Mike Bott here from The Brandery, and I need your help.
We’re flying down I-75 in Cincy Startup Bus on our way to Nashville, and we need feedback on our business idea. When we arrive at SXSW in Austin, we’re going to be pitching against buses from all over the US + Mexico City. Here’s the ask: read our concept below and comment on this blog or tweet your thoughts to @SimplyDoneCo. The Startup Bus company with the most feedback will get a boost towards the Finals.
Problem: I should know, but I don’t. There are firsts in everyone’s life. Everything is under control, and then you find yourself in a situation that’s completely foreign. The stress and discomfort of not being exactly sure what you should do next is palpable. A few examples:
- planning a wedding,
- starting a business (or a StartupBus business!),
- buying your first house,
- having your first child or getting a pet.
You feel like you should know how to proceed, but you are wrought with doubt and a nagging feeling. Uncertainty overshadows the excitement of the event.
Solution: By building a brand around providing credible, time-based, personalized guides, SimplyDone.co will help you feel more confident about your knowledge, selections and planning for that something you’ve never experienced before. To make the most of the experience, you’ll have a simple timeline you can use to reign in the big day, chalked full of expert advice, user generated content (ie, check out how someone else did it), and social integrations to help you easily get feedback from your friends and followers.
How do we make money? By combining revenue streams from local vendor referrals, national retailers and an overlay of LivingSocial’s daily deals, SimplyDone.co makes purchase decisions easier for those experiencing life’s firsts. We give local and national establishments opportunities to super-target those who are looking for their goods or services. “Right place, right time” makes all parties involved winners!
So what do you think?
Tweet to @SimplyDoneCo or reply to this post.
Thanks!
I think this is an excellent pitch for describing a common problem we have all faced. In order to make your pitch stronger, I would suggest further outlining how you will streamline the decision making process. The first thing that comes to mind is I could Google all of these questions and find solutions.. so sell me on how your company will customize the solution for me, or outline additional benefits of using this service.
All in all great pitch and I wish you the best of luck!
Absolutely wonderful! The idea to make ones first experience with a situation (as you described above) is great. I agree with the first reply post, that you need to sell us on how your company will customize my solution, to influence me not to use Google. I am one, that pretty much uses google for all sorts of planing. Also, when it comes to weddings, what makes your company stand out from, lets say, The Knot (wedding related event planning)?
Oveal all it’s a great idea, because it’s not focused on just one thing. Not having to go to separate sites to get my questions answered or to develop a plan, would be pretty ideal.
Like that its a one stop shop, but all of those examples are pretty big life changers. Need to build credibility vs going to a specific site that is known for that - like babycenter for a baby or the knot for a wedding. Given the events are so different, how can you be an expert in all vs specialized sites?
Good luck!
A sharp, responsive smartphone app can also be utilized, keeping the customer on track every step of the way. If roadblocks appear, Simplydone can automatically respond by adjusting points within the timeline to keep or get efforts back on track to accomplish the user’s goal. Bottom line for me, it needs to be simple and extremely nimble, able to handle all of life’s curve balls and still get me where I need to be, and all this will hinge on how much of the user’s information you can gather without being a nuisance to the user…
Maybe use a percentage complete calculator, or checklists pertaining to the goal, so the user can see at a glance how close they are to the goal, how they are slipping, or the next point they need to accomplish.
Good luck! Make it intuitive, simple, and snappy, and it will draw people in!
Tony’s point about making it simple and intuitive is key. My suggestion is to make sure you differentiate each version enough so people self select in and accidentally don’t overlap (other versions should be invisible the first time you use the service). The person having a baby will be disoriented by the companies association with building a startup because the state of mind is completely different.
Good luck! Have fun!
Perhaps a graphic interface that is easy to manipulate, after information is entered, manipulate the timeline by drag and drop.
I agree with above about distinguishing yourselves…perhaps find a way to ensure that the information/ advice people give is valid or good information. Many times I am on google looking for information and I get opposing views, how do I vet the info?
If users do go to the internet to gather information, have a place for them to organize what they find…an online notebook just for their project or allow them to connect into their online notebooks.
p.s.
love the idea…with so many places to go out there on the internet it is so easy for people like me to get lost and waste so much time trying to figure out how to do what I want to do.
Also, just another thought…we like T***** (can we name other websites on this?) to organize our little projects at home, not all organizing tools are equal…it is either too simplified or too complex…
I know others used the word intuitive but this goes beyond….projects can be very complex and intricate…how do you make the interface robust but quick and easy to use…there’s the rub:)
I love this concept! Filtering through all the information Google returns can be daunting and overwhelming. Like some others though, that is my question- Why do I go to your site instead of “just googling?” I’m really into the idea of a well designed, aesthetically pleasing guide, so to speak, that I feel good about using in times of not knowing “how to.” Good work, guys!
I think a panel of ‘experts’ should be on board in some way for go-to advice. This would be a great way to differentiate yourself from a simple google answer. Also, people are really into the do it yourself pinterest types of things, so links to project ideas would be helpful. People also love to read feedback from other folks and base their purchases on that, as say, on Amazon. Also make sure to include a way to share info/dates/etc. with family and friends who might be involved in the wedding, etc.
I like the idea! One question that comes to mind is how would you distinguish which “how to” guides/links/etc you would include? you want to have enough breadth that there’s mass appeal, but enough exclusivity that it doesn’t get too cluttered. The example scenarios/problems you listed make sense, but will everything you offer on Simplydone.co be as “big life” or “major event” as those? And if so is there a finite, determined set of options or categories? I guess to sum it up, how broad or how specific will the objective be? Good luck, StartUpCincy!!! I’m rooting for you!
Love the idea of a one-stop shop with customized service! Too often I find myself ‘lost in the links’ and end up frustrated, overwhelmed and ready to give up. Agree that the information provided should be monitored for validity and not just opinion, and a timeline and check list are essential for organization. Overall, very exciting - can’t wait to hear more! Good luck - we’re rooting for you!
Wow - watched the video yesterday, looks a little tight on that bus
Like the idea, but I agree with Melissa and Ilene. At first, I didn’t see how this was different from some of the tools available. The tipping point for me was the “expert” idea. For this idea to get legs, it seems like it needs a strong sense of community under it to succeed. A place where people feel invested in the process. First thing that came to mind was a community-site like HealthTap which lets you post short twitter like questions that are answered by physicians and other medical professionals. Seems like that would work here also as it aligns with the “life event” theme you have in the examples provided. Post a 140 character question, get feedback from my trusted network and/or verified professionals, add it to my project timeline. May also be an additional revenue option as this could quickly turn into a referral activity to local businesses.
Question - are you focusing on one of the events to start? And maybe a specific market like Mom’s, etc.? My wife could be your target market…
Good luck! I am going to buy some of your stock before I can’t afford it after this weekend
If you are to be a repository of expert information, what is your reason for being considering that there are many othe repositories that have been built and have formed equities over the last 10 years? Considering the amount of expert content required, why would I not go to expert blogs which exist for these topic areas? Who is your competition or how are needs being met today? As an advertiser, you need to have the equity/visits for me to want to start investing in your site….sort of chicken and the egg between gathering expert content and advertising dollars.
In order to be superior to other expert sites such as babycenter, I think the site needs to make it feel like there’s one person (whether or not it actually is one person) who knows you and cares about where you’re at, kind of like a coach/advisor/mentor. Someone you can check in with, chat online with, who can point you to resources and ideas, connect you with people who have recently done something similar, and who will have very up-to-date knowledge of all the trends and products that pertain to your situation.
Other ideas for milestones or major life changes — buying your first house, selling your first house, moving internationally, starting a new career, adopting a child, buying a car, choosing a college, etc…
How would this interface with users’ existing social media, like FB, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.?
Hey bought my first five shares on Busdaq in your company. I really like your idea. It’s one of the most original I’ve seen on Busdaq. Good luck!