Folkalist Saas Venture Building
A venture building project to develop and launch this SaaS product and business, taking it from working prototype through to market entry and investment readiness.
Folkalist
Folkalist is the easiest way to discover, connect, and get involved with collaborative projects, anywhere. Folkalist is a SaaS platform on iOS and Android, designed for project creators and collaborators. The company is based in London, UK.
What They Needed
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The leadership at Folkalist reached out to see if I could get involved in this London-based tech startup. They had built a foundation, with the app in the early stages of development, and a team to support their mission. However, the team had little startup experience, and needed help across various aspects of the business, and ultimately to help get them to market.
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My initial engagement was as a consultant to help them with their brand positioning, value proposition, communications, and go-to-market strategy. However, after a few months of working together, it was clear they needed more help, and I was offered the role of Chief Operating Officer. While I had the COO title, I really was involved in nearly all aspects of the business.
How We Collaborated
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The key was to focus on what was most important. We set a clear roadmap, fine-tuned the strategy, and established leaner operations. We improved the product design and development, through internal sprints and external user feedback, and created a partnership with a reputable software development firm to finish the platform build. We identified the USP, and developed visual and written communications to support this positioning.
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Across all aspects of the company, I led projects or made major contributions. I led the investment-readiness and fundraising efforts of the next round for investment, including creating the deck, prospecting and pitching. Regarding the product, I facilitated internal sprints and workshops to improve the product, and was involved in the product management and ownership from concept to delivery in tandem with our software developers. Across all operations, I worked directly with our team and partners on projects, providing support and guidance.
The Results
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Folkalist entered the market, in Apple App Store and Google Play, and generated 300+ users in its first month. The company established a clear direction, with momentum going into the market. The brand was generating a lot of enthusiasm and support from users and investors. However, sadly, due to unforeseen tragic events, the company had to stop its operations.
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Everyone who was involved with this venture was very passionate and enthusiastic about the Folkalist mission and purpose. Our entire team grew their skillset and knowledge, and enjoyed several major milestones along the way, while having fun doing it.
