the app bubble: does it exist?

.

THE APP BUBBLE:DOES IT EXIST?

Cory BolotskyDirector of Global Operations

Copyright © 2015 MassChallenge, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Cory BolotskyDirector of Global Operations

@bolotsky@MassChallenge


WHAT ISMASSCHALLENGE?


MassChallenge is the most startup-

friendly accelerator on the planet.

.

Mission: to catalyze a global startup renaissance

WHO WE ARE

MassChallenge is the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet. No equity and not-for-profit, we are obsessed

with helping entrepreneurs across any industry.

4 MONTHS

Mentorship & More

$1 M+

Cash Awards

$10 M+

In-Kind Support

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BENEFITS The startup accelerator connects innovators with supporters and resources

Finalists are matched with mentors and free resources

Concierge-like support to be provided for 128 startups

Office space, mentorship, press/media support and much more

ACCESSTraining and access to networks & resources

EXPERT MENTORS

CONCIERGE

OTHER BENEFITS

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• Expert judges identify highest impact, most viable startups

• Highest impact, most viable startups win awards

• Sponsors, partners, alumni are integrated into all stages

ACCELERATOR MODEL

Anyone can enter, from anywhere, with any startup

Acceleratefinalists

Prepare MassChallenge

Accept applications& prepare entrants

ENGAGE ALL PARTICIPANTS AND ALUMNI

2 ROUNDS OF JUDGING

JAN 2016

FEB 9

MAR 31

MAY 19 Prepare finalistsfor accelerator

FINAL JUDGING

FINAL CEREMONYNOV 2

OCT 13

2016 ACCELERATOR DATES

JUNE 20

If you plan to apply this year, use credit code

BOLOSKY16 to save 25% on the application fee.

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MISSION: TO CATALYZE A

STARTUP RENAISSANCE

GLOBALSCALE

MassChallenge is the largest-ever startup accelerator, and takes no equity

2,275 APPLICANT STARTUPS

65 COUNTRIES

$2M+CASH PRIZES

600+JUDGES & MENTORS

2015 NUMBERS

200+STARTUPS ACCELERATED

.

ALUMNI SUCCESS MassChallenge has shown outstanding results at higher scale than any other startup program

$1.1B+FUNDING RAISED

$520M+REVENUE GENERATED

6,500+JOBS CREATED

835 STARTUPS ACCELERATED


OF OUR 835 ALUMNI, A LOT OFTHEM ARE TECH APPS

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Think of the main street in the town your grew up in...

what will it look like in 20 years?

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THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT...


APPS ARE CHANGING OUR DAILY LIFE INTERACTIONS


LAUNDRY THE OLD WAY: ~2 hrs.

LAUNDRY WITH WASHIO: ~5 min.


DATING THE OLD WAY

DATING WITH TINDER


THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE

APPS...

IT’S WITH THE BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITY


I’d like to present 7 apps that I think have tackled the issues which determine the

difference between an app bubble and a positive impact on people’s lives.

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Stand out from Competition

Understand how you can stand out from the competition

Hotel Tonight • Focused on a unique user

experience in a crowded space

• Beautiful and simple design

• Very easy payment process using Apple Pay

• Adding new features like express check-in

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Find Market Opportunities

Find unique market opportunities and ways to differentiate

Mobistine• Creating healthcare apps

in the Arabic language

• Based in Ramallah, Palestine

• One of only a dozen pregnancy apps in Arabic

• Expanding to many similar apps with language as the differentiator

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Impact Users Lives

Think about how you are going to impact people’s daily lives

Capital One Wallet• Natural experience

integrated in a user’s daily life to provide comfort on finances

• Well designed and comprehensive

• Proactive experience

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Summly• 18 Months of building

• Acquired by Yahoo for $30M

• Aligned with Yahoo’s content business

• Many potential acquisition opportunities

• Started by a 17 year old

Understandyour Exit

Have a clear understanding of what your exit strategy is

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LTV > CAC Create a “sticky” experience so that you can retain users to keep LTV above CAC

Uber• Customer retention and

life time value is critical

• Focus on creating the best possible experience to gain customer loyalty

• Make sure you don’t overspend on marketing (CAC) when the experience isn’t sticky

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Avoid Demand Problems

Unless you have a killer plan, avoid the chicken-and-egg problem

The League• Created an exclusive

dating app with a market-by-market rollout on a waitlist

• Needed to build up inventory and demand on both sides before launch

• Captured user interest data following PR pre-launch to backfill demand

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Solve Existing Problems

Think of apps as a better way to solve an existing problem, not a tool to address a problem that doesn’t need to be solved

Venmo• Simple way to solve an

existing common problem without adding extra cost to the user

• Focused mainly on the single problem without adding too many additional features

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1. Understand how you can stand out from the competition

2. Find unique market opportunities and ways to differentiate

3. Think about how you are going to impact people’s daily lives

4. Have a clear understanding of what your exit strategy is

5. Create a “sticky” experience so that you can retain users to keep LTV above CAC

6. Unless you have a killer plan, avoid the chicken-and-egg problem

7. Think of apps as a better way to solve an existing problem, not a tool to address a problem that doesn’t need to be solved

How to be Above the App Bubble

If you are starting an app business, focus on having a positive impact on people’s lives or be part of the app bubble.


IF ENTREPRNEURS DON’T FOCUS ON THESE 7 POINTS, AN APP BUBBLE

COULD EXIST & BURST.

IF THEY DO FOCUS ON THESE IDEAS, NEW APPS COULD IMPACT OUR

LIVES IN POWERFUL WAYS.

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Q AThank you&

the app bubble: does it exist?

Business