Building #startups in public:
It took us 16 months to get to £1M ARR at @yourheights.
Here's some of the moments, milestones, things we tried and fails along the way....
(A thread)
....It all started with a newsletter (are you even a #startup if it doesn't start with one!?)
It took us 16 months to get to £1M ARR at @yourheights.
Here's some of the moments, milestones, things we tried and fails along the way....
(A thread)
....It all started with a newsletter (are you even a #startup if it doesn't start with one!?)
1. November 2019:
Started writing a newsletter (called Dawn) on what science says about taking care of your brain with the tagline
"Don't waste time with science. Let us do that for you".
Lols indeed.
trydawn.co - original site still live.
Mum liked it.
Started writing a newsletter (called Dawn) on what science says about taking care of your brain with the tagline
"Don't waste time with science. Let us do that for you".
Lols indeed.
trydawn.co - original site still live.
Mum liked it.
2. Built an audience engaging with our journey for over a year pre launch.
Product development with @TaraSwart and @SophieDietitian happened in the background developing our launch product.
Newsletter growth PAINFULLY SLOW but got to 3,000 weekly readers after 12 months...
Product development with @TaraSwart and @SophieDietitian happened in the background developing our launch product.
Newsletter growth PAINFULLY SLOW but got to 3,000 weekly readers after 12 months...
3. 6th Jan 2020
Launched our 'Smart Supplement'.
@stephenfry became one of our first customers signing up literally the day we went live.
Honoured and grateful he's still a customer 16 months on - and that is some brain to be feeding!
But I digress...
Back to the story.
Launched our 'Smart Supplement'.
@stephenfry became one of our first customers signing up literally the day we went live.
Honoured and grateful he's still a customer 16 months on - and that is some brain to be feeding!
But I digress...
Back to the story.
4. March 2020:
Hire founding team (after a month off sick with #covid).
We all agree the ONE METRIC THAT MATTERS (OMTM)
Retention.
The results?
Well... Stephen isn't the only one still around 16 months later! 😜
They're THE best in the industry because we focus hard on it.
Hire founding team (after a month off sick with #covid).
We all agree the ONE METRIC THAT MATTERS (OMTM)
Retention.
The results?
Well... Stephen isn't the only one still around 16 months later! 😜
They're THE best in the industry because we focus hard on it.
5. May 2020: Running out of money.
Start trying to pitch VCs/Angels on zoom but no one wants to invest because of a global pandemic or something.
Uh oh - no money to spend on ads, time to get creative.
Work From Home PDF goes viral
yourheights.com/wfh
That helps...
Start trying to pitch VCs/Angels on zoom but no one wants to invest because of a global pandemic or something.
Uh oh - no money to spend on ads, time to get creative.
Work From Home PDF goes viral
yourheights.com/wfh
That helps...
6. July 2020:
Realise that no one really understands what 'brain health and mental wellness company' means!
Brand purpose repositioning with team required.
We create and define the term 'Braincare' & launch our science trial.
yourheights.com/blog/the-heigh…
Realise that no one really understands what 'brain health and mental wellness company' means!
Brand purpose repositioning with team required.
We create and define the term 'Braincare' & launch our science trial.
yourheights.com/blog/the-heigh…
7. November 2020
Raise £2M seed round on @Seedrs - fastest ever for a health and wellness company.
Incredible investors like @chrissmalling @dhirajm, @millsustwo, @djbradfield, & lots of inspiring people who dont use twitter (they exist) join the round!
techcrunch.com/2021/01/28/hei…
Raise £2M seed round on @Seedrs - fastest ever for a health and wellness company.
Incredible investors like @chrissmalling @dhirajm, @millsustwo, @djbradfield, & lots of inspiring people who dont use twitter (they exist) join the round!
techcrunch.com/2021/01/28/hei…
8. December 2020:
Launch Braincare Podcast
Every Ep under 15 minutes.
59 episodes already released.
Amazing guests like @JayShettyIW, @Rhitrition, @damekellyholmes, @DocAmen, @sophiescott, @drchatterjeeuk, @nireyal & more.
link.chtbl.com/QE95PPIR
325k+ downloads so far...
Launch Braincare Podcast
Every Ep under 15 minutes.
59 episodes already released.
Amazing guests like @JayShettyIW, @Rhitrition, @damekellyholmes, @DocAmen, @sophiescott, @drchatterjeeuk, @nireyal & more.
link.chtbl.com/QE95PPIR
325k+ downloads so far...
9. March 2020
Braincare Club on @joinclubhouse reaches 40K+ members in 3 months thanks to amazing contributors like @JamieClements36, @MicaVaipan, @THEanxietyMD, and tons more people (who also dont use twitter it turns out!)
Join the club here:
joinclubhouse.com/club/braincare…
Braincare Club on @joinclubhouse reaches 40K+ members in 3 months thanks to amazing contributors like @JamieClements36, @MicaVaipan, @THEanxietyMD, and tons more people (who also dont use twitter it turns out!)
Join the club here:
joinclubhouse.com/club/braincare…
10. April 2020:
£1M ARR 🚀
Thanks to anyone on the journey with us so far!
Want to know how well you take care of your brain?
Take our free test & find out here: yourheights.com/brainhealth
Likes, comments, RTs welcome if you love to support #startups building in public!
£1M ARR 🚀
Thanks to anyone on the journey with us so far!
Want to know how well you take care of your brain?
Take our free test & find out here: yourheights.com/brainhealth
Likes, comments, RTs welcome if you love to support #startups building in public!
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