Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Matt Rubin, Co-Founder and CEO of Arammu, located in Worcester, MA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a proactive relationship healthcare company. The current climate for relationship healthcare is one that leaves us on our own until we're in crisis. But more often than not, waiting until we're in crisis is waiting until it's too late. We don't operate that way with our bodies or teeth, yet when it comes to relationship health or mental health in general, we've accepted that we only seek treatment when we're in crisis. We aim to change that.
We sell primarily to mental health providers today. Our primary product is training that outlines the proactive relationship intervention, as well as training on our online platform that walks couples and providers through a clinically proven check-up process. It's quick, easy, and effective. Our goal for 2023 is to begin to sell directly to couples and connect them with Trained Arammu Providers so that anyone can get a check-up as easily as possible.
Tell us about yourself
When my wife and I decided to try to have children, her psychiatrist told her that she couldn't take her anxiety or depression medication while trying to get pregnant, while pregnant, and while breastfeeding. When we asked what else she could do to help with her diagnoses while in this phase of life, he basically shrugged his shoulders.
Luckily, I met my co-founders, Dr. Cordova and Dr. Gray. They had been doing research into proactive relationship health. The idea of treating our relationships, or our minds, the way we treat our bodies and teeth made so much sense to me. We do annual check-ups for our physical health, but mental health is only addressed when you're in crisis and oftentimes treated with a pill because it's quicker than identifying the root causes. Arammu can be the thing that changes the way we address mental health nationally and even internationally. We're beginning with relationship health, but we plan on doing so much more.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm very proud of the founding team we have in place. I've been a part of other startups and businesses with some less-than-ideal interpersonal relationships. I can't take full credit for the team. Most of it probably has to do with the fact that two of our co-founders are licensed therapists, so they're wonderful when it comes to dealing with the interpersonal complexities and emotional swings of a startup.
But we always talk about how business relationships are very similar to romantic ones in the sense that you need to communicate well, trust your partners, be aligned on the bigger picture, and so much more. It's hard enough to do that one-on-one with a significant other, let alone a company full of people. But I can't imagine a team better suited for this.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Taxes. Haha. The easy answer is that the emotional swings of an early-stage company are more extreme than any other experience I've had. So much is on the line, and so much is on your shoulders and your teammates' shoulders. The wins are moments of jubilant bliss, and the lows are dark and lonely. But that's the nature of the game; I expect this stuff by now, so it's been pretty easy to deal with.
The hardest part, at least for me, is that there are so many different taxes that vary from state to state. Since we're a remote team, we owe so many states so many different taxes. Since we're not physically in most of these states, we rely on state-run websites... which aren't always great. Some states, our payroll software can auto-pay, some it doesn't. Just a huge pain to have to do this stuff every month.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I've never been a fan of building a business you didn't know how to monetize. That seems like a terrible thing to try to have to figure out. You either need a stroke of genius, or you need to sell out to a degree, usually by essentially selling your user data. Know, or at least have a good idea of how you'll make money off of your idea.
It's cliché, but so many people will tell you it won't work or they don't get it. That's fine. You can't be everything to everyone. You also might just need to adjust how you talk about what you're doing. It's very easy to poke holes into something; it's harder to build. Take feedback and advice for what it is, and don't read too much into it. If you do, you'll never be able to even put together a pitch deck you're proud of.
Embrace your first followers. I can't credit for this one. There's a great Derek Sivers video on YouTube about a shirtless dancing guy. Watch it. But basically, those first customers, first employees, first anything are the most important people. Those are the people who are willing to believe and take a chance. You need to embrace them and cherish them as best as you can. Those are the people who will help you achieve your goals.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://arammu.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelationshipCheckup
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relationshipcheckup/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgrubin/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.