“Starters have to run it themselves, they just need some guidance and inspiration along the way,” says Ivan Landen of JFDI Discover startup Blue Wireless.
1.Tell us about your startup and team – who are you, and what are you aiming to do?
I am Ivan Landen, the founder of Blue Wireless. We are aiming to make 3/4G WAN access for global enterprises simple and reliable.
2. What brought you to JFDI Discover?
Exploring the startup scene and realizing that running a business (which I have been doing for many years) is different than starting a business (which requires a different approach), which led me to join the JFDI Discover program.
3. Why did you start this business?
After working for service providers for 20 years, I felt it was time to start my own!
4. What were some of the challenges you faced before joining JFDI Discover?
My biggest challenges prior to JFDI Discover were having structurally putting together my business plan and value proposition.
5. How did JFDI Discover help your startup?
The JFDI Discover program provided me with the right tools, insights, and videos to help me during the process.
6. What is the one lesson you took away from JFDI Discover that you think other founders should know too?
Starting a business is different from running a business. A business model is more important than a business plan. You need to be successful before running out of resources.
7. Where is your team planning to go from here?
The next three months are about putting the POC together and getting sales and marketing up and running. Our target service launch date is January.
8. Which resources do you look to for startup related advice? Have you read any books on startups?
Primarily blogs, videos, and good old-fashioned conversation. Try to learn one new thing with every conversation you have.
9. Who would you recommend to Discover?
I would recommend JFDI Discover to anyone exploring a startup, as it forces you to ask the hard questions.
Thinking of starting your own business? JFDI Discover will help you find out if you really want to be an entrepreneur. It will reveal if your team is aligned to deliver results. And it will show you how to solve a real problem for customers who are willing to pay thus moving closer to a “problem-solution fit”.
—–
Cui-Lyn Huang is on the Editorial team for JFDI Asia. Currently pursuing a combined major in Computer Science & Journalism at Northeastern University in Boston, and after growing up on the little red dot. She loves to write, she loves to eat, and loves to write about eating.