StartUs Presents: Wave App

Describe the Wave App in 50 or less words.

Wave App is an application which enables you to locate your contacts in a real-time and private map. It’s a tool that joins people, a tool that helps you meet with those you care of in real life.

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

Since I was little I’ve always loved and enjoyed reading and learning about successful people, about companies, about projects. I’ve always wanted to build things from scratch. That’s why we love imagining new things. That’s our dream. I would love to look back some time in the future and feel that we were able to create useful things for people, that we left back things that are still alive.

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

Wave pretends to change the way in which people find each other. No more calls, no more messages, just worlwide Waves and people using technology to join the people they care of easily and efficiently. That’s how Wave will make things better for the community. We want to join people in real life.

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

As I said before we love building things. The best feeling is when you see that what you have built is being used by people and that those users enjoy your product. That’s the best way to measure your success. Great ratings, great reviews, great growth. Measuring and following the growth we’ve had since we launched and the increasing engagement we are observing is just an amazing feeling. But work continues day after day. You can’t just stand still and watch things happening around you. You must keep pushing hard, improving your product. Every day is like a new battle. Success doesn’t knock on your door. You have to work for it.

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

A completely normal working day. If you think about it, it doesn’t depend on what you do, but on how you do it. We all receive and answer mails. We all make phone and skype calls. We all have meetings, partners, clients… It’s how you do all those things that makes the difference. The attitude. No matter what your duties are, do them as if there was nothing more essential for your company at that moment. I wake up early in the morning, I have a fast breakfast, I walk directly to the office, I do some newspaper reading and then I start solving things. Answering mails, daily calls with partners, investors, some press contacting, testing new features of the app. I normally work until 1.30pm and then I always try to do 1 hour running. I love running. Can’t live with out daily sports. I then normally eat with my partners and afternoons are normally spent trying to figure out new things between all of the team. Back home by 8pm normally. Even though some issues must still been solved once you get back.

Already pivoted? Did customers use the app like you imagined it in the beginning?

Not by the moment. The insight that surrounds Wave is completely alive, and the app follows the same core values it had when it was first imagined. We have rebuilt the platform 4 times from scratch already. But not because of pivoting. It was just about introducing new features, better design, better user experience and of course better technology.

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

It all started being bootstrapped. We built our first version while we were working in other projects. We used our remaining spare time to attach the first pieces of Wave. After the initial success of the app we were able to close an initial seed round and since then we have worked hard to become better, to become stronger. We hope to close our series A by spring 2016 to keep on fueling our company.

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

Aha! Good question. I don’t think there’s anyone out there that has the secret recipe for success. I feel that we are not brighter than other guys out there. I don’t want to depend on luck. So the sole thing that depends on us is work, hard work. Having great ideas without a great execution is of no use. Get up early, push hard, fall and get back up fast. I am convinced that many new companies depend on factors they can’t control. So focus yourself on those small things you can in fact control. Product is essential, focus on technology and give away quality things. Put effort in everything you do and you’ll have a better chance to excel from the rest.

What do you look for in team members?

Talent, open minds and passion for everything they do. Not more, not less.

Why would a talent join your team?

We just offer a blank paper to everyone who wants to make the journey. We shall be what we want to be. That’s what we always say. Come and build with us!

What was your most memorable moment so far?

Reaching our first 100.000 users. That was a beautiful moment. We are know looking for the 1.000.000 mark!

What advice would you give fellow founders for their startup?

Work hard, focus on your idea, and don’t let others change your direction. And if you are to fall, fall fast and stand up even faster. There’s no time to loose!

Have something else you want to tell? 

I would love people to try Wave. I am sure they are all gonna love it. It’s a must have app on every smartphone. So check it out!

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