Dave Osh and James Barwick have a huge vision for their startup Execuvite, now going through the JFDI Accelerate program. But it was JFDI Discover that helped them see the first steps clearly, writes Cui-Lyn Huang
1. Tell us about your startup and team – who are you, and what are you aiming to do?
Dave Osh is the founder and CEO and James Barwick is the co-founder and CTO of Execuvite. We both have more than 20-years of corporate experience. Dave’s last position was a CEO for a multinational company with revenue of almost half a billion dollars, and James’ last position was a CTO for a Singaporean startup that was acquired by a large company.
We are developing an online marketplace and a SaaS platform that enables companies to execute cross-functional projects by sourcing, hiring, managing, collaborating and paying multidisciplinary freelance teams.
2. How did you hear about JFDI Discover?
We attended one of JFDI’s Open House events, and talked to JFDI’s Program Manager Kai Huang who introduced us to the program. We came back the following week and got to know the JFDI team better.
3. Why did you start this business? How has this impacted your life?
Dave has completed 100 projects with freelancers over the last 10 years, and has always faced the same problem across the field. It was impossible to manage integrated cross-functional projects and it was impossible to know who was a professional and who was an uncommitted freelancer on any of the existing search platforms. Our mission is to create the game changer that leads the paradigm shift from side gig to professional freelancing.
4. What were some of the challenges you faced before joining JFDI Discover?
Our initial major challenge was that we did not have a systematic approach, and we tried doing too many things at the same time.
5. How did JFDI Discover help your startup?
Firstly, JFDI Discover helped us in systemising our processes and focusing on the most important things. Secondly, JFDI Discover helped us shift our focus from product development to traction. This eventually enabled us to be admitted to the JFDI Accelerate program. If we continued to focus on the product as opposed to traction, we probably would not have been accepted into JFDI Accelerate.
6. What was your favorite and least favorite aspect of JFDI Discover?
Our favorite aspect was the framework that the program provided. It was an overwhelming workload but once we got over the extensive work required, we were eager to roll our sleeves and play the game. Our least favorite aspect was that we felt it was too short for the amount of work it required.
7. What is the one lesson you took away from JFDI Discover that you think other founders should know too? (Why is it important?)
Our biggest lesson that made a huge difference in our strategy was the focus on traction channels and customers. Unlike other programs that use Lean Canvas, JFDI specifically emphasized the prime focus on early adaptors. This enabled us to change our target customers from SMEs to startups.
8. Where is your team planning to go from here?
From JFDI Discover we applied to JFDI Accelerate and was admitted to the cohort of 2015B.
9. Which resources do you look to for startup related advice? Have you read any books on startups?
We read Lean Startup, which primarily deals with the product and its development. JFDI Discover’s focus on early traction is more important at pre-seed stage, in our opinion.
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Thinking of starting your own business? JFDI Discover will help you find out if you really want to be an entrepreneur. It will reveal if your team is aligned to deliver results. And it will show you how to solve a real problem for customers who are willing to pay thus moving closer to a “problem-solution fit”.
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Cui-Lyn Huang is on the Editorial team for JFDI Asia. Currently pursuing a combined major in Computer Science & Journalism at Northeastern University in Boston, and after growing up on the little red dot. She loves to write, she loves to eat, and loves to write about eating.