Virtual Office Software Limited (VOSOFT)
Tell us what your business does?
VOSOFT is a start-up software company founded in 2019 to bring a new online Membership Management Software service (SUBSNINJA.COM) for small sports clubs to the market. SUBSNINJA.COM has been implemented in MVP as a competitively priced, easy to use SaaS application built to assist owners/managers to run their clubs more efficiently. Focusing on automating membership fee collection for clubs, it provides a members database with a carefully curated set of supporting admin functions integrated within a mobile first UI for vertical smartphone use.
Where did the idea for your business come from?
The idea sprang from the difficulty I had in in finding a suitable service to meet the basic billing and admin needs of a small club at a price point that would be feasible to consider. The membership management software services existing at the time, in my view, were geared more to the needs of larger business organizations, such as professional health clubs, fitness gyms or larger sporting organizations, are feature heavy, expensive, require significant hand-holding to setup and implement.
Have you always wanted to run your own business?
Yes
What planning did you do before you started up?
Once I was satisfied that there was a potentially significant niche to be exploited, I embarked on defining the requirement specification (goals & scope) for the MVP. From this exercise, I was able to define the other aspects needed to deliver the project including an estimate of time and cost. I then put in place some preliminary finance to bootstrap early development to get the project underway at the same time investigating potential supports.
Which entrepreneurs do you admire?
there are a few. but one stands out above all other for me and he is Jason Fried (CEO Basecamp)
What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
As SUBSNINJA.COM is an early start-up, we don’t have long and interesting story to tell yet, however, like many start-ups, we face a major challenge to raise seed-capital, but we have started the journey and are working hard to build traction in a very difficult environment which has impacted our customer base severely. (the majority of small clubs the world over are in shutdown and activity is at an un-precedented low). However this situation will improve over time and in this lull we are managing still to garner interest and customers which is very promising.
How have you promoted your business?
Until we secure the necessary seed-funding to engage a comprehensive advertising and marketing programmed, we are using all the skills we have to promote the product using SEO, SEP, social media and talking to influencers within each sector of our target market, with some success.
Where do you see the business in 3 years’ time?
Within three years we see the business growing to a level that we can present SUBSNINJA.COM as a credible candidate for significant first round investment.
What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
My advice is simple. “Go for it”. Don’t be put off by negative sentiment or the fear of failure. Failure is how you learn to succeed.
