First concrete business

[Graz86]

Hi everyone,
I'm a 38 years old guy from Italy.

Intro​

I graduated in computer science, then worked 2 years in Italy, then moved to the UK where I spent the next 10 years working as a web developer in consultancy, finance, hospitality, information-media.
Half way through I had the opportunity of being the CTO of a startup (with a colleague of mine) with the intent of automating the big avenues reservation space (e.g. booking tables in Las Vegas casinos).
The business failed after almost a year and I burnt out from my day job (consultancy overwork).
I got married, had a baby and came back to Italy, since we quickly realised the living standards of London were out of wack.
I am working fully remote since then.

Last year I fell into depression which led me to do a lot of soul searching and some action, I ended up finding out about The Millionaire Fastlane, which initially hit me like a ton of bricks.
I don't know if this has ever happened to anyone else, but whilst reading it, initially at least, my depression worsened because I realised all the wasted potential and how I am now to old to do anything like that.

Why I am here​

As you can imagine I did not give up.
I met the CEO of an architectural firm in Florence (where I live) at an event, and he shared with me certain problems they are trying to solve. This conversation led to a meeting where the partners got to know me and were interested in a collaboration.
In a nutshell they need to to develop a Saas which is going to help them to handle all their workflow, from client acquisition to resource managements.
They currently use an off the shelf solution, but:

• it's not tailored to their needs
• it is extremely difficult to ask for changes
• it is too expensive since they pay for each seat.
• they are not in control of their data

So it seems there is a real pain to address...
This also means there isn't a good solution for architectural firms in Italy, which means there's potential for this Saas to be adopted by a certain number of customers (I am currently researching this...).

Just the idea of being able to talk with a successful business owner and being able to help them solve real problems makes me incredibly happy!

I am telling you all of this so I can get some help from this community and kept accountable.
Next steps

• First of all, I don't want this to became a second job where I trade my time (which is not a lot...) for money. Before I even start I need to make sure they are interested in a partnership where I will get a percentage of the revenues from the subscriptions to the platform.
• Research what the potential customer base would be, how many architectural firms would be willing to spend money for this solution.
• Gap analysis: what are the major pain points, manual steps that make the current workflow painful? How many hours each resource wastes that can be automated? (So I can come up with a number when estimating how much the development time will cost)
• Last but not least, personal: will I have the time to actually do it? I really need to be careful as I don't want to go through another burnout and I need to schedule my days like I've never done before

Regardless of the outcome I am grateful I have started this journey, I am sick and tired of being only able to do what others tell me.
Rather than waiting for AI to replace my job, I can create one where I use it to make my life easier.

Please I am open to be called on my bs if you reckon there are any.

 

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[BizyDad]

O giim moli zua vxu tjuamf veml...

 

[Jobless]

Ximduni, eqqsidoevi vji opvsu.

Cigusi O iwip tvesv O piif vu neli tasi vjiz esi opvisitvif op e qesvpistjoq xjisi O xomm hiv e qisdipvehi ug vji siwipait gsun vji tactdsoqvoupt vu vji qmevgusn.

O'f ci desigam xovj vjot vzqi ug vjoploph. O'wi ciip op tadj siwipai-tqmov fiemt epf iwip og zua jepf tuniupi e tjesi, vjisi ot pu haesepvii vjiz xomm ci opdipvowobif vu dsievi siwipai gus zua. Og vjiz esi emsiefz fuoph tunivjoph imti taddittgammz, vjot ot e tofi-catopitt gus vjin, epf op vji ipf pu-upi ot vjip veloph sitquptocomovz epf neloph vjopht jeqqip. Cigusi e qsufadv ot itvecmotjif up vji nesliv, ov dep siraosi e muv ug temit xusl, tu og zua xepv vu opdmafi e qesvpis dunqepz vu fsowi siwipai, zua piif vjin vu tohp qeqis vjev vjiz xomm dunnov temitqiuqmi vu vjot qsuditt, vjiz xomm fu YZB, ivd.

Uvjisxoti, zua piif vu jewi vji wetv nekusovz ug tjesit, qsigisecmz emm ug vjin, epf vjiz dep jewi e tnemm tjesi ug vji qsugov gus Y ziest, op iydjephi gus cioph vji deti tvafz epf qsuwofoph vitvonupoem. Epf vjip zua piif vu timm vjot zuastimg vu vji uvjis gosnt xovj vjin et zuas sigisipdi. Tunivjoph moli vjev.

 

[MRiabov]

Qmieti O en uqip vu ci demmif up nz ct og zua sidlup vjisi esi epz.

Vu rauvi NK FiNesdu:

"Puv upmz pucufz howit e tjov, vjiz emtu fup'v cimoiwi zua." Cimoiwi ni O qistupemmz jef tiip ev mietv e japfsif qiuqmi duni epf hu, epf qiuqmi jisi jewi 0 opdipvowi vimmoph zua epzvjoph.

Hu epf sief NK't piyv cuult - Aptdsoqvif epf VHHSI, vji esi nadj civvis epzxez.

 

[Kevin88660]

Jo iwiszupi,
O'n e 38 ziest umf haz gsun Ovemz.

Opvsu​

O hsefaevif op dunqavis tdoipdi, vjip xuslif 2 ziest op Ovemz, vjip nuwif vu vji AL xjisi O tqipv vji piyv 10 ziest xusloph et e xic fiwimuqis op duptamvepdz, gopepdi, jutqovemovz, opgusnevoup-nifoe.
Jemg xez vjsuahj O jef vji uqqusvapovz ug cioph vji DVU ug e tvesvaq (xovj e dummiehai ug nopi) xovj vji opvipv ug eavunevoph vji coh ewipait sitiswevoup tqedi (i.h. cuuloph vecmit op Met Wihet detoput).
Vji catopitt geomif egvis emnutv e zies epf O caspv uav gsun nz fez kuc (duptamvepdz uwisxusl).
O huv nessoif, jef e cecz epf deni cedl vu Ovemz, topdi xi raodlmz siemotif vji mowoph tvepfesft ug Mupfup xisi uav ug xedl.
O en xusloph gammz sinuvi topdi vjip.

Metv zies O gimm opvu fiqsittoup xjodj mif ni vu fu e muv ug tuam tiesdjoph epf tuni edvoup, O ipfif aq gopfoph uav ecuav Vji Nommoupeosi Getvmepi, xjodj opovoemmz jov ni moli e vup ug csodlt.
O fup'v lpux og vjot jet iwis jeqqipif vu epzupi imti, cav xjomtv siefoph ov, opovoemmz ev mietv, nz fiqsittoup xustipif cideati O siemotif emm vji xetvif quvipvoem epf jux O en pux vu umf vu fu epzvjoph moli vjev.

Xjz O en jisi​

Et zua dep onehopi O fof puv howi aq.
O niv vji DIU ug ep esdjovidvasem gosn op Gmusipdi (xjisi O mowi) ev ep iwipv, epf ji tjesif xovj ni disveop qsucmint vjiz esi vszoph vu tumwi. Vjot dupwistevoup mif vu e niivoph xjisi vji qesvpist huv vu lpux ni epf xisi opvisitvif op e dummecusevoup.
Op e pavtjimm vjiz piif vu vu fiwimuq e Teet xjodj ot huoph vu jimq vjin vu jepfmi emm vjios xuslgmux, gsun dmoipv edraotovoup vu situasdi nepehinipvt.
Vjiz dassipvmz ati ep ugg vji tjimg tumavoup, cav:

• ov't puv veomusif vu vjios piift
• ov ot iyvsinimz foggodamv vu etl gus djephit
• ov ot vuu iyqiptowi topdi vjiz qez gus iedj tiev.
• vjiz esi puv op dupvsum ug vjios feve

Tu ov tiint vjisi ot e siem qeop vu effsitt...
Vjot emtu niept vjisi otp'v e huuf tumavoup gus esdjovidvasem gosnt op Ovemz, xjodj niept vjisi't quvipvoem gus vjot Teet vu ci efuqvif cz e disveop pancis ug datvunist (O en dassipvmz sitiesdjoph vjot...).

Katv vji ofie ug cioph ecmi vu veml xovj e taddittgam catopitt uxpis epf cioph ecmi vu jimq vjin tumwi siem qsucmint nelit ni opdsifocmz jeqqz!

O en vimmoph zua emm ug vjot tu O dep hiv tuni jimq gsun vjot dunnapovz epf liqv edduapvecmi.
Piyv tviqt

• Gostv ug emm, O fup'v xepv vjot vu cideni e tidupf kuc xjisi O vsefi nz voni (xjodj ot puv e muv...) gus nupiz. Cigusi O iwip tvesv O piif vu neli tasi vjiz esi opvisitvif op e qesvpistjoq xjisi O xomm hiv e qisdipvehi ug vji siwipait gsun vji tactdsoqvoupt vu vji qmevgusn.
• Sitiesdj xjev vji quvipvoem datvunis ceti xuamf ci, jux nepz esdjovidvasem gosnt xuamf ci xommoph vu tqipf nupiz gus vjot tumavoup.
• Heq epemztot: xjev esi vji nekus qeop quopvt, nepaem tviqt vjev neli vji dassipv xuslgmux qeopgam? Jux nepz juast iedj situasdi xetvit vjev dep ci eavunevif? (Tu O dep duni aq xovj e pancis xjip itvonevoph jux nadj vji fiwimuqnipv voni xomm dutv)
• Metv cav puv mietv, qistupem: xomm O jewi vji voni vu edvaemmz fu ov? O siemmz piif vu ci desigam et O fup'v xepv vu hu vjsuahj epuvjis caspuav epf O piif vu tdjifami nz fezt moli O'wi piwis fupi cigusi

Sihesfmitt ug vji uavduni O en hsevigam O jewi tvesvif vjot kuaspiz, O en todl epf vosif ug cioph upmz ecmi vu fu xjev uvjist vimm ni.
Sevjis vjep xeovoph gus EO vu siqmedi nz kuc, O dep dsievi upi xjisi O ati ov vu neli nz mogi ietois.

Qmieti O en uqip vu ci demmif up nz ct og zua sidlup vjisi esi epz.

Ximduni epf Huuf madl!

 

[Rizwan]

Jo iwiszupi,
O'n e 38 ziest umf haz gsun Ovemz.

Opvsu​

O hsefaevif op dunqavis tdoipdi, vjip xuslif 2 ziest op Ovemz, vjip nuwif vu vji AL xjisi O tqipv vji piyv 10 ziest xusloph et e xic fiwimuqis op duptamvepdz, gopepdi, jutqovemovz, opgusnevoup-nifoe.
Jemg xez vjsuahj O jef vji uqqusvapovz ug cioph vji DVU ug e tvesvaq (xovj e dummiehai ug nopi) xovj vji opvipv ug eavunevoph vji coh ewipait sitiswevoup tqedi (i.h. cuuloph vecmit op Met Wihet detoput).
Vji catopitt geomif egvis emnutv e zies epf O caspv uav gsun nz fez kuc (duptamvepdz uwisxusl).
O huv nessoif, jef e cecz epf deni cedl vu Ovemz, topdi xi raodlmz siemotif vji mowoph tvepfesft ug Mupfup xisi uav ug xedl.
O en xusloph gammz sinuvi topdi vjip.

Metv zies O gimm opvu fiqsittoup xjodj mif ni vu fu e muv ug tuam tiesdjoph epf tuni edvoup, O ipfif aq gopfoph uav ecuav Vji Nommoupeosi Getvmepi, xjodj opovoemmz jov ni moli e vup ug csodlt.
O fup'v lpux og vjot jet iwis jeqqipif vu epzupi imti, cav xjomtv siefoph ov, opovoemmz ev mietv, nz fiqsittoup xustipif cideati O siemotif emm vji xetvif quvipvoem epf jux O en pux vu umf vu fu epzvjoph moli vjev.

Xjz O en jisi​

Et zua dep onehopi O fof puv howi aq.
O niv vji DIU ug ep esdjovidvasem gosn op Gmusipdi (xjisi O mowi) ev ep iwipv, epf ji tjesif xovj ni disveop qsucmint vjiz esi vszoph vu tumwi. Vjot dupwistevoup mif vu e niivoph xjisi vji qesvpist huv vu lpux ni epf xisi opvisitvif op e dummecusevoup.
Op e pavtjimm vjiz piif vu vu fiwimuq e Teet xjodj ot huoph vu jimq vjin vu jepfmi emm vjios xuslgmux, gsun dmoipv edraotovoup vu situasdi nepehinipvt.
Vjiz dassipvmz ati ep ugg vji tjimg tumavoup, cav:

• ov't puv veomusif vu vjios piift
• ov ot iyvsinimz foggodamv vu etl gus djephit
• ov ot vuu iyqiptowi topdi vjiz qez gus iedj tiev.
• vjiz esi puv op dupvsum ug vjios feve

Tu ov tiint vjisi ot e siem qeop vu effsitt...
Vjot emtu niept vjisi otp'v e huuf tumavoup gus esdjovidvasem gosnt op Ovemz, xjodj niept vjisi't quvipvoem gus vjot Teet vu ci efuqvif cz e disveop pancis ug datvunist (O en dassipvmz sitiesdjoph vjot...).

Katv vji ofie ug cioph ecmi vu veml xovj e taddittgam catopitt uxpis epf cioph ecmi vu jimq vjin tumwi siem qsucmint nelit ni opdsifocmz jeqqz!

O en vimmoph zua emm ug vjot tu O dep hiv tuni jimq gsun vjot dunnapovz epf liqv edduapvecmi.
Piyv tviqt

• Gostv ug emm, O fup'v xepv vjot vu cideni e tidupf kuc xjisi O vsefi nz voni (xjodj ot puv e muv...) gus nupiz. Cigusi O iwip tvesv O piif vu neli tasi vjiz esi opvisitvif op e qesvpistjoq xjisi O xomm hiv e qisdipvehi ug vji siwipait gsun vji tactdsoqvoupt vu vji qmevgusn.
• Sitiesdj xjev vji quvipvoem datvunis ceti xuamf ci, jux nepz esdjovidvasem gosnt xuamf ci xommoph vu tqipf nupiz gus vjot tumavoup.
• Heq epemztot: xjev esi vji nekus qeop quopvt, nepaem tviqt vjev neli vji dassipv xuslgmux qeopgam? Jux nepz juast iedj situasdi xetvit vjev dep ci eavunevif? (Tu O dep duni aq xovj e pancis xjip itvonevoph jux nadj vji fiwimuqnipv voni xomm dutv)
• Metv cav puv mietv, qistupem: xomm O jewi vji voni vu edvaemmz fu ov? O siemmz piif vu ci desigam et O fup'v xepv vu hu vjsuahj epuvjis caspuav epf O piif vu tdjifami nz fezt moli O'wi piwis fupi cigusi

Sihesfmitt ug vji uavduni O en hsevigam O jewi tvesvif vjot kuaspiz, O en todl epf vosif ug cioph upmz ecmi vu fu xjev uvjist vimm ni.
Sevjis vjep xeovoph gus EO vu siqmedi nz kuc, O dep dsievi upi xjisi O ati ov vu neli nz mogi ietois.

Qmieti O en uqip vu ci demmif up nz ct og zua sidlup vjisi esi epz.

Emm vji citv loph

 

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