Jason Rosado is a bit of a romantic. A business romantic that is. Having worked in the private sector for most of his career, he is now among a new generation of entrepreneurs who want to use technology and mobile applications to help people, help each other. Rosado is the founder of the Givkwik iPhone app (short for ‘giving quickly’) is a mobile tool where anyone can give, people can give together and it’s fun and easy to do.
“We’re building a business that makes it possible for people like me, someone who didn’t have money growing up but who still wanted to make a difference in the world, to pay it forward. We want to make giving so easy, that you can weave giving into other online interactions like reading articles or playing games,” Rosado said. “Giving should keep you engaged, not take you away from what you were doing. It should be where you are, as close as possible to your feeling of YES as it can be.”
Having worked for nearly 15 years in banking and e-commerce, the 39-year old Puerto Rican from the Bronx is used to sitting in on conversations where he is among a small group, if not the only, person of color. Still it can be challenging trying to convince investors, most of whom are not Latino, that philanthropy is a universal impulse across incomes and cultures. “It’s teaching people with lots of money that people with less money also like to help people with their money,” Rosado explained. “There’s a level of connectivity, especially in Latino cultures, of helping your fellow man and feeding your friend’s kids, too.”
The response to GivKwik has been phenomenal so far. In two years, the GivKwik app has gone from an idea developed during after work hours to getting several rounds of seed funding and an offer to work out of a business accelerator program in Silicon Valley. After tweaking their marketing strategy and signing their first revenue-generating deal, the team is set to release an updated version of Givkwik focused on connecting consumers who like to give to nonprofits needing money and businesses that need help marketing.
For Rosado, every aspect of building a company is a rewarding opportunity to grow and do some good. “Going from vision to execution and validation is an ongoing process, especially when you’re trying to introduce new better, cheaper and faster ways to give,” he reflected. “Learning every day and putting yourself out there to push your product and your company is equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.” He advises people who are looking to build an app and/or start a business to spend the time thinking it through, starting from the basic concept. “Lots of people focus first on what an app could help you do, but not how it achieves that, from the inside out,” Rosado said. “It’s hard and persistent work and if you’re not willing or able to be patient and relentless at the same, then it’s not for you.”
If you’ve still got the impulse to launch your own tech business, Rosado shared some of what his daily life as a tech entrepreneur is really like…
The Good
Following your dream and being surrounded by people who want to see you succeed is probably the best aspect of Rosado’s job. “Meeting people to talk about my company is still a thrill,” Rosado said. “I get very passionate about it and have been invited to talk to a variety of audiences about my experiences from local high schools to banking symposiums to grad schools. I’ve gotten great feedback on the idea and positive encouragement.”
The Bad
No matter how good the idea or spectacular the team you are surrounded by, launching any business from the ground up is more than just hard work. It means giving things up, at least for the moment. Rosado’s sacrifice involved trading a blossoming banking career and the paycheck that went with it. It has meant moving away from wife and in with his father-in-law to be in the center of the tech world, San Francisco. “It’s meant being less social, having less disposable income and eating home more just to save money. All for the business.”
The Ugly
The extreme exhaustion that accompanies this leap of faith can push anyone to a breaking point. On some days, just surviving the day is victory. But when that happens, Rosado remembers not only all the people that have helped him along the way, but also the people whose lives could possibly change if his app is successful. “Startup life is a marathon not a sprint, and it’s when you are most exhausted that you need to run harder and faster.”
Resources
Want to turn that tech idea into a reality? Here are a few helpful starting points to learn the basics of programming and software development:
Programming: Learningprocessing.org or Codecademy
Software Development: StackOverflow.com
Rosado also says that his Master’s in Interactive Telecommunications from NYU has been very helpful. “That’s a great program for people who want to learn how to be creative and collaborative using technology.”
Keep up with Givkwik on Twitter: @givkwik
Image courtesy of subject