It was an unexpected opportunity that gave Nicola Towse clarity and perspective over where she wanted to direct the next stage of her life and her career.

“I was fortunate to be made redundant – a situation that not everyone would view positively – but for me, it provided the time and financial backing to refocus my career,” she says. “It gave me the chance to build on my strengths, learn new skills, and collaborate with driven, intelligent individuals to create something meaningful.”

Nicola is the founder of Risqly, an early-stage SaaS business helping teams turn customer health data into clear, actionable insight. As a member of the Cooper Project, she’s currently preparing to take Risqly into beta testing.

From global corporates to early-stage startup

Nicola brings more than 15 years of experience building and growing businesses across tourism and healthcare. Her career began in Australia, managing a family-owned Great Barrier Reef company, before moving into healthcare and spending over nine years at Procter & Gamble UK & Ireland.

“I worked at the intersection of strategy, sales and professional engagement,” she explains. “I wasn’t just responsible for setting the strategy, I was accountable for delivering it and influencing the commercial results tied to it.”

That sense of accountability has carried directly into her approach as a founder. “It’s taught me to stay focused not only on the end goal, but on the process of getting there – testing ideas, learning quickly, adapting when needed, and actively seeking feedback at every stage.”

Towards the end of her corporate career, something shifted. “I felt I wasn’t being challenged, and opportunities to learn new skills were becoming increasingly limited,” Nicola says. “I wanted to work in a fast-paced environment that embraced new technology and encouraged experimentation. In large global organisations, meaningful progress can often move at a glacial pace.”

Spotting a problem worth solving

The idea for Risqly came directly from Nicola’s experience working in sales teams. “Data was presented mainly as numbers and percentages, without translating into clear, actionable insights,” she says. “Often it was spread across multiple systems, with no single source of truth.”

What really pushed her to take the leap was realising the issue went far beyond her own experience. “Through conversations with peers in the SaaS industry, it became clear this was a widespread, cross-industry problem,” she says. “That insight was the catalyst – it showed me there was a real problem worth solving.”

In simple terms, Risqly brings fragmented customer data into one platform and translates it into practical next steps. “It helps teams retain customers, prevent revenue loss, and make smarter, faster decisions – all from one source of truth,” Nicola explains.

Early milestones and validation

Risqly is currently at final MVP stage, with beta testing about to begin. For Nicola, some of the most important milestones hit have been about validation and her own commitment to the business.

“Conducting validation interviews was invaluable,” she explains. “They didn’t just confirm what I believed about the product’s direction - they helped me understand what was truly necessary for the MVP.”

Joining the Cooper Project was another key step. “I see it as the company’s first real investment in both time and resources,” she says. “It’s helped me focus on building something that will deliver real value from day one.”

Early feedback from potential users has been encouraging. “Even when presenting just a basic outline, people were excited about having one platform that gives clear direction to Customer Success teams,” Nicola says. “That reinforced that we’re solving a real, pressing problem.”

The value of a founder community

For Nicola, being part of a founder community has been central to her experience so far. “The Cooper Project stood out because Sheffield Tech Parks is incredibly well connected across Sheffield and the region,” she says. “The structured mentorship helps drive accountability and focus, which is invaluable when you’re building from the ground up.”

The environment matters too. “The coworking space suits my more extroverted personality,” she adds. “Meeting other founders and people in tech keeps me energised and motivated.”

Since joining, Nicola says she’s learned to balance pace with structure. “My natural drive is to move quickly, shaped by a sales background,” she says. “Following the Cooper and Tech SY frameworks has helped me set strong foundations first, while still moving forward with energy and purpose.”

Building in Sheffield and finding balance

Having grown up in Sheffield and returned after time abroad, Nicola is clear about the city’s impact on her journey. “Sheffield has a relaxed, friendly vibe that’s reflected in its startup and tech community,” she says. “You really don’t have to do it alone and I do believe Sheffield is one of the best places for early-stage founders to find support, guidance, and inspiration.”

She refers to free workshops from Business Sheffield and local events like Start Up Social and Sheffield Women in Tech as invaluable. “People are genuinely invested in helping you succeed,” she says.

Outside of work, balance is something Nicola approaches deliberately. Alongside building Risqly, she’s also studying for a diploma in end-of-life support coaching.

“I’ve learned to follow my body’s natural rhythm – my schedule isn’t a typical 9-to-5,” she says. “I often feel most focused on weekends and use Mondays to walk and reset rather than forcing myself to work.”

Walking, exercise and routine all play their part. “Having the Peak District on my doorstep gives me space to decompress and think,” she says. “And I’ve always loved a to-do list – it helps break work into manageable segments and stops everything feeling overwhelming.”

Looking ahead

Next up for Risqly is beta testing, with a view to moving to market in Q2. Longer term, Nicola is ambitious but grounded. “I’ve always envisioned Risqly growing quickly, and I’d love to see that become a reality over the next two years.” she says. “But growth isn’t just about expanding our customer base - it’s also about building a strong, talented team here in Sheffield and continuing to engage with the local tech community to support and inspire other founders along the way.”

Incubator Manager at Sheffield Technology Parks, Rose Tran, has seen the impact of Nicola’s approach, not just on the progress of Risqly - but on her fellow founders on the Cooper Project.

“Nicola’s journey so far has been shaped by mindset and commitment,” she says. “Her experience with redundancy, becoming a proactive member of Sheffield’s startup community, maintaining structure, and having a real sense of self all continue to influence how Risqly is being built. She brings so much experience, energy and intuition which enables her to be a real guiding force in the group.”

Rose adds: “What Nicola has done really well is identify a real problem and a solution, based on her own real world experience. And then, by speaking to many potential users,  she has interrogated that problem and solution to ensure it’s valid, and ensure there’s a market. I’m excited to see Risqly at the final MVP stage and we’re all rooting for Nicola as it enters Beta testing. I’m very impressed by the commitment she’s shown to her business and the Cooper Project.”