StartUs Presents: MyBeeLine

Describe MyBeeLine in 50 words or less.

MyBeeLine is a beekeeping software and network that notifies beekeepers when the risk of getting diseases or swarming at their beehives is increasing. Besides that we show them steps that help them reduce those risks.

Why did you decide to pursue your own dreams rather than someone else’s?

I have skills and knowledge in information technologies with which I am able to make a software product, but I aim too high to just make it for someone else. I have always wanted to work on something that I will do with passion, something that I will love and will not make me feel like it’s just my job. My goal is to work on something that I won’t regret working on 15 hours a day, something which I’ll be proud of, and I can’t get that with working for someone else. This is the only way to do it, and together with my team we will make our dreams come true.

7 years from now: How did your startup change the world?

7 years from now MyBeeLine is a key player that together with the beekeepers will save the bees from extinction. That will allow our descendants to enjoy the benefits of fruits and vegetables, which are threatened with the extinction of bees. MyBeeLine is achieving this with a software product that is integrated with hardware devices which measure key factors in beehives, process data and give valuable information to beekeepeers. Beside that beekeepers use MyBeeLine as a network to share information with other beekeepers.

In what ways do you measure your success and how do you make sure you don’t lose track?

It’s not easy to measure success but we always ask ourselves, what do we want to accomplish with MyBeeLine? Since our primary goal is to make an impact in society with saving bees it’s logical that we look at the impact to measure our success. If we don’t make an impact and don’t change the way the beekeeping is recognized, our purpose will not be satisfied.

Describe your typical working day from coming to the office to leaving it.

We are not working a typical working day from 9 am to 5 pm so I will start with describing our day before we come to the office. Firstly, in the morning we go somewhere to have breakfast, then we sit down somewhere for a cup of coffee and make a plan of tasks needed to be done for that day. When we have tasks and a to-do list we go to the office and start working till our tasks for that day are fulfilled. That can be 2 pm, 5 pm or maybe 10 pm. We don’t care about the time, we just work until the to-do list is empty.

Already pivoted? Did customers use the new technologies for beekeeping like you imagined it in the beginning?

Yes, we pivoted a few times already. But we pivoted just with software features, not with purpose or goals that we have. It’s strange that a large percentage of beekeepers don’t use any technologies that could give them some advantages. They aren’t informed about new beekeeping technologies and that is the reason why aside from a software we are trying to build a community for them.

Bootstrapped or financed: What fuels your startup now and what will in the future?

Till now we are one hundred percent bootstrapped. The startup is fuelled with just big ambition, passion, and the desire to make an impact. In the future our fuels will be every beehive that we manage to save and every beekeeper with a few beehives more because of us. But on the finance side we have some capital that we use for our basic expenses.

With ferocious competition and a booming trend to build new companies: How do you make sure you don’t get lost in the shuffle?

I think it is important to be strong in hard times, and to not give up. But most entrepreneurs give up in hard times, why? Because they don’t have the passion and ambition to create a company that will grow like no other before. Passion is a must-have for every founder, but customers and customer development are a must-have for the product. If you have those two, chances of you giving up are a lot smaller. We have both so that will be the most valuable resource which will help us grow.

What do you look for in team members?

All members of our team are driven with passion and that is one of the first traits we are looking for. If you aren’t passionate about the cause you will give up and let down the entire team, which we don’t want. In our team we want strong and ambitious people who won’t give up in hard times. Also, I am looking for people who will take the initiative and make something alone if they think that it will help our startup to accomplish our goals.

Why would a talent join your team?

MyBeeLine is not just a software, MyBeeLine is a team of young, ambitious people that aim high. We aren’t just a company that is running for money, we plan to make the world a better place and we believe that we are on a good path. So why should a talent join our team? If you want to make something special, something memorable and to make an impact in society we are a great team for you and together we can do it faster and make our dream come true!

What was your most memorable moment so far?

During one customer interview beekeepers were so amazed by MyBeeLine that we got a comment that Facebook will be nothing next to us. That was so motivating to us that it encouraged us even more to work on it and make it a reality. To me that was one of the most memorable moments so far, but it’s not the only one, all team members have some moments that are special and memorable to them. But it’s just a beginning, we should actually start writing them down.

What advice would you give fellow founders for their startup?

Find yourself a great team, never try to start a startup alone because you will burn out and end up being lost. A startup is not just a hobby on which you should work when you have free time, it will become your lifestyle. And because of that you need great people in your team, people you will enjoy working and spending time with. Only together with them can you take your startup to the next level.

Besides that, you should talk to your potential customers long before you start making the product. From your customers you will get the most valuable information needed for further development.

And the last advice that I can give you is not to give up. You will fail, you will fail badly, but don’t lose faith. Learn from your mistakes and never give up.