A founder who once balanced freelance projects with late-night coding sessions has transformed his side project into a successful global business.
Andy Callaghan, a 37-year-old web developer and passionate drummer from York, created Jammed, a booking and payment platform for creative studios that now supports more than 150 venues across 17 countries.
The idea was born when Andy tried to book rehearsal space for his band at Melrose Yard Studios in Walmgate.
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The owner, Sam, mentioned that no software properly met the needs of creative venues. Andy recalled that many studios relied on back-and-forth calls, emails, and late-night group chats to arrange bookings.
Motivated to find a better solution, Andy and Sam began developing what would become Jammed.
For several years, Andy funded the project entirely through freelance contracts, including work for the UK government and the Labour Party during the 2024 general election.
His days were filled with client work, while nights were spent coding and taking calls from potential users. “The hardest part was mental, not technical,” he said.
“There were times when giving up seemed easy, but I reminded myself daily not to quit.”
Andy’s first customers came from persistent cold calls to studios across the UK. His breakthrough arrived when a London-based studio owner began recommending Jammed to others, helping the platform gain recognition through word of mouth.
During the 2020 lockdown, Andy secured his first paying customer in New Zealand, adapting to time zone differences with virtual meetings.
Jammed has since evolved into a full-featured tool offering scheduling, invoicing, payments, and analytics to help creative venues optimize their operations and boost revenue.
Within three years, the platform reached £1,000 per month in subscriptions and tripled that figure the following year.
Today, Jammed provides Andy with the same financial stability he once had as a freelancer, but with greater freedom.
His wife, a hospital doctor with shifting schedules, benefits from his flexible work hours, allowing them to spend more time together.
“Entrepreneurship gives me the freedom to work when I want,” Andy shared. “I might work weekends and take time off midweek. It’s about balance.”
Reflecting on his journey, Andy admits he spent too much time coding and not enough promoting the product.
“Many tech founders make the same mistake,” he said.
“You think building the product is enough, but marketing, storytelling, and customer engagement are just as important.”
Looking ahead, Andy aims to make Jammed the go-to platform for creative venues and expand into larger spaces such as art galleries and stadiums.
He is already exploring potential acquisitions and considering funding for a second version tailored to new markets.
His message for aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: stay persistent. “Bootstrapped companies grow stronger because they listen to customers and manage money wisely,” he said.
When asked to describe his leadership style in one word, Andy laughed and replied, “Laid back.”
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