Highperformr.ai The First Two Weeks of Our Startup Journey
Setting up our office, and early lessons from our fundraise odysse
Welcome, Friends! 👋
Join us on the thrilling journey of building Highperformr.ai, where we share our dilemmas, choices, and lessons learned.
With hearts brimming with excitement and a touch of nervousness, we'll take you through the days that followed our momentous announcement.
From the first keystrokes at the cleaning of our makeshift workstations to the present day, we'll regale you with the exhilarating moments, the unexpected, and the camaraderie that has shaped our startup's adventure into this world.
Let's dive in!
The Birth of CJO’s
Ah, the excitement was palpable even before the grand announcement of our product! Picture this: a cozy little office, a world away from the plush corridors of Freshworks, but oh-so-special because it was ours!
Before becoming co-founders, Sri and I discovered a hilarious secret identity we shared – that of the "CJO": Chief Janitorial Officers!
Yes, you heard it right! From lifting water bottles with finesse to performing floor-cleaning acrobatics, we hilariously embraced our roles.
Let us regale you with the comical tale of how two aspiring entrepreneurs dived headfirst into janitorial stardom at our makeshift office!
Nothing but Gratitude
On the 10th of July, a date now etched in our hearts, we walked into our new office with spirits soaring and hearts brimming with excitement.
As we gather with laughter and joy, we proudly introduce our brand —Highperformr.ai, to the world. Little did we anticipate that this moment would set ablaze a fire of progress and passion, propelling us into a whirlwind of exhilarating experiences and boundless possibilities.Â
Friends, colleagues, ex-colleagues, investors, and mentors have all raised their glasses to our audacity and dreams. We feel immensely fortunate to be surrounded by such a diverse and dynamic support network. Yet, amidst the familiar faces, we find a touch of magic in the unexpected connections. Strangers who stumbled upon our social posts have transformed into well-wishers, sending us kind words and warm wishes that have touched our hearts from afar. It's a humbling reminder of the boundless generosity that can flourish in the digital realm.
With hearts full of gratitude and eager eyes on the horizon, we're ready to take on the challenges ahead. The excitement fuels our progress, reminding us that this journey is not just ours alone; it's about the fantastic community that has placed their hopes and dreams in our hands.
The background story of our website reveal
The excitement reached a fever pitch on the eve of our much-anticipated launch announcement for highperformr.ai. Even as the last working day blurred into the weekend, we tirelessly worked through the nights to perfect every detail. The stage was set, and we were poised to unveil our masterpiece. But destiny had a different script in store for us.
As the clock struck midnight, the momentous day arrived. Anticipation hung in the air like a palpable mist. The website design was almost complete, and our messaging had been meticulously fine-tuned. The excitement was infectious, and we felt confident about the grand reveal that awaited us.
However, just as we were about to leap, a roadblock emerged—a minor yet significant glitch. The background image and graphics speed weren't up to our expectations, and the Beta registration form misbehaved. Panic momentarily set in, but we knew we couldn't let this moment slip away.
In an emergency call, we sought a solution. Framer.com came to the rescue, offering to redesign the website swiftly. We heaved a sigh of relief, but a new hurdle appeared. A watermark issue surfaced, and to resolve it, we decided to upgrade to a paid version of the tool. As fate would have it, card declines added a touch of suspense to the proceedings. However, just in the nick of time, a dormant Forex card proved our saving grace. With hearts racing, we entered the payment details and held our breaths.
Highperformr.ai was finally ready to take flight.
With cheers and gratitude, we clicked the button to go live. Over 200 signups for the beta trial poured in, validating our hard work and igniting our excitement for the adventure ahead. As we reveled in the moment, we couldn't help but reflect on the journey that led us to this point.
The path to this day had been exhilarating, filled with ups and downs, laughter, and challenges. But it was all worth it. Our website was now out there in the world, a testament to our passion, dedication, and relentless pursuit of our dream.
With the website launch behind us, the next adventure awaits—building the product that would revolutionize the world of performance management and empower businesses to thrive.
Stay tuned as we continue our thrilling journey, and be part of the unfolding story of highperformr.ai!
Beta signups are still open - join Highperformr.ai now!
Initial Plan: Focused Product Discussions and Investor Outreach
Both of us were determined to stay highly focused on our startup journey. We synchronized our calendars, allocating time for product discussions, distribution strategies, and reaching out to potential investors and venture capitalists.
As the first two days unfolded, we found ourselves fully immersed in captivating conversations with venture capitalists. It was an unexpectedly tiring yet immensely enriching experience. Each discussion brimmed with unique perspectives, all centered around the grand vision of building a successful startup—one that would stand the test of time, turning our dreams into a reality worth a hundred million dollars.
Embracing the Roadshow Calendar
Realizing that this was the opportune moment, we made a strategic decision. The following two weeks became a thrilling roadshow, filled with meetings with investors of various sizes—small, big, and large, based on their funding capacity. Every interaction inspired us as we delved into rich and meaningful discussions with each individual we met. Throughout the process, Paul Graham's insightful words resonated with us:
Fundraising is hard in both senses: hard like lifting a heavy weight, and hard like solving a puzzle. It's hard like lifting a weight because it's intrinsically hard to convince people to part with 10-year journey. That problem is irreducible; it should be hard
With unwavering determination, we recognized that fundraising was indeed a long-term game. We understand that those who might have passed on this opportunity will follow up with us once we demonstrate the traction. We are resolute in our mission to showcase a valuable product, an invaluable intellectual property, and an idea that would change the game. Our ultimate goal is to offer a product that would captivate the market and demonstrate a strong willingness to pay for its exceptional value.
The Power of Serendipity
In pursuing our life mission to raise funds for our startup, Highperformr.ai, we discovered that the universe had a way of conspiring to make it happen. This section of our journey unfolds with serendipitous encounters, where a single announcement across social media channels marked the beginning of a remarkable chain of events. As if guided by destiny, we were flooded with congratulatory messages and inquiries from partners, associates, and even prominent figures from various venture capital firms. Our calendars were soon overflowing with a delightful lineup of meetings, both virtual and in-person, igniting our passion and solidifying new friendships within the startup ecosystem.
A Single Announcement, A Wave of Opportunities: Our bold announcement about Highperformr.ai triggered an overwhelming response from our social media community, with over a dozen messages pouring in from partners, associates, and principal figures from VC firms expressing their keen interest in connecting with us. The outpouring of support set our calendars ablaze with exciting opportunities.
The Beauty of Personal Connections: Beyond the public announcements, the power of personal connections became evident. Friends and acquaintances reached out with warm wishes and offered to make valuable introductions to potential VCs. These connections quickly paved the way for an exciting lineup of meetings, each holding unique intrigue.
A Journey of Passion and Potential: As we embarked on this whirlwind of meetings, we were captivated by the genuine interest and passion investors showed in our startup. The potential of our idea resonated deeply with them, leading to multiple rounds of discussions that went beyond surface-level evaluations.
The Magic Beyond Funding: Amidst the pursuit of financial support, we discovered something truly magical in the startup ecosystem - a community that embraced us with open arms. Genuine friendships were formed, extending far beyond the scope of business interactions. We came to cherish the invaluable relationships we built, knowing they would stand the test of time.
Embracing Serendipity: Our journey illuminated the power of serendipity, where seemingly random encounters turned into life—changing opportunities. The alignment of the stars and the universe's conspiring hands led us to over 30 investors in a mere 10 days.
Reflecting on these serendipitous turns, we are grateful for the incredible community that has supported us.
5 Valuable Lessons from Engaging with VCs
1. Right Sizing for Success
The first lesson we learned was the importance of right-sizing our funding. Instead of raising excessive amounts of capital, we recognized the significance of raising only the amount necessary to navigate through the crucial initial stages of our venture. We understood that the real value lies in the growth potential of our startup, which would attract more significant investments from VCs. While having a sizeable amount in the bank may seem advantageous, we also acknowledged the pressure it could create, especially in a dynamic macro environment like the present.
2. Understanding the Investor Mindset
As we pitched our idea to investors, we realized they faced their dilemmas. Balancing the fear of missing out on a promising opportunity with the potential risks of hasty investments, VCs in the seed round closely evaluated startups with limited product development and revenue history. Understanding this mindset allowed us to tailor our pitches effectively and address their concerns head-on.
3. Seeking Clarity in Investor Meetings
Investor meetings can be generous with time and sometimes ambiguous in their outcomes. After each session, we swiftly learned the value of seeking clarity on the next steps. Promptly inquiring about the following course of action helped us gather more insights and set realistic expectations. While definitive answers may be rare, we quickly recognized that without a clear commitment, it was best to consider it a respectful decline.
4. Embracing Rigorous Evaluation by Eminent Investors
When considering potential investors, we identified a few eminent ones who could significantly add value to our startup. Although engaging with them might entail a more rigorous evaluation process, we appreciated the opportunity it provided to validate our ideas. Their thoughtful questioning challenged us to refine our concepts, fortifying our startup. We realized that investing time in these esteemed investors was often more rewarding than multiple meetings with others offering smaller investments.
5. Choosing Partners Over Investors
The most crucial aspect of raising funds was finding partners who believed in us as founders and the transformative potential of our startup. Meeting investors who offered financial support and demonstrated a genuine interest in our journey as entrepreneurs was truly rewarding. We cherished encounters where investors showcased their commitment to support us beyond financial backing. Such partners, willing to be by our side and lend a helping hand, proved to be invaluable assets in building our startup.
Conclusion
As we look back on the whirlwind of our first two weeks, we're grateful for the incredible support and encouragement we've received. From our cozy office beginnings to engaging with investors, each step has taught us invaluable lessons.
We've learned the significance of strategic fundraising, understanding investor mindsets, seeking clarity in meetings, and valuing partners over mere investors. The journey has been both challenging and exhilarating, but armed with this knowledge, we're more prepared than ever to take on the challenges that lie ahead.
Our journey has just begun, and we invite you to be part of our thrilling adventure. Highperformr.ai is not just a startup; it's a passionate mission to empower businesses with tools for growth, starting with social media management.
We're actively hiring a founding team of talented designers, full-stack engineers, content writers, and AI/ML engineers who are ready to join a small team of dope people working in a hybrid setup globally. If you're seeking meaningful equity, ownership, and a chance to witness how a startup is built from scratch from the inside, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Are you in? reach out to us @storcube or @rramesh25
Let's embark on this transformative journey together. Together, we will disrupt the incumbents and make an impactful mark in the social CRM space.
Until next time! 👋
—Sri & Ramesh