Meet JB: Passion + Hustle + Strategy

Thanks to Tech.MN for the article outlining the Heroic opportunity.  We are in the process of closing our Seed financing and moving in to the Series A financing, which will allow the company to further develop the platform, and grow in to additional major U.S. markets. 

The opportunity is a rare one and we are excited to be solving a key problem for our customers: finding the right service provider is difficult.  This makes it a big problem for both sides of the equation: customers looking for the right provider, and the suppliers aiming to offer service.  Big problems like this equal big addressable markets.  In our case, a multi-billion dollar opportunity opportunity currently addressed by inadequate solutions.  

We believe wholeheartedly in making a product that our customers love.  Our technology, with the Hero Match algorithm, is going to remove the headaches and lack of transparency for the customer.  On the supply side, we are turning everyday citizens in to Heroes with a platform that makes sourcing new work a different type of experience. 

@JustinPBarrett

Heroic connects you with qualified, reliable people nearby that can provide what you need or want.  Last night, Minneapolis Linchpins, a group of bright, entrepreneurial-minded professionals driving to help growing businesses covered Heroic and generated a list of ways to use Heroic.  

Here were some of the group’s favorites: 

• Find a tutor for a class
• Get meals catered
• Set up a wireless router or other technology challenges
• Get a tour of a new city from a local
• Water softener salt purchase and delivery
• Source the best local babysitters
• Get a website created
• Find a DJ
• Get help with errands
• Lawn care
• Painting indoor and outdoor
• Fixing an emergency house or apartment 
• Transportation
• Ways to learn new things and new languages
• Shoveling
• Reoccurring grocery or errand deliveries
• Pick-up or drop-off dry cleaning
• Fix plumbing 
• Find the best local caterer 
• Limited concierge service
• Create business cards
• Develop a company logo 
• Learn an instrument
• Find a chess partner
• Groceries
• Travel assistance
• Help moving/loading a moving truck
• Picking up Target items

About the Job

As Community Development Manager, you will take a prominent role building the Heroic community, acting as a Heroic evangelist and building interest and excitement for the Heroic brand.  Heroic will be growing nationally beginning in 2012 and this person will take a key role in the development of local communities.  Charged with driving local demand, you will be responsible for the launch and growth of the Minneapolis/St Paul market along with a number of other key markets in 2012 and beyond. 

 Our goal is to bring people together locally to get things done, so that will be your primary drive.  We are focused on getting people to post tasks and driving those tasks all the way through completion.  You will work with the team to develop and execute strategies to move the needle in customer acquisition. 

 Responsibilities

• Build the Heroic Community (sign up Heroes)
• Develop creative marketing events and campaigns
• Represent Heroic with local outlets and events

 Requirements

• 1-3 years marketing or sales experience
• Solid experience building community growth

Opportunity

• Competitive pay plus option for equity and executive role
• Direct influence on a rapidly growing, innovative company
• Massive growth potential

How to Apply

Send cover letter, resume and proposal to Hello@HelloHeroic.com.

I hear it all the time.  Or at least something along these lines: With Craigslist, I have no idea who I’m dealing with.  We ran a survey recently and asked people about their experience with Craigslist.  The most common words used to describe hesitance towards CList were “creep” and “psychos.”  

There is no doubt, Craigslist is a powerful site.  And it gets the job done.  If you need to sell an old piece of furniture, chances are you can find a taker.  But, just who is on the other side?  Do you have any idea?  How do you work around this?  

I’m super curious about this, so I’ve been asking people.  For some items it seems, people just have to come to your house or apartment.  If you’re renting out your apartment or selling your TV, there is no way around it.  Otherwise, people seem to find neutral meeting places, like a Macy’s or parking lot.  

When I introduce Heroic, this issue resonates with most everyone I talk with.  With a world where everyone is connected and is sharing information online, why not bring that transparency to peer-to-peer transactions.  If I’m going to buy, sell or rent with someone in my community, I’d love to know a bit about their background, perhaps a rating with previous work history.  We’re building this in to take that mystery out.  More transparency, more trust. 

Putting together a business plan is an interesting process.  Overall, I think it’s really just the process in the end that makes it helpful.  Yes, the end result is a product that can be used for fundraising, but as a business owner you really need to think through the most critical issues of the business. 

I’m most motivated to act, which makes the planning process more difficult.  Getting ready and aiming before firing is important, as long as it doesn’t lead to paralysis.  And I think that’s really one of the true traits of an entrepreneur: the ability to take massive action.  That action really does need to take shape from sound strategy, which is why the planning process is so essential.

For me, it’s helped to have done this before.  In just the last few years, there have been some recent methods that I think are greatly improving the planning process.  The Lean Startup methodology, along with Steve Blank’s concepts in customer development, can change the game in how company’s get started.  Yes, the business plan is important, but some of his concepts really change how businesses might think about their product development model.

@JustinPBarrett

heroicblog:

Today Heroic was announced as a finalist for Project Skyway, a tech accelerator for software companies.  The program is held twice a year with 10 software companies from across the country.  We may or may not participate in the final program, however we are honored to make the list.  

We will keep you posted on our progress; needless to say the next few months are going to be a fun ride!

@JustinPBarrett

(Source: heroicblog)

My friend Zach shared this link saying, “I know you love start-ups and you love iphones.  Here’s both!” 

Awesome.