Dan Malone receives funding from Fingal Local enterprise
Pokemon Go hunters and Irish mammies have probably one thing in common. They both will have downloaded one of Dan Malone’s creative apps.
Dan Malone, established Mawla.io back in 2016, and is responsible for a mobile app to help Pokemon Go players find the elusive Ditto or Pikachui. He also developed the Elf Mail which many mothers will have used in the run up to Christmas . Dan has also worked with several startups including Intercom, Boxever and Openback. His new company has just received a cash injection from the Fingal Local enterprise Office
What led you to starting your business?
Age Bias As a recent enough grad I found it hard to be taken seriously in business. Only by working in startups led by younger people did I really feel like I was able to make an impact, these startups worked more like meritocracies there was less of an age bias but it was still there. This age bias gave me a chip on my shoulder to prove that skill is what matters and age has no place in the interview room.
Skills I found myself working for companies where my work was being sold for multiples of my yearly salary. I solo developed one project that brought the client in nearly half a million and is set to continue at that rate. The employers in these companies gave me little technical or project management support and spent more of their time getting in the way and delaying the projects. I found myself wondering - 'Why am I putting this buffer between myself and the customer, what am I afraid of?'
Risks I moved home before starting my business, I cut costs wherever I could, and I raised some buffer money. I had little to lose by trying it out. I made sure the company was set up in a way to insulate me from legal or financial risk. This helped keep things feeling safe and worthwhile. So with such little risk, why not?
So in short, I found myself with little risk, a chip on my shoulder and skills that were in demand. Why not try it?
What have been the biggest challenges in your business to date?
A pretty signification challenge was getting leads - Email, Call, Knock on doors. I spent too long waiting for business to come to me, and some of it actually did, but not much! The coffers started to dry up, I freaked out and started reaching out on Linkedin and any other platform I could, I had weeks packed up with meetings - and boy did it work!
Hiring is currently proving to be a bit of a challenge, I currently do most of my work from home, hiring someone would mean getting an office and getting back into the commute. So as well as the pain of finding someone now I've to readapt my lifestyle!
"Minimise risk, save up some money, think of a good idea. Then just do it. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
Have you benefitted from mentoring or networking?
Big time, I doubt i'd be here without my mentor. I found myself in a great business relationship with a client, he ran a similar business and was always open to questions and was an absolute sage when it came to advice. Networking is key in business, people always prefer to do business with someone they know or are referred to.
If you could start up all over again, would you do anything differently?
Do you have a story similar to Dan's? Can you relate to her experience on your entrepreneur journey? If so, please let us know in the comments section below!