Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley Stone, Founder of The Village App, located in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The Village App is building an intention economy where people show up and do good. We’ve eliminated the noise, toxicity, and addictiveness of social media and created a platform where people can ask for or offer help to their support network. Right now, we’ve been focused on individuals but are in the process of pivoting to support cause-based nonprofits and faith-based organizations so they can create community bonding with their members.
Tell us about yourself
When my surprise third pregnancy turned out to be twins, I needed a lot of hands-on help. I found there wasn’t a lack of people offering, but for me to actually ask or accept felt awkward and overwhelming. Current methods just didn’t serve my needs, and being a public health nurse for 13 years, I knew I wasn’t alone, so I set out to create something that would not only help me but everyone else who could benefit from an extra hand.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I come from a completely non-tech/non-business background. I mean, I was always the kid in class who could get the VCR working, but then tech took off, and I went in a different direction. I’d say my biggest accomplishment is learning all this on the fly. Two years ago, I didn’t know what a pitch deck was, and now I could probably teach a class on it.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing is not knowing if it’s going to work out. I have this crazy idea and have found these amazing people along, who truly believe in what I’m doing, and I obviously truly believe as well, but at the end of the day, I kinda think, “what am I doing?”
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Share your idea with anyone who will listen. Don’t worry; no one will steal it because it’s extremely hard to be a business owner. So get out there and tell the world. The feedback you’ll get is priceless.
- Be a forever learner. If you don’t know how to do something, learn it or find someone who does.
- Before you invest any money, do research and test it out if you can. Find scrappy was to slap something together and get feedback so when you do start to build, you know it’s the right thing.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thevillageapp.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevillageapp.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevillageapp.co/
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.
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