CASE STUDY
Dropping the bass… not the ball
Founded just a year ago by Crowdcube founder Darren Westlake, Disco, a professional music app, had already raised two funding rounds. With fresh capital on hand, they needed an efficient and secure way to maximise returns while maintaining quick access to funds.
Darren Westlake
Founder & CEO at Disco
Before Round, Disco struggled with:
“I love Monzo, but we basically kept our funds in their savings account,” recalls Darren, Disco’s founder and CEO. “Once we had more funding, we wanted something safer and more rewarding—but still easily accessible.”
Lower-than-ideal interest rates
in a basic savings account
Limited coverage
that didn’t fully protect larger balances
Uncertain fund access
when urgent expenses cropped up
The Turning Point
After being introduced to Round, Darren saw a new way to manage his startup’s treasury. From the moment Disco moved capital to Round, they noticed:
“They said, ‘You can split funds across multiple institutions, earn double the returns you’re getting, and keep everything FSCS protected.’ I was intrigued.”
Higher yields
than any bank savings account Darren had considered.
Quicker help
when they needed support, via Slack.
Hassle-free deposits
no complicated hoops to jump through.
How Disco Benefits from Round
Safety Beyond the Usual Limits
Darren appreciates Round’s focus on protection via its innovative Vault product, that diversifies funds across multiple bank accounts to ensure full FSCS protection. “Having FSCS protection beyond the usual threshold matters a lot to me. You just sleep better knowing large sums aren’t all in one bank.”
Increased Returns
“Round basically doubled the interest we were getting,” Darren explains. “It’s one of those ‘no-brainer’ situations—you’re earning more on the money you don’t need right now.”
Direct, Human Support
Round’s Slack-based support is incredibly helpful for busy founders like Darren:“I’ve messaged them countless times—‘Hey, can you help me with this withdrawal timeline?’—and they always get back in record time. You just don’t see that response from bigger banks.”
User-Friendly Dashboards
Disco’s takeaway? Round’s unified dashboard means Darren can focus on improving the music app rather than juggling multiple banking logins. “I love seeing exactly how our funds are split,” Darren explains. “We keep track of which pot belongs to what purpose. It’s a surprisingly simple view.”
Round offer peace and protection
Disco’s founder fully intends to keep using Round for future treasury needs:
“I’ve already recommended Round to a few other founders,” Darren says. “It’s such a valuable tool—especially for early-stage companies that don’t have a dedicated finance team.”
He’s optimistic about what comes next:
“If they keep the same level of support while they grow, I see Round becoming a standard solution for startups who want better returns but can’t compromise on instant access.”
Key Takeaways
Disco’s journey shows how a dynamic treasury tool can boost returns, improve safety, and reduce stress—letting founders focus on the day job instead of worrying about their balances.
Peace of Mind is Important
Splitting funds in a simple fashion across multiple protected accounts eases founder anxiety.
High Yields Don’t Have to Be Complex
Round effectively doubled Disco’s returns over a basic savings account.
Keep It Founder-Friendly
A transparent, easy-to-navigate platform means early-stage teams can stay focused on building their product.
Darren Concludes
