THE STORY OF ROAR & HOW YOU WON’T GET WHAT YOU DON’T ASK FOR #HUSTLE

I don’t mean #hustle as in the dance move. I don’t mean #hustle like running fast. I mean #hustle like making the most of everything you have. Like shopping at a thrift shop.

This is Matt. He’s the CEO of ROAR. ROAR is a mobile solutions company that builds apps for non-profits. Matt isn’t technical. (that’s a secret) But he knows how to #HUSTLE So how does a non-technical person bootstrap a technical company? This is his story. Told by me. Chris Lema. (I’m not Matt.)

CAVEAT This is my version of the story. I’m sure Matt’s is different.

Everyone walks out of their house with three things. Matt wanted churches to be able to get their message out via one of these three. Did I mention he wasn’t technical?

PARTNER When you can deliver a market, but not a product, you need to find a partner.

CAN I RESELL YOUR PRODUCT, UNDER MY BRAND, IF I OPEN UP A NEW MARKET FOR YOU? Rock Stars Churches You Have To Ask

TEST Getting to market is critical because it allows you to test all your other hypotheses (marketing, pricing, support).

I’m gonna take your grandpa’s style I’m gonna take your grandpa’s style No, for real, ask your grandpa: Can I have his hand-me downs?

BUILD When you can’t take it anymore, wait a bit more. Then, when you’re ready to build, build cheap. Borrow everything you can.

That’s where I come in. I met Matt at a conference and heard what he was doing. I checked out the solution, understood where he was trying to go, and gave him feedback. But he knows how to #HUSTLE He heard my background, and my interest. And so he asked if I could help. You Have To Ask

Be prepared to have your team hate your version 1. V1 products smell like R Kelly’s sheets.

LEVERAGE Use the high quality free stuff that’s available Only spend money when you’re making money.

I’m diggin, I’m diggin. I’m searching right through that luggage. One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come-up.

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CONTROL As exciting as growth is, control it. Don’t go crazy spending.

We changed hosting providers three times. Don’t spend $50 on a t-shirt.

MONITOR Track everything. It helps down the road.

RESULTS Over 200 pre-launch sign-ups Hundreds of churches as customers Tens of thousands of deployed apps Multiple requests to purchase ROAR 300k monthly api calls

#HUSTLE @chrislema | http://chrislema