1 hr 10 min
3. Michael Schneider | Service (customer service automation) The Founder
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- Entrepreneurship
Michael Schneider is the Founder and CEO of Service.
After getting his start at USC building and selling custom websites, Michael has spent the last two decades as a serial tech entrepreneur. In 1998, he founded Fluidesign, an award winning interactive digital agency. He proceeded to launch nesting.com, a Facebook style site for moms to keep track of their busy lives and then Mobile Roadie, a Wordpress style platform that enabled users to inexpensively build and maintain mobile apps. With Mobile Roadie, he focused on the music industry and powered the apps for Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Drake and many others. In 2015, he launched his most recent venture, Service.
Service was designed as an automated solution to save you time and money as you travel. The platform connected to your inbox and automatically detected when an airline or hotel delayed or cancelled your reservation. Service would then reach out to the airline or hotel on your behalf, file a claim, and get you cash, points, or vouchers.
This will be a unique episode in the fact that Michael shut Service down just a few days after the interview was recorded. We talk about launching and growing the business as well as reasons for why it ultimately didn't work out.
Tune in to hear Michael's inspiring story and leave a review!
EPISODE TOPICS:
(2:16) What does Service look like today (mission, vision, products, team)? (3:35) What is your background and what were you working on before Service? (10:57) Where did the idea of Service come from? (14:21) What strategies did you use to spread the word about the Service early on? (20:29) What did the business model look like and how did it evolve? (22:10) Was there a demand inflection point and what were the marketing strategies that caused it? (25:48) What did the competitive landscape look like? (28:53) What was your approach to fundraising? (32:39) What criteria do you look for when you hire? (35:17) Why is the company shutting down? (40:11) How long ago did you start seeing the warning signs and what are some of the things you tried to keep the company running? (46:51) What would you say to other founders that are in the same position you were 6 months ago? (52:27) What is something you know now that you wish you knew? (59:47) What is your morning routine? (1:04:34) Michael's startup manifesto (1:07:23) Michael's founder nomination
Service - www.getservice.com
Michael's non-profit - www.streetsforall.org Follow Michael on LinkedIn // Instagram // Twitter Michael's learning and resource recommendations
The Founder - www.thefounderpod.com
Follow The Founder (@founderpodcast) on Instagram // Twitter // LinkedIn // Facebook
Don't have time to listen to the full episode? Read the 5-minute version here
Michael Schneider is the Founder and CEO of Service.
After getting his start at USC building and selling custom websites, Michael has spent the last two decades as a serial tech entrepreneur. In 1998, he founded Fluidesign, an award winning interactive digital agency. He proceeded to launch nesting.com, a Facebook style site for moms to keep track of their busy lives and then Mobile Roadie, a Wordpress style platform that enabled users to inexpensively build and maintain mobile apps. With Mobile Roadie, he focused on the music industry and powered the apps for Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Drake and many others. In 2015, he launched his most recent venture, Service.
Service was designed as an automated solution to save you time and money as you travel. The platform connected to your inbox and automatically detected when an airline or hotel delayed or cancelled your reservation. Service would then reach out to the airline or hotel on your behalf, file a claim, and get you cash, points, or vouchers.
This will be a unique episode in the fact that Michael shut Service down just a few days after the interview was recorded. We talk about launching and growing the business as well as reasons for why it ultimately didn't work out.
Tune in to hear Michael's inspiring story and leave a review!
EPISODE TOPICS:
(2:16) What does Service look like today (mission, vision, products, team)? (3:35) What is your background and what were you working on before Service? (10:57) Where did the idea of Service come from? (14:21) What strategies did you use to spread the word about the Service early on? (20:29) What did the business model look like and how did it evolve? (22:10) Was there a demand inflection point and what were the marketing strategies that caused it? (25:48) What did the competitive landscape look like? (28:53) What was your approach to fundraising? (32:39) What criteria do you look for when you hire? (35:17) Why is the company shutting down? (40:11) How long ago did you start seeing the warning signs and what are some of the things you tried to keep the company running? (46:51) What would you say to other founders that are in the same position you were 6 months ago? (52:27) What is something you know now that you wish you knew? (59:47) What is your morning routine? (1:04:34) Michael's startup manifesto (1:07:23) Michael's founder nomination
Service - www.getservice.com
Michael's non-profit - www.streetsforall.org Follow Michael on LinkedIn // Instagram // Twitter Michael's learning and resource recommendations
The Founder - www.thefounderpod.com
Follow The Founder (@founderpodcast) on Instagram // Twitter // LinkedIn // Facebook
Don't have time to listen to the full episode? Read the 5-minute version here
1 hr 10 min