We launched the initial SAAS version of mapEDU’s curriculum mapping platform in early 2021.

The basic thesis was that this new approach, which objectively analyzes actual course content to map the curriculum, would be a boon to higher education professionals seeking to better understand gaps and redundancies in their curriculum, prepare for accreditation, etc.

As part of the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship angel investing conference this year (AngelCon2021), we were introduced to Michael Allen – CEO and co-founder of SpinShot.

The Thrive Haus gang is very busy these days with the launch of mapEDU. Thus, these blog posts will be less frequent than they were in 2020.

The focus will be a bit different, too.

As we shared in our last post, Thrive Haus Consulting has re-oriented a bit to focus solely on mentoring, advising, and investing.

On the investing front, we are pleased to be involved with Tastry, Relentless, and WizeFi. All interesting companies based here in SLO.

Surprisingly, we have somehow managed to get even more involved with a SoCal based company – Sarcix (DBA mapEDU). Not only are we investors, but I somehow ended up as the CEO – and Kat is the Digital Brand Manager.

As 2020 (thankfully!) comes to a close, we’d like to give you an update on where Thrive Haus has been this year – and where we are going in 2021.

Kat and I have had a lot of fun forming the company, building a web presence, and meeting lots of new and interesting people.

This week, we want to take a closer look at another Relentless Management Group portfolio company: CheddrSuite.

CheddrSuite is a restaurant management software provider. It ties together all the disparate restaurant systems into one seamless, accessible interface. It is hosted, fully integrated and priced to be affordable for anyone from a single mom and pop location to larger chains.

We have not been blogging much lately about the pandemic – as there is a lot of information available on this topic. But, as a vaccine is on the horizon, and there is light at the end of the tunnel (though plenty of pain first) – we thought it might be helpful to explore where opportunity lies.

The CA Central Coast has lots of interesting start up activity.

The primary way this activity is funded is some combination of:

Family and Friends

Individual Angel Investors

We are going to end our series on The Flywheel Effect (at least for now) with an example of a perfectly balanced virtuous cycle.

WizeFi is a very interesting company.

When a first met founder Sean Allen, he made a very powerful pitch which centered on three key points.

So – I recently had a very fun conversation with Ryan Murtaugh and Nathan Brickman, two recent Cal Poly grads who have founded Bridge. Bridge is essentially a secure, vetted community for mental health professionals to connect, share referrals, access resources, etc.

This article is the start of The Flywheel Series. In this series I am going to take on a different business each week. Analyze their flywheel. And as a result, identify the key drivers they should be relentlessly focused on.

If you want to be successful in marketing, it’s essential to acquire a deep understanding of your customers. Beyond personas and reviews. Meet them where they’re at: at work, in their homes, or in the field as they use your products.

In general, early stage companies trying to grow revenues always struggle with the “shiny object syndrome”. What is this syndrome?

In our desperation for revenue, we “chase shiny objects.”

Dozuki’s story is not atypical.

A company called iFixIt was formed by a couple of CalPoly students in 2003. iFixIt was focused originally on selling parts to fix computers and has evolved into a full knowledge base site for fixing many things (while still selling the parts necessary to do the work).

An interesting conversation with Ryan Shepherd, founder of Databrook.io, got me thinking about how to launch new SAAS products.

The current “de facto” approach seems to be some variation on Eric Ries classic The Lean Startup model: build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as fast as you can, fail often, learn, repeat, then win. And then here is the whole genre of related materials about how to effectively learn from early adopters, adapt, and win.

As we previously explored, decisions are basically “bets.” We have assessed the information we have, and based on that information, our goals, etc. we place a bet. We bet that if we do “x,” then “y” will happen.

Back in the day, my partner (and Lightspeed System’s founder) Rob McCarthy would routinely challenge some assertion I or another member of our team would make by challenging us to bet on it. He’d then proceed to tape a $20 bill to his white board and write down the bet. He mostly won.

Guy Kawasaki has another great podcast episode titled: “How to product launch like a boss”

The core of his advice is this: “nobodies are the new somebodies.”

In other words, today with almost instant information, constant feedback from users, and smart phones in practically every pocket – the “buzz” (good or bad) from early testers/adopters of our product or service is the most important aspect of any launch.

Famous marketer Guy Kawasaki, at remarkablepeople.com, has lots of interesting content.

We recently stumbled upon a recent podcast re: surviving the pandemic. It is titled “The Art of Perseverance.”