Desert Chill Journey: Founded in 2008, the brothers Nathen and Dan Furlong were inspired by an experience at the Rugby Sevens event in Dubai. Amidst a 40,000-strong crowd in the desert, they noticed a significant absence of ice cream vendors, leading them to start Desert Chill.
Origin and Challenges: The startup journey involved navigating complex legal and legislative processes, culminating in the launch of their first business weekend exactly a year later.
Expansion Plans: Desert Chill is focusing on expanding its distribution network and entering new markets, to Saudi Arabia. The company also aims to initiate exciting private-label projects and extend its reach into the Northern Emirates.
Beehive Funding Success: The funds raised have been instrumental in the company’s growth, facilitating fleet expansion and large asset investments that improve revenue while keeping costs manageable.
About Desert Chill
Desert Chill is a family fun ice cream brand that pioneered Dubai’s Food Truck (Mobile Food scene). We have direct-to-consumer distribution across Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Al Ain, catering to upwards of 450 events per annum, which can be divided into corporations, schools, public events, brand activations, and parties & gatherings. Additionally, we operate our own in-house artisan manufacturing facility and sell to HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants, and Catering) online. We “Deliver Happiness” anywhere, anytime.
Find out more about Desert Chill.
Q&A with Nathen Furlong
CEO & Founder, Desert Chill
How did the company start?
My brother Dan and I started the company in 2008 after being present at the 2007 Rugby Sevens Event, where a 40,000-strong captive audience in the middle of the desert and no ice cream van was in sight. The “Aha” moment was born there and then fast forward exactly one year; the same event was our first weekend in business. It took that long to navigate the start-up process from a legal and legislative standpoint. That work paved the way for all the trucks you see today.
From all the challenges that a new business could encounter, what would you list as the top three?
One of the biggest challenges early-stage businesses face is managing the cost of capital. With limited credit history, borrowing can be expensive, so exploring different funding sources and avoiding taking on debt structures that might hinder long-term growth is important.
Another key challenge is cash flow management. Even a profitable business can run into trouble if there’s a mismatch between incoming and outgoing payments. Staying on top of cash flow is essential to meet day-to-day expenses and stabilize operations.
And finally, hiring the right team on a tight budget is always tricky. But I’ve found that a clear, compelling mission can be a huge asset—it helps attract talented people who believe in the vision and are willing to be flexible as the company grows.
What are your business plans for the next 12 months?
It’s a busy time. We are working on distribution, expansion into KSA, and some interesting private-label projects. We are also looking to expand the brand into the Northern Emirates so everyone can enjoy the fun and quality products that we have to offer.
What advice would you provide for someone who is considering turning their passion into a business idea?
Ensure that it is a passion if possible. When you start, few will appreciate the grind, the stress, and the challenges they will face. Often, people only try to think about how much money they might make. This distortion is far removed from reality. You need resilience and mental toughness, so make sure it’s something you genuinely care about and let that be your driving force. Be creative and try to innovate; the market is full of imitators.
About the funding: Desert Chill’s experience with Beehive
How did you find Beehive?
I can’t recall exactly but I have been with Beehive since its formation, since 2014!
What was it like before you used Beehive?
Before using Beehive, accessing finance was difficult and costly. The process was often slow, paperwork-heavy, and involved a lot of back-and-forth. On top of that, the rates and fees from banks or lenders made it even more challenging to secure the funding we needed at the right time.
How did you use the funds you raised on Beehive?
The funds we successfully raised through Beehive were strategically allocated to support the growth and optimization of our business operations, specifically expanding our fleet and renewing and upgrading our existing fleet.
Why did you choose Beehive for funding? What features contributed to your decision to use Beehive?
I like the fact it was originally P2P (Peer to Peer) and allowed individuals that believed in the business to back it and earn a return, but also that it was cheaper compared to Banks.
It’s a very efficient, fast process if your documentation is in order and the funding time is typically quick.
It’s a very efficient, fast process if your documentation is in order and the funding time is typically quick.
What advice would you give to business owners considering funding? Would you recommend Beehive to other businesses seeking finance?
Have 2-3 funding tools available, depending upon use case but I recommend using Beehive for larger investments as it is both cheaper and more manageable on cashflow. All businesses need funding to grow, so do it in the most economical way possible and don’t be afraid to borrow.
