No, because I ain't an app developer.
It's just not in my nature.
The only reason I have been able to develop to apps and configure a back-end system is because I am persistent.
Having now rolled out the main app to Apple and Android - in a MVP+ state - I now want to add a new feature: multi-language.
Easy. There's a plug-in for this and appery.io have a tutorial on how to do this.
Except it no longer bloody works. No doubt I will get it working but nothing works first time.
(Except many months a go I managed to write a JavaScript database query which was quite complicated and worked the second time).
Tuesday, 22 November 2016
Thursday, 17 November 2016
Instant Startup
This evening I went to a little start-up event. Twenty minutes to prepare a business idea based on a combination of three randomly chosen existing businesses.
It was fun but also a good networking opportunity. More importantly I received good feedback about our business proposition with one person (an experienced businessman) seeing lots of use cases.
It was fun but also a good networking opportunity. More importantly I received good feedback about our business proposition with one person (an experienced businessman) seeing lots of use cases.
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
It's traction, baby
Yesterday I submitted the latest versions of the app to Apple and Google.
The Android version went out during the day and this morning I was surprised to see that Apple had also approved and released the iPhone version. That's very quick for the fruity company.
I'm still experiencing some occasional initial instability problems with the iPhone version but it quickly disappears and is not a show stopper.
After a brief migraine this morning I went for a coffee with an analyst from a VC.
It was a good chat although he said his firm needed to see a revenue stream before any sort of investment, even seeding, could take place.
I hope that in early 2017 we will show a growing revenue stream as well as a growing customer (and user) base. Right now all we have is two onboarded businesses.
He did, however, see the value in the idea and said he could even see himself using it. Which is great feedback.
The Android version went out during the day and this morning I was surprised to see that Apple had also approved and released the iPhone version. That's very quick for the fruity company.
I'm still experiencing some occasional initial instability problems with the iPhone version but it quickly disappears and is not a show stopper.
After a brief migraine this morning I went for a coffee with an analyst from a VC.
It was a good chat although he said his firm needed to see a revenue stream before any sort of investment, even seeding, could take place.
I hope that in early 2017 we will show a growing revenue stream as well as a growing customer (and user) base. Right now all we have is two onboarded businesses.
He did, however, see the value in the idea and said he could even see himself using it. Which is great feedback.
Monday, 14 November 2016
Feeling lofty
A few months ago Amazon Web Services asked to speak to me about my views around them assisting startups.
One of the things on my wish list was for them to have one of their Amazon Loft events in Munich.
Well, about a month ago they emailed me about their upcoming month long loft event in Munich. I only responded to it last week.
Felt of bit of a hipster being there.
Afterwards I paid a social visit to our first onboarded business who was a few metres away.
One of the things on my wish list was for them to have one of their Amazon Loft events in Munich.
Well, about a month ago they emailed me about their upcoming month long loft event in Munich. I only responded to it last week.
Felt of bit of a hipster being there.
Afterwards I paid a social visit to our first onboarded business who was a few metres away.
Belated news
On Friday we increased out onboarded businesses by 100%
Er, that means we now have two businesses.
We have to keep an eye on them and help and encourage them to use our service.
I probably didn't write more about it because I was busy running and drinking later on Friday and the next day recovered just in time to go to a wine trade show.
As well as buying a lot of wine I also sampled loads. Which explains my lack of production on Sunday.
Er, that means we now have two businesses.
We have to keep an eye on them and help and encourage them to use our service.
I probably didn't write more about it because I was busy running and drinking later on Friday and the next day recovered just in time to go to a wine trade show.
As well as buying a lot of wine I also sampled loads. Which explains my lack of production on Sunday.
Thursday, 10 November 2016
Take-aways from the fireside chat
Yesterday evening I attended a local Silicon Valley Fire Chat - Entrepreneurs Night.
At it the organisers, Axel and Marita, talked about their view of the startup scene in Munich.
In particular, they repeated their view that there is no need to go to America for funding.
A lot of what they said they have said - and I have blogged - before but here are some takeaways:
Here are the four big things you need to get investment:
Oh, and I just remembered, I also met an investor at the event. Will chase him up today.
At it the organisers, Axel and Marita, talked about their view of the startup scene in Munich.
In particular, they repeated their view that there is no need to go to America for funding.
A lot of what they said they have said - and I have blogged - before but here are some takeaways:
Here are the four big things you need to get investment:
- communication skills - including being able to articulate your vision (which goes beyond having so money customers or making so much money)
- extraordinary people in your team - and you need to be able to find them. Our business has two co-founders but we definitely need more and are struggling to find
- have an MVP - reduce it to the absolute minimum, even ignore differential features unless it is core to the product and get it out there. Hint: don't wait for bugs to be fixed but add them to a known issues list on your blog
- valuation - in Silicon Valley it's about 10x forward looking revenue. Remember that valuation is basically just a guess and there is no reason why European startups shouldn't receive US levels. If investors disagree challenge them.
Some other advice:
- co-founders need an equal share and big staken in ensuring that the business survives and thrives
- find a mentor - often they want nothing in return or maybe say around 0.5% equity ... something small
- add to the Munich startup ecosystem, offer to help without expectation of reciprocation
Oh, and I just remembered, I also met an investor at the event. Will chase him up today.
Networking in the time of catastrophe
On Tuesday evening I went to an event held by Democrats Abroad to watch the US election results over some biers - quite a few beers actually.
Obviously I am not a Democrat not least as I am not an American. But I have, and have had, strong connections with the US and also beer.
(There isn't a Republican equivalent of DA probably because I suspect most republicans are afraid of "foreign". In any case even if I was an American I wouldn't be a Republican either).
There were some Hash House Harriers there (I'm a member of the two Munich kennels) and one introduced me to a woman she brought along.
And she works for a big consortium in the innovation apps area.
We exchanged business cards and LinkedIn connections. Since then I've been racking my brains to see how our app would work for their business.
I've now figured out how it would work and in fact it would fit really well with their business - I may have been a bit tired after a night of lots of beer; shock, horror and disgust; and ending after 5am on Wednesday morning.
Obviously I am not a Democrat not least as I am not an American. But I have, and have had, strong connections with the US and also beer.
(There isn't a Republican equivalent of DA probably because I suspect most republicans are afraid of "foreign". In any case even if I was an American I wouldn't be a Republican either).
There were some Hash House Harriers there (I'm a member of the two Munich kennels) and one introduced me to a woman she brought along.
And she works for a big consortium in the innovation apps area.
We exchanged business cards and LinkedIn connections. Since then I've been racking my brains to see how our app would work for their business.
I've now figured out how it would work and in fact it would fit really well with their business - I may have been a bit tired after a night of lots of beer; shock, horror and disgust; and ending after 5am on Wednesday morning.
We haven't gone away
Seems it's been a while since I lasted posted but things have been happening.
I was in the UK for a week although I did do some work on the business.
The app looks a lot of better.
We tried to get a third co-founder but they disappeared off the radar.
We've onboarded one business though they actually have to use the app now and so far they haven't. We're not surprised and expect they will need a bit of hand holding.
I was ill with a cold which, in retrospect, was probably a flu like infection and has been going around Munich.
I was in the UK for a week although I did do some work on the business.
The app looks a lot of better.
We tried to get a third co-founder but they disappeared off the radar.
We've onboarded one business though they actually have to use the app now and so far they haven't. We're not surprised and expect they will need a bit of hand holding.
I was ill with a cold which, in retrospect, was probably a flu like infection and has been going around Munich.
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