say “yes.”
Q. What drew you to consultancy?
I’ve always been a problem-solver, and consultancy offered the perfect mix of variety and challenge – no two days are the same. Ironically, that’s even more true now that I’m an entrepreneur, but consulting definitely laid the foundations.
Q. How did your time at Gate One shape you to where you are now?
One of the reasons I joined Gate One was because of the incubator programme, which gave me the chance to start building Slip while still having the structure (and safety net) of a full-time role. Gate One gave me the space to explore entrepreneurship without the ‘risk’- and to this day, I still feel the support of the team behind me.
Q. Reflecting on your career, what is one thing you would have done differently?
I question if I should have taken the leap into entrepreneurship a little earlier. It’s easy to get comfortable in a steady role, but there’s real excitement in stepping into the unknown. That said, every experience along the way helped build the confidence to eventually make the jump.
Q. Do you have any advice/what message would you like to share with other alumni?
Consulting is an amazing foundation for so many careers – especially entrepreneurship. My biggest piece of advice is: never stop networking. You never know where you’ll be in five years, and the broader your network, the more doors you’ll have open. Relationships have been the backbone of so many key moments in my journey.
Q. Finally, tell us who your favourite start-ups are!
This is a tough one! I have huge respect for Runna (even though I can’t even run 5k without feeling like I’m going to collapse), their growth (and now acquisition) has been incredible to watch. I’m also a big fan of HURR and By Rotation – they’ve completely changed the rental space and are leading a real shift in how people think about fashion consumption.
ABOUT THE GATE ONE INCUBATOR
There is no better way to live our entrepreneurial values than by becoming real-life entrepreneurs. Our consultants launch their own start-ups through the Gate One Incubator. Through the Gate One Incubator, we support our team to become founder-investors in our growing portfolio of start-ups. At any given time, we have a diverse range of businesses at each of the four stage gates: ideation, proof concept, minimum viable product and accelerate.
Launching a start-up tests creativity, leadership and grit like nothing else. These qualities set our consultants apart from our competitors and directly benefit your business. Find out more about how the Incubator helps us drive innovation.
