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I’ve been cracking a new way to start companies this year...
I used to work my face off starting companies. It’s a TON of work.
Now, I have a simple formula
Example: I just launched Mailman ( http://mailmanhq.com )
I spent about 5 hours on it
Here’s how I did it...
I used to work my face off starting companies. It’s a TON of work.
Now, I have a simple formula
Example: I just launched Mailman ( http://mailmanhq.com )
I spent about 5 hours on it
Here’s how I did it...
I always start with a problem. In this case, it was that my nightmarish email inbox kept filling up 
As I’d send emails, new ones would constantly stream in and I’d end up spending my entire day in my email instead of focusing on deep work
I had a eureka moment when...
As I’d send emails, new ones would constantly stream in and I’d end up spending my entire day in my email instead of focusing on deep work
I had a eureka moment when...
I asked my Dad “how did you deal with this before email? When all these were letters?”
He responded: “The mailman only came once a day! You just sat down, responded to your letters, then didn’t think about mail for the rest of the day”.
And so the idea for @Mailman_HQ was born
He responded: “The mailman only came once a day! You just sat down, responded to your letters, then didn’t think about mail for the rest of the day”.
And so the idea for @Mailman_HQ was born
I needed to slow my email down 
Calm my inbox
Only get email a few times a day—like an old school mailman,
Scratching the itch, I tweeted about it in February: https://twitter.com/awilkinson/status/1229451446082555904
Calm my inbox
Only get email a few times a day—like an old school mailman,
Scratching the itch, I tweeted about it in February: https://twitter.com/awilkinson/status/1229451446082555904
A developer named @mohitmamoria messaged me.
He wanted to build it together.
We quickly emailed and negotiated a deal:
He would become CEO, get a sizeable equity stake, and salary.
I would help ideate and provide all the financial resources and contractors he needed.
He wanted to build it together.
We quickly emailed and negotiated a deal:
He would become CEO, get a sizeable equity stake, and salary.
I would help ideate and provide all the financial resources and contractors he needed.
We never even spoke on the phone.
Here’s what I did next:
Intro’d him to @z1digitalstudio to handle design.
Intro’d him to DoubleUp ( http://doubleup.agency ) to handle marketing/launch.
Intro’d him to a Pilothouse ( http://pilothouse.com ) to handle PPC.
Here’s what I did next:
Intro’d him to @z1digitalstudio to handle design. Intro’d him to DoubleUp ( http://doubleup.agency ) to handle marketing/launch. Intro’d him to a Pilothouse ( http://pilothouse.com ) to handle PPC.
Mohit and I would text every few days, as the product evolved.
I was Mailman’s first power user and was constantly sending feedback.
We quickly realized there were a few key Jobs To Be Done:
Slow down the rate of responses to create time for deep work (deliver email less)
I was Mailman’s first power user and was constantly sending feedback.
We quickly realized there were a few key Jobs To Be Done:
Slow down the rate of responses to create time for deep work (deliver email less)
Provide a break from email (Do Not Disturb on weekends, evenings, etc) Only show the important stuff (Email Digesting from senders we don’t recognize - like Sanebox, which I’d used for years) Make sure people see the super important stuff immediately (VIP list/domains)
From February, when we started building, to our launch last week, I spent about $100,000 funding the company.
I paid for salaries, contractors, advertising, accounting, etc.
I paid for salaries, contractors, advertising, accounting, etc.
Other than my money, my personal time commitment was:
- 4-5 hours giving feedback via iMessage and email
- Tweeting about it
That’s it.
I came up with the idea...
- 4-5 hours giving feedback via iMessage and email
- Tweeting about it
That’s it.
I came up with the idea...
Assembled a great team.
Funded them.
Gave feedback as needed.
They did everything else. From initial beta to launch, I just helped around the edges.
It’s the Pareto approach to starting a business.
20% of the effort for 80% of the result.
Funded them.
Gave feedback as needed.
They did everything else. From initial beta to launch, I just helped around the edges.
It’s the Pareto approach to starting a business.
20% of the effort for 80% of the result.
I did the same thing with @BuyerInc this year too.
Is it as sexy and exciting as being a @Ycombinator founder?
Of course not.
And I wouldn’t have been able to do it without some startup capital + ability to let go/delegate + a good network of trusted contractors...
Is it as sexy and exciting as being a @Ycombinator founder?
Of course not.
And I wouldn’t have been able to do it without some startup capital + ability to let go/delegate + a good network of trusted contractors...
But if you can assemble those things, there’s no reason you can’t start a simple company in 5-10 hours.
It’s a great way to follow-through on an idea without getting distracted from your core business. In my case, acquiring more great internet businesses at Tiny.
It’s a great way to follow-through on an idea without getting distracted from your core business. In my case, acquiring more great internet businesses at Tiny.
