Some of today’s coolest tech startups were launched out of dorms, basements and friends’ living rooms. The majority of entrepreneurs launch their ventures with $10,000 or less to their name. In fact, 75% rely on their personal savings only to get off the ground.

Certainly, it’s nice when you have some additional financial support from friends or peer investors. But if your finance are really tight, that doesn’t mean you should steer away from launching your business. You can bootrstarp an MVP product such as an interactive mockup, a simple website or landing page, or even a demo video for less than 10K. Here are some tools to help you do just that.

1. Framer

Framer offers a robust toolkit for designing animated protorypes. Non-designers should enjoy the drag & drop functionality, while more advanced users will appreciate a bunch of additional editings tool, which allow to create pixel-perfect designs. Framer comes with handy presents for desktop, iOS and Adroid, which streamline and speed up the design process. With this tool you can create an attractive app prototypes to pitch to potential investors and test with early-bird adopters.

Also read: Planning to bootstrap your business? Follow these 7 tips

2. Deluxe Logo Maker 

Speaking further about design, don’t understimate the power of your logo. That small visual makes your brand unique and memorable. According to the Association for Psychological Science, logo design can also strongly influence how customers perceive products. More angular logos, for example, meant that customers were more likely to rate a company’s products as “durable.”

Deluxe Logo Maker is one affordable tool to help you design just the right logo for your brand. Even the most basic package provides the talents of multiple designers, redesigns to incorporate your feedback, and multiple scalable image files. Deluxe’s most comprehensive service, its Platinum Package, includes services such as a hand-drawn mascot and printed business cards, while its do-it-yourself service lets you customize a wide variety of templates for only $50.

3. Shopify

If you plan to launch an ecommerce startup, Shopify is the safest bet. Lifehacker recently called this platform “unquestionably the easiest way to open an online store.” You can use it build customizable ecommerce storefront, choose from 70 payment gateways and enjoy over 1,200 pre-integrated ecommerce tools such as discount code generator, shipping, vendor relationship management and more. Shopify can even take over handling sales in your brick-and-mortar location.

4. Chargify

Subscribtion businesses and booming. This industry as a whole has been growing at 200% annually since 2011 and is no where close to slowing down. So why shouldn’t you capitalize on the trend? The particular appeal here is that you can launch a subscribcribtion business as relatively low cost as you can direct the customer’s recurring paymets first and use them towards paying vendors, rather than using your own funds to keep everything in stock.

Also read: 5 reasons why subscription models can be a double-edged sword for e-commerce retail

Chargify will help you collect those recurring payments and keep your records neat. You can also integrate it with Xero – a popular accounting software – to have complete control over your books and cashflow.

5. Packlane

If you choose to go the ecommerce or subscribtion route, beyond the storefront and payment processing, you should also think about how your products will be delivered. Packlane lets you provide your customers with a customized, branded, and beautiful experience whenever they receive a package. With an easy-to-use online platform for box designs and almost endless options for color printing, interiour printing, and box size and shape, Packlane will please your inner aesthete. And because its minimum order is so low–they’ll even print you just one cardboard box, if that’s what you need–it’s a truly small-business-friendly solution.

6. MailChimp

According to Wordstream, businesses experience an average of $44 dollars in returns for every dollar spent on email marketing. Many email marketing systems are out there, but some are better than others. MailChimp is among the top choices. It provides a comprehensive platform for sending out customized email content and newsletters to interact with your audience e.g. ask for their feedback on the product; notify about new deals, beta launch and so on.

7. Animatron  

You probably know that Dropbox got started as a screencast video created by founders and posted on Hacker News. That’s exactly how they measured the interest in such product and acquired some beta adopters. Today, video marketing still remains among the most promising tools any the entrepreneurs stack as it converts better than any other type of content. Want even better news – you don’t need to hire some fancy video production study to create an animated explainer video. Try Animatron instead. The free version will allow you to choose from 2,200 pre-animated objects, style them into a quick video reel, add a voice over and share your creation in one click.

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Editor’s note: e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.

Featured Image Copyright Copyright: flynt / 123RF Stock Photo

This article was first published on February 19, 2018

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Visit Echelon X to learn more about the program. Get your tickets here!

As the world grapples with an increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, the landscape of disaster preparedness has undergone significant evolution. Challenges persist, ranging from the unpredictability of certain events to the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities. Climate change exacerbates these challenges, with rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, posing significant threats to communities globally. All of these things are happening alongside rapid urbanisation and population growth, intensifying the vulnerability of densely populated areas to disasters and the potential for catastrophic impacts.

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the critical need for robust disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, exposing vulnerabilities in healthcare systems, supply chains, and social infrastructure.

Amid these challenges, innovative solutions are emerging to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience. Advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and data analytics, are revolutionising disaster forecasting, early warning systems, and response coordination. Moreover, community-based initiatives that build local resilience and foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders are gaining traction. These initiatives emphasise the importance of grassroots participation, cultural sensitivity, and inclusive planning processes in enhancing community resilience to disasters.

Also read: Sustainable development through empowering commerce in Indonesia

Furthermore, there is a growing recognition of the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental factors in shaping vulnerability to disasters, driving efforts to address underlying systemic issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. As the global community confronts the complex challenges of the 21st century, innovative approaches and collaborative strategies will be essential in building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Taking on the mantle of fostering education, research, and support for disaster-preparedness efforts is Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential PLC which aims to address target issues in three key areas with purpose-built programmes to make communities safer and more resilient to life’s risks: financial literacy and inclusion, health and safety prevention, and climate adaptation.

Prudence Foundation as a catalyst for disaster tech

Technological advancements such as blockchain and decentralised platforms are enhancing coordination and transparency in disaster response operations, facilitating efficient resource allocation and accountability have proven important. These innovations spell the difference between saving and securing human lives before, during, and in the aftermath of disasters.

However, despite these advancements, persistent challenges such as funding constraints, political inertia, and systemic inequalities continue to hinder progress in achieving comprehensive and equitable disaster preparedness and resilience. Thus, there remains a pressing need for sustained commitment and collaboration at all levels to navigate the increasingly complex landscape of disaster risk management.

Over the past few years, Prudence Foundation has been spearheading initiatives such as the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards to address these challenges.

In a nutshell, the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards finds, funds, and supports innovative technology solutions which save lives before, during and after events of natural disasters. Since 2019, the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards has helped support startups working towards various aspects of disaster resilience, from digital platforms for remote project supervision and monitoring as well as infrastructure quality assurance, to cleantech startups offering waste-to-worth solutions focused on transforming waste materials into reusable products while delivering social and environmental benefits, and even to social enterprises that build simple and portable filters to make clean water accessible through water shortage solutions.

Also read: SAFE STEPS D-TECH Community Hub is leading the way to a resilient future

By examining these examples, Prudence Foundation demonstrates a holistic perspective of where to offer its support. This stems from their understanding that empowering disaster tech initiatives that address challenges in natural disasters before, during, and after they occur is paramount for enhancing resilience and reducing the impact of these events.

These initiatives are crucial in proactive preparedness by providing early warning systems, predictive analytics, and risk assessment tools, enabling communities to mitigate risks and plan effectively. During disasters, technology facilitates rapid response and coordination among stakeholders, improving the efficiency of search and rescue operations, resource allocation, and communication with affected populations. Moreover, post-disaster recovery efforts are bolstered by innovative solutions that streamline aid distribution, assess damage, and facilitate reconstruction, thereby expediting the recovery process and promoting long-term resilience.

By seeking out opportunities for investors to discover and support these initiatives, societies can better adapt to the evolving challenges posed by natural disasters, ultimately saving lives, protecting livelihoods, and building more resilient communities.

Meet Prudence Foundation at Echelon X!

Aligned with this commitment to promote and empower innovators addressing today’s most pressing global challenges, Prudence Foundation will be joining Echelon X as an official Disaster Technology Partner!

Echelon X will bring together industry leaders, visionary entrepreneurs, and groundbreaking startups from all corners of the region for two packed days. Happening on May 15 to 16 at the Singapore EXPO, Echelon X will feature dedicated content stages, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more — all to support and empower the tech startup ecosystem with actionable insights through a series of knowledge-sharing activities.

Also read: Leading end-to-end property platform in Indonesia will share insights at Echelon X!

Whether you’re eager to expand your knowledge, network with key players from the tech startup scene, or showcase your innovative ideas, Echelon X offers an unparalleled experience. Join us as a participant or an official partner by securing your spot now on our official page. Together, let’s embark on a journey to shape the future and create a lasting impact.

Join us at Echelon 2024, where innovation knows no limits, and the possibilities are endless!

The post Empowering innovators: Prudence Foundation tackles disaster challenges appeared first on e27.

Sherrie Low and Goh Ai Yat, esteemed academic lecturers at RMIT and the Singapore Institute of Management, bring decades of combined managerial experience to their work, having trained over 100 businesses and 200,000 participants. In March, they published a new book called The S.T.A.R. System, which aims to help entrepreneurs embrace and implement the transformative potential of pictures.

The following is an excerpt from the book.

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PICTURES MATTER

Pictures matter. They reinforce your idea and give it greater clarity.

We draw to improve our understanding of the stories we encounter.

In the next few pages, we shall show you that simple pictures can give better clarity to the thinking process.

Why Pictures Matter: Example #1

Team A does large accounts and Team B does small accounts. Both teams bring in $50 million in profits each. Team A requires two persons to manage fewer clients, whereby each client has a higher yield compared to a client in Team B. Team B has more clients in absolute numbers compared to Team A, although the profits generated are on par with Team A. Team B requires more headcount to manage more clients, compared to Team A.

We have used several lines of words to explain this situation. The pictures effectively reinforce the message. You can clearly see that the desired and additional headcount for Team B is sorely missing.

Also Read: What are the basics of design thinking, and how to apply it?

Example #2

In the past, Company M was in an enviable position, owning a big share of the niche market and reaping huge profits.

Fast forward to the present and things are different. There are now many competitors, such as Companies A, B and C, each taking a slice of the market share.

The appearance of increasing competition shrinks the profitability of Company M. This should compel Company M to evaluate their current offerings, with the option to move to another quadrant in the positioning map, to become more relevant and profitable.

Example #3

Company X must be able to identify what customers deem important to fulfil their wants and needs.

Using one attribute, Design, as an example, we can see a gap between what customers want and what Company X is perceived as delivering. This should signal to Company X the need to rethink how to meet changing customer needs, based on current and potential resources.

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The book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Image Credit: xixinxing, 123RF Free Images

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Interruptions and distraction stall productivity and the office may be where the biggest offenders are. In this TED Talk, Jason Fried talks about why people can’t get work done at work and offers three suggestions to remedy it.

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This article was first published on November 16, 2017.

The post Why work doesn’t happen at the workplace appeared first on e27.

Remote workers make things simpler, more efficient, and often cheaper for startup organizations. It’s also a perk for employees who like eliminating their commute and working from the quiet of their own homes. For these exact reasons, remote work has grown exponentially over the last few years. According to a Gallup survey, 43 percent of employed Americans spend at least some of their time working remotely.

Remote work has its clear advantages, but cybersecurity threats will accompany them. Remote workers often allow easier access for hackers, malware, and other attempts to corrupt or steal sensitive information from a company. Their unsecured networks, weak passwords, high employee turnover, and limited monitoring ability make them ideal targets.

The benefits of remote work are many, and as such, it’s better to handle the threats that come with it rather than trying to eliminate it. Your security threats don’t have to increase dramatically just because you use remote workers.

Here are some things you can do.

Manage the BYOD Movement

The bring your own device (BYOD) movement is a popular strategy for employers. It saves money, is more efficient, and eliminates the need for an IT department. However, it can also increase your risk of being infiltrated by a hacker who gains access through an unsecured personal device.

Also Read: Remote work leads to better productivity and lower costs; Here are 10 reasons why remote work rocks

“Frequent trainings to ensure compliance with security measures are critical to decreasing risk,” suggests an article from the secure SD-WAN firm Cato Networks. “Teams should have well-researched BYOD policies in places to protect against as many potential threats as possible. You also may want to consider mobile device management (MDM) which requires employees to grant IT access to their personal devices, including permission to wipe a lost or stolen device clean.”

Mandate strong password regulations

Passwords are often an easy entry point for hackers. Weak passwords are easy for experienced hackers to crack. Plus, many people use the same password for everything, so once that password is hacked, they’ll have access to every account that’s connected to it.

Many employees have varied, strong passwords, but they store them on a piece of paper or in a document on their computer. Hackers know to look for those saved documents to gain access to a network.

Create a series of password standards for your employees. Passwords should have special characters, numbers, and capitals, and they should be changed often. Each password should be reserved for just one account, and should not be shared. To keep passwords secure, have employees use a cloud-based password manager like LastPass, Dashlane, or Sticky Password.

Secure your network with a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is like a secure tunnel that allows your computer to connect to the internet. Enterprises often use a VPN to protect their privacy and prevent casual hackers from accessing transactions while using Wi-Fi, whether public or private.

Also Read: The 4 drawbacks of working remotely and how to address them with your team

“When you’re on public Wi-Fi at an airport or café, that means hackers will have a harder time stealing your login credentials or redirecting your PC to a phony banking site,” says Ian Paul of Tech Hive. “Your Internet service provider (ISP), or anyone else trying to spy on you, will also have a near impossible time figuring out which websites you’re visiting. On top of all that, you get the benefits of spoofing your location.”

Each of these masking elements allows your remote workers to stay secure while working on your network, limiting exposure to unwanted third-party attention.

Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication can be used in multiple ways to protect both your employees and your organization from unauthorized access. When employees must go through two steps to access your server or website, such as entering both a password and a code sent to their personal email, access is considerably more secure.

Additionally, if you provide your remote workers with their hardware, consider requiring two-factor authentication when they access their devices. For example, many laptops now come with an eye or fingerprint scanner. Requiring employees to put in both a password and a bio-print scan can add an extra layer of security that protects both your organization and your employees from major cybersecurity threats.

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Image Credit: rawpixel / 123RF Stock Photo

Editor’s note: e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.

This article was first published on March 22, 2018.

The post How to keep your remote employees’ networks more secure appeared first on e27.

Spacely AI, an interior architecture design platform powered by Generative AI, has announced the closing of an undisclosed pre-seed investment from SCB 10X.

The Thai startup is expanding its global footprint, serving users from Thailand, the US, Portugal, and several other countries worldwide.

Also Read: Snaptrude can convert a hand-drawn sketch to a 3D model in a few seconds

Spacely AI is a “quick and easy” rendering tool for interior designers. The platform offers 12+ innovative features, 100+ interior curated premium styles, and supports more than 100+ space types, from interiors to exteriors.

Along with this announcement, Spacely has launched instant rendering API (to allow for quick visualisation of design concepts), smart recommendation API (which matches the products with customers’ designed space based on their preferences, budget, and space), product visualisation API (which provides a visual representation of the products within customer’s spaces), and precision space planning API (which offers detailed space measurement guidance for optimal fit and sizing).

The company said it has formed strategic partnerships with Index Living Mall and Proud Real Estate to design over one million spaces for 120,000+ users worldwide.

Also Read: What entrepreneurs (and the rest of us) can learn from Taylor Swift

“Given the powerful breakthroughs in visual-based generative AI, spatial design is an application that will continue to benefit from the rapid advancements of this technology. We will continue to support Spacely AI in identifying the strategic and product priorities for the platform, enriching Spacely AI’s proposition from Thailand to the global design community,” said Mukaya (Tai) Panich, CEO and Chief Venture and Investment Officer of SCB 10X.

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X marks Echelon. Join us at Singapore EXPO on May 15-16 for the 10th edition of Asia’s leading tech and startup conference. Enjoy 2 days of building connections with potential investors, partners, and customers, exploring innovation, and sharing insights with 8,000+ key decision-makers of Asia’s tech ecosystem. Get your tickets here.

Want more from your Echelon experience? Be an Echelon X sponsor or exhibitor. Send enquiry here.

The post SCB 10X backs rendering tool for interior designers Spacely AI appeared first on e27.

Singapore-based SaaS health tech company MiyaHealth has broadened its reach into Indonesia and the Philippines by extending its proprietary product suites, MiyaPayor and MiyaProvider, through strategic partnerships.

These collaborations aim to elevate healthcare access and efficiency in underserved markets by leveraging innovative technological solutions and delivering high-quality healthcare. Through partnerships with a third-party administrator (TPA) and a leading hospital group in Indonesia, as well as Health Maintenance, Inc. (HMI) in the Philippines, MiyaHealth is poised to optimise the overall patient experience in both countries.

These are just some notable milestones that MiyaHealth made recently after closing its Pre-Series A funding round in Q42023 and securing the ISO 13845:2016 Certification and CE Mark.

“We have learned the significance of product differentiation, customisation, and certifications in addressing client’s needs and establishing credibility. This has granted us a competitive edge over alternatives. Most vendors would find it challenging to pinpoint and customise a solution to address all the insurer’s existing and future needs,” says Dr Ramesh Rajentheran, CEO and Co-Founder of MiyaHealth, in an email interview with e27.

Founded in 2019, MiyaHealth builds and operates digital infrastructure that powers healthcare. The company offers three product suites, MiyaPayor, MiyaPatient, and MiyaProvider, leveraging its AI and ML data capture, processing, and interoperability capabilities across the healthcare ecosystem.

Also Read: Decoding digital preferences: A glimpse into the future of health tech ecosystem in SEA

While existing players typically focused on either health tech or insurtech, MiyaHealth intends to serve all facets of healthcare by enhancing interoperability between health systems, leading to better patient outcomes.

In this interview, Dr Rajentheran explains the company’s strategy to win the Indonesian and Filipino markets and what is coming up for MiyaHealth. The following is an edited excerpt of the conversation.

You are expanding into Indonesia and the Philippines. What drives you into these markets? What opportunities do you want to seize there? What is your strategy?

Expanding into our priority markets, Indonesia and the Philippines, is a strategic move driven by our mission to address the unmet needs in healthcare, such as limited insurance penetration and infrastructure shortages (e.g. shortfall of healthcare manpower) for millions of people. Both markets present significant growth opportunities, given that only around 10-12 per cent of the population have private insurance coverage. This means that as our insurer and TPA clients expand, we will grow with them.

In Southeast Asia, we have observed an increase in middle-income groups and affluent populations, leading to heightened expectations for improved healthcare quality, characterised by a preference for simplicity and convenience. We have acknowledged these demands, particularly in optimising claim processing efficiency, refining health plan design, improving patient care management, and enhancing digital infrastructure for the instant exchange of patient information between providers and payors.

Most importantly, we deeply understand how these improvements can directly impact patients, strengthening their healthcare journeys.

By entering into two of the largest markets in Southeast Asia, we aim to address the unmet needs of millions of individuals while harnessing the ample data both markets offer to refine our models and processes. Additionally, we are working closely with commercial partners, leveraging our proven track record in current markets, utilising our core IP for swift platform localisation, and optimising our deployment process to accelerate the global scalability of our platforms. Moving forward, we plan to secure more long-term partnerships with customers in these markets and other parts of the world.

Can you share a fascinating insight about your users in Indonesia and the Philippines that you learned recently?

Indonesia and the Philippines share more demographic similarities than differences. Both countries exhibit underpenetrated private health insurance markets, signalling substantial opportunities for insurers to expand their footprint. Despite relatively new government universal health coverage schemes, a significant coverage gap remains, necessitating insurers’ focus on enhancing efficiency and managing medical claim costs.

Also Read: What telemedicine and Health Tech holds across SEA amidst COVID-19

Moreover, both nations experience a shift in healthcare service accessibility and consumption, driven by the emergence of middle-income groups. These populations demonstrate an increased capacity and inclination to invest in high-quality healthcare services and insurance coverage.

Additionally, the widespread availability of mobile data and smartphones has catalysed a mobile-centric approach to healthcare access across all age groups in both regions.

What are your targets for these two markets?

We are currently engaged in ongoing discussions with numerous prospective clients to establish additional long-term partnerships for MiyaPayor in the Philippines and Indonesia. Moreover, within the next 12 months, we are gearing up to introduce MiyaProvider and MiyaPatient in the Philippines while simultaneously expanding the commercialisation of these products into future markets of interest, with a particular emphasis on Asia given the robust inbound demand we have experienced.

Recognising the substantial patient volume in both countries, we view the penetration of insurers and providers in these markets as a significant advancement toward serving one hundred million individuals worldwide. To support these initiatives, we plan to onboard more locally based team members in both countries and cultivate additional channel and deployment partners.

What other plans do you have this year?

In the first half of 2024, our primary objective is to secure funding for our Series A round. This funding will bolster our product offerings and technological capabilities, focusing on developing next-generation versions of our products and core technology.

Also Read: How Vietnam’s e-commerce firm Tiki manages to keep employee churn rate healthy

We also plan to utilise the funds to expand our operations and partnerships in existing and new markets. Furthermore, we aim to strengthen our leadership team to facilitate the scaling up of global health systems, ensuring that we are better equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients worldwide.

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Image Credit: xixinxing, 123RF Free Images

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So you finally hit upon that great startup idea which you’re passionate about, which you’re sure you can pull off, and which will eventually let you rake in the millions by scaling for customer growth! You’re on, right?

Not so fast. One of the most common mistakes budding entrepreneurs make is to think of their “idea” as a “company.” They have figured out the solution to the T, but guess what, there’s no problem in the first place! A much-publicized CB Insights study confirmed what experienced businesspeople knew all along – a lack of market need is by far the top reason startups fail.

How then, do you escape the prison of your “next big idea” and make sure your venture doesn’t bite the dust, taking your aspirations along with it? Simple (but not easy): stop building a solution and start solving a problem.

The key to doing this is identifying a critical need in the market around you and creating a product or service that satisfies that need. In marketing parlance, this is called achieving product/market fit.

“When you reach product/market fit you essentially have built something people want. You naturally get traction, and things unfold very quickly. Reaching product/market fit is perhaps the most important thing for a startup.”

– Joel Gascoigne, Founder of Buffer

Here’s my humble attempt to break down three different types of problems that make customers’ lives difficult, and walk you through examples from brands that have successfully soothed their customers’ pain points in each case.

Problems That Affect Pretty Much Everyone

You know about this one. The flu. Crowded trains. Traffic jams. Corrupt politicians. You’re probably struggling with more than one of these problems as you read this. Yes, there are a lot of huge and powerful organizations trying to overcome them. No, they haven’t tasted success yet.

This means there’s a perennial opportunity to solve for practically unlimited markets. Which isn’t to say it’s easy. However, resourceful startups have demonstrably proved time and again that there are few problems that can withstand human motivation to overcome pain.

It often happens that when you aim to solve a particular problem that affects a significant chunk of humanity, you end up solving a whole bunch of related and similar problems. These are called meta problems. And there’s practically no limit to the number of people your solution might possibly impact.

Airbnb is one of the best examples of this. Cities known for popular events or tourist attractions have a perpetual shortage of hotels and places to stay. Airbnb tackled this problem by enabling residents to rent out their rooms and homes to swarms of people descending on their town, solving for both the insider and the outsider.

Also Read: 4 key growth metrics startups should watch closely

A single event helped them shoot into the limelight. In 2008, Obama was supposed to speak at the Pepsi Center in Denver, which had a capacity of about 18,000 seats. Owing to Obama’s rising popularity, the venue was changed at short notice to the 80,000-seat Invesco Field, sparking a potential lodging nightmare for the city. But Airbnb was fully prepared. They ran a multi-channel marketing campaign that brought both consumers (attendees) and producers (property owners) on board at the right time, and managed to avert the crisis as well as gain a lot of media attention in the process.

Airbnb never looked back and has 4 million plus lodgings listed across 65,000 cities today.

Problems Arising from Solutions

Niche markets and unique brands frequently spawn cult followings of their own. You need not look any further than Apple. Steve Jobs created a whole market where there was none not once but multiple times – with the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. These were not so much solutions to problems that people never realized they had (something which we’ll discuss in the next section) but unique products that gave rise to indulgences (pleasure vs. pain) that they never realized they could have!

No surprise then, that there’s a whole ecosystem that caters to exclusive and loyal users of Apple products, ranging from app developers to case manufacturers.

However, in many cases (especially that of Apple), with pleasure and exclusivity comes a subtle lock that binds you to the brand or manufacturer. This leads to resentment among users who don’t want to lose the convenience on offer, but at the same time have no intention of being tied to a limited set of functionalities.

This kind of situation is what begets a “solution to a solution.” Case in point, one of the first things a lot of iPhone buyers look for is ways to bypass iCloud activation. Apple, of course, isn’t keen on users doing this, but that doesn’t prevent them from googling the solution:

This is where tech blogs, another ubiquitous part of the Apple ecosystem (where experts in the domain vie to disclose hacks and review features before anyone else), come in. iGeeksBlog is one such blog (closer to home) that attempts to retain mindshare among Apple power users and early adopters by revealing iPhone and iPad hacks with uncanny resourcefulness and accuracy:

This is a fine example of a customer-first mentality. “We focus on readers’ interests and pain points over product features or the Apple brand. You need to be bold enough to put your audience’s interest over your own if you want to serve them well,” says Jignesh Padhiyar, the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of iGeekBlogs.

As close to having your cake and eating it as it gets, eh?

Problems Customers Can’t Quite Put their Finger On

Finally, there are those problems that customers don’t know can be solved, or even exist. They are vaguely aware of something wrong with a product – a nagging feeling that’s been at the back of their minds for a long time, which comes only while it’s being used, and disappears shortly afterwards. You know what I mean?

The classic example here comes from the men’s shaving industry. Shaving razors and gel were overpriced and typically cost up to US$20 a month when Dollar Shave Club entered the US market in 2012. Gillette was the undisputed leader with a 72 per cent market share. So how did David take on Goliath?

Also Read: Determining whether or not now is the time to sell your company

One, Dollar Shave Club made customers aware of the futility of technology in razors (that was garishly advertised at the time), emphasizing that features like multi-blade were pointless and served only to artificially inflate the price of a basic commodity.

Two, they priced a month’s worth of razors at US$1.

Three, they sold their razors via a simplistic online subscription model. You no longer had to remember to buy razors; you simply got them in the mail.

Three problems that men barely knew they faced day just about every morning solved in a flash!

And how did they reach their potential audience? Via a viral YouTube video that has garnered 25 million views to date. Compare that with the roughly 40 million views on Gillette’s 173 videos put together:

No wonder Dollar Shave Club went on to become the number one online razor company. They were acquired by Unilever for $1 billion in 2016.

Over to You

By now, I hope you’ve abandoned the idea of building yet another chatbot, blockchain app, or whatever is gripping the fancy of your fellow Hacker News and Product Hunt addicts these days. Product/market fit is the single most important factor that will guarantee the success and the sustainability of your startup. Here are some simple takeaways that will stand you in good stead for any venture:

1. Identify a problem (and understand the audience that has it).
2. Collect feedback and validate the problem.
3. Attack one aspect of the problem (over multiple facets) and aim to build the perfect product/market fit for it.
4. Scale as and when possible.

Good luck!

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Image Credit: gajus / 123RF Stock Photo

Editor’s note: e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.

This article was first published on March 16, 2024

The post Want to build a sustainable startup? Solve for a problem for your customers appeared first on e27.

Filipino VC firm Kaya Founders has announced the second close of its two latest funds for Southeast Asia.

Pavilion Capital; Gabriel and Geraldine Sunshine of Boston-based Bracebridge Capital; Concentric Equity Partners; and unnamed family offices, high net-worth individuals and established entrepreneurs invested in the funds, called ‘Zero to One’ and ‘One to Ten’.

Also Read: Founders are pessimistic about Philippines’ funding climate in 2024: study

This brings the total committed capital of its new funds to PHP1 billion (US$18 million) and the total assets under management to PHP1.25 billion (US$22.5 million).

With the new funds, Kaya Founders is looking to back 30-40 startups in the Philippines and Southeast Asia over the next four years.

“If you look at the amount of venture funding that has gone into the ecosystem—relative to our GDP and population—it’s clear that the Philippines has long been underinvested and underlooked as a market. Through our funds, we hope to catalyze capital into one of the most exciting economies in the world,” said Founding Managing General Partner Paulo Campos.

Founded in 2021, Kaya Founders are led by Campos (co-founder & former CEO of ZALORA Philippines), Ray Alimurung (former CEO of Lazada Philippines), and Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng (founder & CEO of Summit Media).

Kaya invests in the next generation of tech-enabled companies in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. It invests in pre-seed to Series A companies, with the cheque size ranging between US$100,000 and US$500,000.

The VC firm has invested in 44 companies, spanning e-commerce, SaaS, healthcare, financial services, and agriculture. Its noteworthy investments include Etaily (announced a US$17.8 million Series A funding round last November), cloud logistics platform Locad (raised its own US$11 million Series A round in January 2023), salary on-demand provider Advance; global plastic credits marketplace Plastic Credit Exchange; and microinsurance platform RuralNet.

Also Read: Brankas, Kaya Founders launch Open PHinance Challenge for SEA startups

The fund closing coincides with the appointment of Kaya Founders as an official co-investment partner of the Startup Venture Fund (SVF), a PHP500 million fund focused on local startups managed by the National Development Company (NDC), the investment arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

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As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology becomes more commonplace in the business world, more and more leaders are realizing the practicality of using it to support their company operations. There are lots of ways that AI can be advantageous for all sorts of businesses, and according to reports, current AI adopters are most commonly using the technology for various marketing and sales strategies. Many are using AI these days for lead generation, customer service, and ultimately, sales.

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So, while these uses are fantastic ways to make money, AI is not necessarily saving companies money upfront. The high initial cost of this technology is one of the most common barriers to adoption, especially for startups whose budgets are tight as it is.

However, it’s important that owners look at the savings potential for AI over the long term. Here are three ways online startups can keep more cash in their pockets by investing in the latest machine-enabled technology.

1. Improving the UX of Your Website

Nailing the look and feel of a website is often a top priority for most online companies. After all, without a physical location, the website is essentially the storefront. While the price of launching an e-commerce website can range depending on its complexity, it often costs companies US$5,000 to US$10,000 to create a good one.

However, just because a website is launched does not mean it’s finished. The next step is to continuously make improvements and changes in order to optimize the UX for customers, a process that can take months to complete, which of course, costs a lot of money.

AI systems can streamline the UX optimization process by using machine learning technology to correct the weak points and snags that are causing people trouble. Using reactive processes, AI systems can observe consumer behaviour and make the necessary changes to reduce issues that are compromising the UX.

Many online companies understand the importance of recording customer information, but this data is completely useless unless it is working to generate conversions. AI can be used to translate this data into personalized experiences for customers by learning their preferences and identifying triggers that prompt action, such as call-to-action button placement or relevant content recommendations.

AI can also be used to speed up the testing process before final changes are implemented on the site. The US-based online clothing brand Cosabella used an AI software system to run their A/B tests on their website design. The process of comparing various design variants and reporting results can take months – or even years – but with AI technology, the process only took roughly 3 weeks. This saved the company copious amounts of money that would otherwise have been spent on design teams and heavy market research.

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2. Avoiding Expensive Bad Decisions

Bad choices can mean major losses for a new business. For example, making one bad hiring decision for a new employee who either does their job poorly or quits soon after being hired could cost even a small startup up to US$11,000; not to mention the amount of productivity that may be lost due to their shoddy work.

Also Read: 8 things to consider when choosing a mobile app development platform

For this reason, many companies are incorporating AI technology into their recruiting strategies to avoid bad hiring decisions. These tools can qualify thousands of applicants in a short amount of time by narrowing down the candidates based on experience, keyword usage, and skill matches.

Some systems even use AI-enabled personal assessment tests to measure each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses and report how good of a fit they would be with the company. This information can certainly help hiring managers to make more informed decisions when it comes to bringing new people onboard. A shocking 96% of HR professionals believe that AI will make vast improvements in talent acquisition and retention in the future.

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In terms of retail, an extremely costly mistake that can be avoided with AI is inventory management. Overstocking is a waste of resources; whereas running out of inventory could lead to lost sales. Finding the balance and knowing how much product to have in stock is usually a guessing game (more or less), especially for startups who have no past data to guide them.

AI tools that use predictive analytics can forecast inventory needs based on large sums of data, such as changes in the market and consumer behaviour patterns. From here, online businesses can use this information to drive smarter dropshipping strategies by preparing for future inventory needs far ahead of time and avoid any issues.

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Even the smallest inventory mistake can be quite costly to a new business. While it may not be possible to avoid every single bad decision, AI technology can certainly help startups to make smarter choices and avoid ones that could end up as expensive disasters.

3. Automate Time-Consuming Tasks

Time is money for any business; this is especially true for startups with lots to do and so little time. Little administrative tasks are necessary to keep an operation running smoothly, but they can eat up precious time that could be spent making sales or brainstorming better strategies.

Also Read: 8 proven tips for successfully scaling an e-commerce business

Because of this, many businesses opt to outsource tasks like payroll, accounting, and customer service. While this method certainly costs less than hiring another employee to handle the job, it can still be costly and produce meager results.

AI systems can automate many of these time-consuming tasks while still providing businesses with control over its inner workings. AI personal assistants can take on the task of scheduling meetings, following up with leads, and even payroll or employee onboarding. Customer service chatbots can handle common customer FAQ’s and issues in an instant, delighting customers and saving startups the cost of hiring representatives. Businesses that use AI to automate tasks like these save roughly 25 hours a month and report 14 per cent increases in productivity.

Conclusion

AI systems have lots to offer online startups on shoestring budgets. Thanks to its ability to gather, analyze, and learn, it can fix many of the costly and time-consuming issues that new businesses face. By using this technology, startups can not only save themselves time and money, they can provide a better experience for customers in the long run, too.

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This article was first published on May 9, 2018

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