Schateen is a global app that connects users from all over the world. It is an innovative way to meet new people and begin new conversations.
Founder, Herberth Vargas
Name: Schateen
Location: Colombia
Website: http://www.schateen.com/
Product / Service Offering: Networking App
Founder Interviewed: Herberth Vargas
This article is part of our Business Startup Spotlight series featuring entrepreneurs and their companies. We hope that these founders’ interviews will inspire and motivate you as you undertake your own entrepreneurial journey.
Tell us a little about yourself with a focus on what motivates you.
My motivation is to create something big that can impact the world. Globally, people need an effective and innovative way to meet new people. Schateen provides a platform for customers to meet new people and begin new conversations, whether your intention is dating or not.
Are You an Entrepreneur or Wantrepreneur?
When did you establish your company and where did the idea originate?
I established Schateen in 2016. The idea originated when I saw an opportunity on the market for an application to meet new people.
What need or needs does your company seek to fill for its customers?
Customers use Schateen as a platform to meet nice people either in your country or in any country in the world.
What is the one thing that sets your company apart from its competitors?
I have created an automatic system to detect fake or dangerous people. Established community sites like Badoo, Skout or MeetMe are full of fake accounts and dangerous people. Schateen’s system prevents these issues.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while getting your company up and running, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge that I faced was to know how to start. It was difficult, because I had no experience with startups. I made many mistakes. It is very frustrating, but you have to continue. Do not give up! I overcame this challenge, because I was dedicated to Schateen.
What resources have you utilized that other founders might find compelling or useful?
I read many articles on Internet. I read articles by Paul Graham, Jessica Livingston, YCombinator, and Sam Altman.
What steps have you taken to secure funding for your company and what, if anything, would you do differently if you had to start over?
My funding came from my family. It was enough to start and to create a minimum viable product.
I would not do anything differently. Before I began the startup, I thought very much about what I needed for starting. One option was to go an incubator, but that was a little hard for me, because I do not have a co-founder. A co-founder is necessary for applying to an incubator. Additionally, I felt that I would focus more working in my bedroom than in an incubator. All the tips that I needed were on the Internet.
Incubators & Accelerators: Which Best Fits Your Needs?
What questions have you had as an entrepreneur of a fledgling startup that you had a particularly hard time finding the answers to?
The only hard question was how to create a good product. This is the most important and hard question to resolve. All successful startups have to resolve this question first.
After a couple of years, I learned the answer. User experience matters most. It is necessary to use the feedback from your users to improve your product. After much iteration, you will get a good product. With a good product, you can create a successful startup.
Key to Startup Success: Customer Discovery
What challenges, if any, are you grappling with?
The biggest challenge for Schateen is to grow the user base. It is necessary to start growth in one country, because most people want to meet people from their same country. To get people from another country to join, it is necessary to have a marketing budget. There are some users from different countries, but tt is hard to retain them. If Schateen customers do not find other people from their country, they will not use the app.
What is the most helpful tip or “hack” you’ve ever learned, stumbled across, or been given?
The most helpful tip I have received is to have a technique and strategy for anything that you do. Luck alone will not deliver great results. Improve little by little.
Conceptual Thinking is the Essence of Strategy: How You Think Matters
Is there anything else you would like to share about your company?
I am open to receive any help that the people want to give.
Are you familiar with other startups you believe should be spotlighted? If so, we would like to hear from you. Tell us about them in the comments below!
Sandra Sloan
Sandra has previous supply chain and business operations experience which she is leveraging as an author with FundingSage focused on spotlighting entrepreneurs and their startup efforts.
