60-second start-up profiles new businesses in a super-fast
flash. Today husband and wife team Taryn Westberg and Enrico
Cacciorni, founders of web communications wedding company Glö, go
up against the Smarta stopwatch.
0-5 seconds: Sum your business up in a sentence
Glö (www.glosite.com) offers email wedding invitations and wedding
websites with smart RSVP functionality for the modern-minded
couple
5-10 seconds: What's the business model?
We're subscription based - users pay a fee to access our software
for 18 months (which can be extended if needed)
10-15 seconds: Who are your competitors?
We are essentially a substitute for paper wedding invitations and
RSVP reply cards. There are other email invitation providers and
wedding website providers, but our product functionality and
look/feel is slightly different to theirs. This is due to the fact
that Glö is designed specifically for engaged couples rather than
for individuals planning more informal events.
15-20 seconds: What's your USP?
Glö provides a unique product combination of email invitations
(that mimic paper invites), matching wedding websites and smart
RSVP functionality. We help engaged couples save time, sanity and
trees without sacrificing style or sophistication.
20-25 seconds: How have you funded it so far?
We're self-funded. Now that we're in market with a successful
product, we're considering a financing round this fall to help fuel
our growth.
25-30 seconds: What were you doing before?
I was a management consultant - helping multi-national companies
develop and implement customer-driven business strategies. Enrico
was (and still is) a VC/Angel Investor and an advisor/board member
to start-up businesses.
30-35 seconds: Where did the idea come from?
Our own wedding! We had guests coming from around the globe and
were planning a multi-day wedding celebration with numerous events
(i.e., lots of RSVP info needed.) The idea of collecting everyone's
snail mail addresses and then coordinating their RSVP responses
almost did my head in. I was also realistically aware that 99.9% of
expensive paper invites ultimately end up in the trash bin! We
really wanted to send email wedding invitations, but we couldn't
find anything in the market that offered the functionally we
needed, plus a look/feel that felt special enough for a wedding.
Ultimately, a family member created online invitations and a
wedding website for us as a wedding gift. It was a huge hit with
our guests and when friends started asking if they could use it, we
decided to start Glö.
35-40 seconds: What's the smartest thing you've done so far?
Call upon a network of formal and informal mentors - I am always
amazed at how generous people are when you ask them for 20 minutes
of their time and an opinion. I love being able to return the
favour, and I truly believe that karma pays you back in incredible
ways.
40-45 seconds: What's the stupidest?
We've made lots of mistakes, but learned from them all, so it's
hard to call them stupid. A major learning was not to waste a ton
of time and money on trying to fix something when the smarter
solution is to stop, take a step back and start over.
45-50 seconds: If your business was a biscuit, what would it
be?
We'd be a cookie bouquet! A substitute for the traditional flower
bouquet - something unexpected and different, but delightful for
both the sender and the recipient.
50-55 seconds: Which idea are you a bit jealous of?
Trunki. I'm jealous every time I walk through an airport and almost
get knocked down by a child riding one…
55-60 seconds: Where are you going to be in 12 months' time?
We're focused on building awareness for the business and
implementing some additional product ideas. We hope that in 12
months time, everyone reading this will have received a Glövite
from someone they know who's getting married!
0-5 seconds: Sum your business up in a sentence
Glö (www.glosite.com) offers email wedding
invitations and wedding websites with smart RSVP functionality for
the modern-minded couple.
5-10 seconds: What's the business model?
We're subscription-based - users pay a fee to access our
software for 18 months (which can be extended if needed).
10-15 seconds: Who are your competitors?
We are essentially a substitute for paper wedding invitations
and RSVP reply cards. There are other email invitation providers
and wedding website providers, but our product functionality and
look/feel is slightly different to theirs. This is due to the fact
that Glö is designed specifically for engaged couples rather than
for individuals planning more informal events.
15-20 seconds: What's your USP?
Glö provides a unique product combination of email invitations
(that mimic paper invites), matching wedding websites and smart
RSVP functionality. We help engaged couples save time, sanity and
trees without sacrificing style or sophistication.
20-25 seconds: How have you funded it so far?
We're self-funded. Now that we're in market with a successful
product, we're considering a financing round this Autumn to help
fuel our growth.
25-30 seconds: What were you doing before?
I was a management consultant - helping multi-national companies
develop and implement customer-driven business strategies. Enrico
was (and still is) a VC/Angel investor and an advisor/board member
to start-up businesses.
30-35 seconds: Where did the idea come from?
Our own wedding! We had guests coming from around the globe and
were planning a multi-day wedding celebration with numerous events
(i.e. lots of RSVP info needed). The idea of collecting everyone's
snail mail addresses and then coordinating their RSVP responses
almost did my head in. I was also realistically aware that 99.9% of
expensive paper invites ultimately end up in the bin! We really
wanted to send email wedding invitations, but we couldn't find
anything in the market that offered the functionally we needed,
plus a look/feel that felt special enough for a wedding.
Ultimately, a family member created online invitations and a
wedding website for us as a wedding gift. It was a huge hit with
our guests and when friends started asking if they could use it, we
decided to start Glö.
35-40 seconds: What's the smartest thing you've done so
far?
Call upon a network of formal and informal mentors - I am always
amazed at how generous people are when you ask them for 20 minutes
of their time and an opinion. I love being able to return the
favour, and I truly believe that karma pays you back in incredible
ways.
40-45 seconds: What's the stupidest?
We've made lots of mistakes, but learned from them all, so it's
hard to call them stupid. A major learning was not to waste a ton
of time and money on trying to fix something when the smarter
solution is to stop, take a step back and start over.
45-50 seconds: If your business was a biscuit, what would
it be?
We'd be a cookie bouquet! A substitute for the traditional
flower bouquet - something unexpected and different, but delightful
for both the sender and the recipient.
50-55 seconds: Which idea are you a bit jealous
of?
Trunki. I'm jealous every time I walk through an airport and
almost get knocked down by a child riding one…
55-60 seconds: Where are you going to be in 12 months'
time?
We're focused on building awareness for the business and
implementing some additional product ideas. We hope that in 12
months time, everyone reading this will have received a Glövite
from someone they know who's getting married!
Want to be featured as a 60-second start-up? Email
sophie@smarta.com with a few lines on why you think you make the
grade.
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