Huneu: Connecting People with Personalized Answers - The Entrepreneurial Journey of Michael Williams and Ben Watson

StartUp Columbus, Georgia sits down with Michael Williams (CEO) and Ben Watson (COO), co-founders of Huneu, an innovative app that connects people with personalized answers to their questions. Michael and Ben share their experiences and insights into their entrepreneurial journey, including how they came up with the idea for Huneu, their challenges, and their learnings. They also offer advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses.

Q: Tell us about yourself and your journey to entrepreneurship/business ownership.

A: Hi, I’m Michael Williams (CEO) and I’m Ben Watson (COO), and we are the co-founders of Huneu. Ever since I can remember, I've had a passion for entrepreneurship and dreamed of running my own business. After spending over 15 years in UX, product design, and marketing for large enterprises, I felt it was time to take the plunge and create something meaningful that could impact people worldwide. My journey began during the pandemic when I started learning guitar. I realized how challenging it could be to find immediate help when learning something new, and that's when the idea for Huneu struck me.

I reached out to my cousin Ben, who has a successful background in IT, and we formed a great partnership. With our complementary skills in technology, design, and marketing, we set out to create an app that instantly connects musicians with each other. However, we soon realized that the potential for this idea went far beyond just music. Huneu (pronounced "who knew") is all about connecting you to the right people with the right answer at the right time, providing a personalized experience that traditional search engines and AI can't match.

As for my educational background, I graduated from Georgia Southern in 2007 with a BFA in Graphic Design. My career began as a graphic designer at Char-Broil, and eventually, I transitioned into UX design. I'm currently the Principal UX Designer for a major Risk Solutions Provider.

Ben attended CSU for Communications but later switched to IT, focusing on System Architecture and Information Security. Leading large Development and Engineering teams provided him with valuable experience that benefited him during the Huneu development process.

Q: Can you give us some insight into your entrepreneurial experience?

A: While we may not have extensive "entrepreneurial experience," we like to think of ourselves as having entrepreneurial minds navigating the corporate world. Over the years, We’ve learned a great deal about scaling successful products while working at enterprise-level companies. We’ve also gained invaluable knowledge about UX, Technology, and Product Design through formal education and hands-on experience.

We started working on Huneu a couple of years ago, just as the most intense phase of the pandemic was subsiding. We've been bootstrapping our business, relying on our own funds and knowledge. Fortunately, we found two incredibly talented developers to help us create a working product. We realized that attracting investors is challenging without demonstrating that the technology works, so that's our current focus.

We're also grateful for the support of StartUp Columbus, especially Ben McMinn, who has been with us for the past two years. Through StartUp, we've participated in two pitch competitions (reaching the finals both times), and we've been able to use their well-equipped meeting space. We've also connected with other members of the Columbus community, receiving positive feedback from local leaders.

Q: What is the hardest lesson you have learned throughout your experience as an entrepreneur?

A: One of the hardest lessons Ben and I have learned as entrepreneurs is that things take time—often much more time than anticipated. Building a business is challenging, and I've encountered numerous unexpected hurdles along the way. However, perseverance has been crucial in helping us push through both breakthroughs and failures. Balancing family, friends, and life while pursuing my entrepreneurial dreams has required careful risk assessment, especially since both our families depend on us. Nevertheless, it's our families that keep us going and inspire us to persevere. We’re doing this not only for ourselves but for all of us.

Q: What are your greatest accomplishments earned throughout your experience as an entrepreneur?

A: Two accomplishments particularly stand out in our entrepreneurial journey. The first was when we pitched Huneu to the public for the first time during our second pitch competition with StartUp. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback, which was both exhilarating and nerve-racking. It felt amazing to have our idea recognized as more than just a casual concept, as we stood on stage discussing our business.

The second proud moment came when Huneu became a reality in the form of a functional prototype on our phones. Although it was a crude version, it worked, and that night was a truly triumphant one for the entire team.

Q: How has your business evolved since its inception?

A: Our business has come a long way since its inception two years ago, but we're just getting started! From a mere idea, we've managed to develop a clear vision for Huneu and distinguish it from competitors like Google, Reddit, or ChatGPT. We collaborated with SlideBean to create our initial pitch about a year and a half ago, and since then, it has evolved significantly, resonating with investors. In the past year, we've doubled our team size and plan to continue expanding in the future.

Q: Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when starting your business?

A: The hardest lesson we’ve learned throughout our experience as entrepreneurs is understanding the delicate balance between adopting best practices from larger companies and maintaining the agility and adaptability crucial for a startup. We've seen the challenges that can arise as large companies grow and have worked diligently to minimize or eliminate waste within our processes and technologies. While it's essential to avoid replicating heavy-handed approaches from larger companies, there are valuable best practices worth considering, especially in areas like Information Security, Compliance, and IT Scalability. Ensuring that your company remains agile and adaptable as it grows is a continuous challenge, but doing so will yield benefits throughout the life of your organization.

In hindsight, choosing a coding language that is more widely known and supported would have been beneficial. Although using Flutter to build our app has its advantages, finding the necessary resources can be challenging. It's also important to spend ample time pitching your story to others, gauging what excites them and what turns them off. Staying true to your original vision is crucial. While pivoting and exploring new opportunities can be tempting, it's important to ask yourself if the changes align with the company and product you initially set out to create. Remember that you know your business best and should consider this before embracing any new opportunities. Exercise caution when making changes to your company's identity and offerings, as such decisions should not be made hastily.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of your business? Do you have any hopes for our community's aspiring entrepreneurs?

A: Our hope for Huneu is that it becomes everyone's go-to app for questions that aren't suited for search engines or AI. We envision Huneu as a platform that fosters human-to-human interaction, promoting a community centered around learning, understanding, and acceptance. We aim to cut through the noise in the Q&A space by eliminating bots and bringing people together. We imagine Huneu facilitating interactions like this interview, with the entire StartUp community participating on the app. As for aspiring entrepreneurs in our community, I hope you never give up. Keep going, learning, and growing through both success and failure. Be great!

What advice would you give other entrepreneurs looking to take that leap of faith and find their ‘start?'

If you wake up every day dreaming about starting something and feel the urge to make a tangible change, my advice is to take the leap. Finding a partner who shares your passion for the idea can be incredibly motivating and keep you both pushing forward. Start talking to people about your ideas, as socializing them often leads to encouragement and support. Reach out to the right people, such as those at StartUp Columbus, to help you on your journey. So, if you believe in your idea and its potential, go for it and make your dreams a reality!

Q: What do you think makes Columbus an exceptional community for startups to thrive? How can our community better support entrepreneurs?

A: Columbus is an exceptional community for startups due to its family-friendly atmosphere and ability to attract talent. The city boasts a wealth of resources and funding, with established companies like WC Bradley, TSYS, and Aflac calling it home. It's time for fresh ideas to join these industry giants. Thanks to the rise of remote work, startups in Columbus can now tap into talent from around the world, making it an even more appealing hub for innovation and growth.

Michael and Ben's entrepreneurial journey with Huneu is a great example of the importance of perseverance, agility, and adaptability when launching a business. Their ability to pivot and adjust their approach as needed, as well as their collaborative partnership, have been key factors in their success. Their innovative idea for Huneu is a testament to the power of creative thinking and problem-solving, and serves as an inspiration for other aspiring entrepreneurs looking to bring their own ideas to life.

Be sure to visit Huneu.com to discover more about the app and join the waitlist for exclusive early access. Stay informed on the latest Huneu updates, including exciting news about the upcoming Kickstarter campaign.