We Make Waves

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Kunye Financial. We are a fintech company that seeks to secure the financial well-being of geographically displaced families.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with We Make Waves?

We worked with We Make Waves in early 2020 and, at that time, we were trying to validate aspects of our market and create a proof of concept (POC) that would help us do that. I needed a prototype that I could use to communicate to potential investors and end-users.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We reviewed the main business canvas together. After that, we got an initial understanding of the business, and We Make Waves helped me identify any gaps that I had missed in how I thought about the problem from a technology perspective.

I was the sole founder at that point, and since I don’t come from a technological background, I needed We Make Waves to help me with all the technological pieces that I couldn’t do. Part of that support involved doing a risk assessment. 

The project was being released from a technological piece. We Make Waves’ team came up with a mitigation plan for the specifics they saw in the business from a technical perspective and a POC piece.

To do the prototyping, we did story mapping, which I had never done before. They walked me through the story mapping process together step by step, and we did it in a series of meetings, which was really nice. 

We Make Waves helped me visualize what I wanted my product to look like and the project’s scope. They helped me think about what I could conceivably provide in that MVP stage, and create a development roadmap and determine the costs associated with developing the product.

The last thing that We Make Waves helped me with was to have a clickable prototype, which is what I ultimately wanted. I could show other people what the product would look and feel like, and they provided that prototype.

What is the team composition?

I worked with the three co-founders of We Make Waves.

How did you come to work with We Make Waves?

The work that We Make Waves did for me was facilitated by a grant through another organization. The organization worked with specific partners and had some organizations that they suggested. I took a look at the different ones they had suggested, and I liked We Make Waves because they had experience in building financial technology platforms.

They looked like they had a wealth of experience just in general from a product development aspect and working with startups, which was vital. I needed someone who would understand the part of the journey that I was on, and they had that specific experience, which was crucial for me.

How much have you invested in them?

The cost of the project was £15,000 (approximately $21,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

The partnership started in February 2020, and the project was completed in September 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I used their work to help me win a pitch competition. I was able to pitch using the prototype and shared it with potential users to do testing and understand their needs. Not only that, but I used the POC for two rounds and, based on the results, I did a survey and conducted interviews with 60 customers.

How did We Make Waves perform from a project management standpoint?

We Make Waves did amazing work, and they were fantastic at managing the project. From the beginning, they were very clear about determining the outcomes and timelines. They set meetings in advance to keep things on time — they were brilliant. We communicated through email, Zoom, and in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What made them different from other providers is that their clients were working directly with the company’s owners. They had an interest in the outcome that they put on the table. Clients received their full attention and the full experience of the whole team instead of just part of the team.

Their dedication to their work was much higher than other teams. They were also entrepreneurs, so they truly understood the entrepreneurial journey, and they wanted to help as best as they could.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You need to know what you want out of the relationship. Be clear about your business model because that will help them better understand your business needs, especially if you already have research to support what you are doing.

I had a white paper and some customer research that I shared to help them better understand my business model. In a sense, they aren’t a separate part of your business; their work is critical to your ability to move forward, so it is good to see them as partners rather than consultants.