Can building community before product lead to more success?

My guest this week is Tessa Clarke, CEO of Olio.

In this episode, Tessa tells the story of how she grew an unassuming WhatsApp group into a community of over five million people. She also delves into how growing a volunteer base of 50,000 has both helped to grow her business, as well as improve her users’ experience. And, she gives tips on how her fellow female founders can level the playing field and stand out when looking for investment!

If you’re looking to learn more about growing a community, how to use and implement customer feedback on your product and tips for winning over investors, you’re in the right place.

Structure:

1:00 Introduction

1:30 How did Tessa go from 0 to a community of 5 million people.

2:30 How they used a survey to validate their idea

6:00 How they tested their idea through a Whatsapp group

7:30 Feedback from their WhatsApp group experiment

8:45 How they had a budget of £10 to reach people

9:45 How they used their customer feedback to build Olio

12:00 Startup book recommendations

12:44 How Tessa built her community from 0 to 5 million

14:30 How they built a community of volunteers

18:23 How they expanded their volunteering community to 50 thousand

19:35  Understanding that you might have to fire a volunteer

21:00 Tessa practical advice for female founders

26:00 Sin Bin

Books mentioned:

The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Link to Dana Kanze - https://www.ted.com/talks/dana_kanze_the_real_reason_female_entrepreneurs_get_less_funding?language=en

If you have a question that you would like answered, then email them over to my podcast producer Rosie at Rosie@stakester.com  #startup #businesstips #founder

If you want to join us on the show, then fill in the “Pitch to Us” form on the Back Yourself Show website!

This is your chance to get your interesting and innovative business in front of a global audience, where you can talk ‘growth and development’ with Tom Fairey: a founder who has been there and done that.

Website - http://backyourself.show/