How 3 Friends Turned Passion into $120K/Year Profit
Building a Sports Facility Empire: How Swift App Conquered Sports Tech
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How 3 Friends Turned Passion into $120K/Year Profit
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How 3 Friends Turned Passion into $120K/Year Profit
Three friends in Toronto, driven by their love for sports and coding, casually started a side project. Little did they know, this project would grow into Swift App, a $120K/year SaaS platform transforming sports facility management.
This story isn't just about building a successful software solution; it's a narrative of how an idea, nurtured by collaboration and innovation, became indispensable for sports facility owners.
Join us as we uncover the journey of Swift App, from its humble beginnings to becoming a key player in the tech industry, reshaping facility management with ingenuity and precision.
The Genesis of Swift App: A Legacy in Sports Meets Tech Innovation
In the heart of Toronto, nestled among the bustling cityscape, lies a hidden gem for sports enthusiasts, particularly those with a penchant for baseball. This is where Jeet Mehta's journey begins, intertwining the threads of sports legacy, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Jeet, a dynamic individual with roots deeply entrenched in sports, carries a legacy handed down through generations. His grandfather's cricket-playing days in India sowed the seeds of this legacy, blossoming further as his father ascended to professional cricket. This sporting backdrop was the canvas upon which Jeet's own story was painted, as he and his brother embraced cricket in Canada with fervor.
It was this profound connection to sports that serendipitously led Jeet to a revelation. While representing Canada in cricket at a tournament in St. Kitts in 2019, Jeet encountered a persistent problem plaguing sports facility owners. The owner of his training facility constantly grappled with the logistical nightmare of managing bookings and schedules, a task consuming his time and energy.
This problem intrigued Jeet. Despite the owner's efforts, including attempts at creating a digital solution, the issue persisted. It was a puzzle waiting to be solved, and Jeet, armed with his experience as a Product Manager at Shopify, alongside friends with engineering prowess from Toronto's tech scene, was ready to take on the challenge.
Their moment of epiphany arrived with a simple prototype, a Figma mockup that Jeet shared via WhatsApp. The immediate response from the facility owner, eagerly inquiring about the cost, was a revelation. Unlike their previous tech endeavors, where users balked at paywalls, here was a solution addressing a genuine need.
Thus was born Swift App, a digital solution crafted to ease the operational burdens of sports facility owners. Swift App wasn't just another software product; it was a tailored answer to a specific, real-world problem. It transformed the chaotic "factory floor" of indoor baseball facilities, with their long cages and bustling activity, into a streamlined, efficient enterprise.
Swift App offered more than just booking ease. It was a comprehensive tool for facility management, including staff scheduling, business reporting, and opening new revenue streams through online payments. The software resonated not only with the facility owners but also with their clients - the players, parents, and athletes, who now enjoyed the simplicity of one-click online bookings.
Jeet's venture swiftly rose to success, achieving $10K/month and profitability from its inception. It's a proof of the power of identifying a niche need and addressing it with precision and understanding.
Crafting a Digital Revolution in Sports Management: The Swift App Saga
It began with a simple, yet powerful tool: Figma. Here, the team crafted a mock prototype, a digital embodiment of their solution for managing sports facilities.
The first sign of success? A single customer willing to pay for their service, an achievement that brought both validation and invaluable insights. This early adopter was more than a customer; he was a collaborator, helping unearth bugs, suggesting features, and providing a deeper understanding of the sports facility management landscape.
Jeet's team, with their ears to the ground, soon discovered that baseball facilities across North America shared a similar layout and, presumably, similar challenges to those in cricket. Armed with this knowledge and a phone, they went on a journey, reaching out to local baseball facilities. This wasn't just cold calling (π Donβt miss the cold outreach tactic at the end of this post!); it was a mission to uncover the specific needs of these facility owners. The result? Four out of ten calls opened doors to meaningful conversations, laying the groundwork for what would become their minimum viable product (MVP).
Then came the building phase, marked by the quintessential hustle of early-stage startups. Nights turned into a blur of notebook sketches, coding marathons, and candid discussions. This period of intense creativity and dedication bore fruit in just a few months β a prototype ready to meet the world.
As the prototype took shape, so did their resolve. Jeet and his co-founders, embracing the full weight of their venture, left their jobs to pursue Swift App full-time. Their leap of faith coincided with the onset of the pandemic, a time of uncertainty that saw the closure of the facility that had sparked their journey. Yet, in the face of these challenges, they adapted and persevered.
The team's next strategic move was digital β a basic landing page complemented by a modest investment in online ads. This virtual front door, featuring a simple Calendly link, was more than a webpage; it was a bridge to potential customers, facilitating face-to-face interactions and product demonstrations.
Swift App's "launch" was unconventional, without fanfare or grand announcements. Instead, it was a series of product demos to baseball facility owners. The response? Overwhelmingly positive. The first paying customer wasn't just a financial milestone; it was a confirmation of the app's value and utility.
Financially, Swift App remained steadfastly bootstrapped. In a strategic move to conserve resources, the team relocated back home, leveraging the power of remote work β a decision that not only reduced costs but also resonated with the pandemic-induced shift in work culture.
Another pivotal moment in their journey was joining South Park Commons, a community of entrepreneurs. This network provided a haven for sharing experiences and challenges, fostering a sense of solidarity and collective wisdom among founders.
Swift App's Ascent: From Startup to Standout in the Tech Arena
From the moment Swift App launched, Jeet Mehta and his team went on a relentless quest to not only attract but also retain a growing customer base. Their journey, marked by strategic decisions and adaptive tactics, reflects a deep understanding of their market and an unwavering commitment to their product.
Early on, the team made a crucial discovery: sports facility owners, burdened by the operational complexities of their businesses, were more than willing to invest in a solution that genuinely made their lives easier. This insight was pivotal in shaping Swift App's pricing strategy. Steering away from the common pitfall of underpricing, the team recognized the value of their product and priced it accordingly, understanding that price is a critical lever in a business's long-term financial health.
Another key realization was the seasonal nature of their customers' businesses. Sports facilities experienced peaks during winter and summer, with lulls in spring and fall. This cyclical pattern influenced Swift App's outreach strategies and customer acquisition channels, aligning their efforts with the facilities' busiest periods.
The initial push for customer growth hinged on traditional outbound sales. This was a daunting task, especially for a team of engineers with no prior sales experience. However, through perseverance, practice, and helpful online resources like the YC Sales School, they transformed their hesitance into proficiency, eventually conducting over 30 sales calls a day.
Experimentation was at the heart of their growth strategy. The team explored various channels, from informal partnerships offering referral sources to referral programs that incentivized both existing and new customers. They engaged in online communities, leveraged social media advertising, and fine-tuned their approach through keyword optimization. Moreover, they invested in content creation, enhancing their SEO efforts to boost their online presence.
These diverse strategies propelled Swift App's growth by more than 50% month-over-month, embodying the notion that growth is a continuous, evolving process. The team understood that each stage of the company demanded different approaches and remained open to learning and adapting.
Today, Swift App stands as a profitable venture with impressive margins. Their customer acquisition cost varies but remains low, and given the product's integral role in their customers' daily operations, its lifetime value is substantial, estimated to be around $4,000.
Growth has been multifaceted, with the most significant channels being search (through regular blog posts and paid ads), word-of-mouth referrals, and active engagement in social media groups. Outbound sales, through calls and emails, also played a crucial role in their success (π Check out the cold outreach tactic at the end!).
Looking ahead, Swift App's immediate goal is to continue providing exceptional value to their facilities through product enhancements and customer support. In the long term, they aim to expand their software to other sports and verticals, eyeing the ambitious milestone of reaching seven figures in annual recurring revenue.
Building Swift App: A Journey of Teamwork, Tech, and Tenacity
One of the most profound realizations for the team was the inherent loneliness of starting a business. This solitude, often not understood by those outside the entrepreneurial sphere, led them to one of their wisest decisions: joining South Park Commons (SPC). This community, bustling with over 300 individuals on similar entrepreneurial paths but from varied backgrounds, became a crucial support system. It was a melting pot of ideas, advice, and potential collaborations, providing a sense of camaraderie and collective wisdom that proved invaluable.
Another vital practice that emerged organically was the concept of "emotion check-ins." With the onset of the pandemic making remote work the norm, the team faced the challenge of maintaining emotional connection and understanding through a digital medium. Recognizing the importance of team health, they dedicated time to openly discuss emotions, motivations, and collective directions. These check-ins became a cornerstone for navigating the highs and lows of their journey, keeping the team grounded and cohesive.
Interestingly, the teamβs approach to solution development bordered on what some might call naivety or luck. Instead of examining existing market solutions, they dove headfirst into building their product. This "blank slate" approach freed them from the constraints of existing paradigms, allowing them to innovate in ways previously untried. The result was a tool that stood out in the market for its unique value and functionality.
Navigating the Startup World with Innovation and Insight
When it came to the tools and platforms that formed the backbone of Swift App, the team relied on a suite of modern, efficient technologies. For payment processing, Stripe was their go-to choice, valued for its robust analytics and comprehensive documentation. Their tech stack comprised a blend of Vercel, NextJS, and vanilla React. They utilized Webflow for website management, Github for development, and Ahrefs for SEO. Sales tracking and management were handled through Close.io, while GSuite facilitated their communication needs. Internal communication was streamlined using Slack and Loom, with Tawk.to for customer chatbots and Sendgrid for mass email communications. Their social media presence spanned across X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, ensuring a broad digital footprint.
In their quest for knowledge and inspiration, the team turned to resources like the "My First Million" podcast. Hosted by successful entrepreneurs Sam Parr and Shaan Puri, the podcast was a goldmine of actionable insights and entertaining content. Another cornerstone of their intellectual arsenal was Peter Thiel's "Zero to One." This book, particularly relevant for those aiming to build VC-funded ventures, provided guidance on long-term strategy and the unconventional wisdom of avoiding competition.
Charting New Horizons: Swift App's Roadmap for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
At the core of their journey lies a truth, clichΓ© yet profound: the importance of identifying a problem worth solving. This philosophy guided Swift App from its inception. Jeet emphasizes the significance of focusing on problems that are not just nuisances but are substantial drains on time and resources.
The team's early days were spent not in hurried coding sessions, but in thoughtful deliberation, ensuring they were addressing a need where they could genuinely offer a solution ten times better than existing alternatives.
For those in software, and particularly those with a technical background, Jeet advises caution against the instinct to dive into building. This eagerness, while commendable, often overshadows the necessity of ensuring that the problem at hand is worth the investment, both financially and in terms of effort. It's a trap that many fall into, but one that Swift App skillfully avoided.
Another cornerstone of their strategy was the integration of growth with the product development process. Jeet and his team learned that building a business is an ever-evolving journey, not a destination. The product would never be "finished," as the landscape of customer needs and technological advancements is continually shifting. Embracing this mindset, they realized the importance of early and ongoing investment in growth channels like SEO, which require time and consistent effort to yield results. They acknowledged their initial oversight in this area as a lesson learned, a misstep they wouldn't repeat.
Perhaps the most crucial element in Swift App's story is the emphasis on building with the right people. Jeet reflects on the significance of this aspect, underscoring that the success of a company is as much about the product as it is about the team behind it. The people you choose to embark on this journey with will be your companions through the highest highs and the lowest lows of the entrepreneurial path. For Jeet and his co-founders, their strong pre-existing relationships formed the perfect foundation for their venture, making the decision to start Swift App together not just logical but also deeply fulfilling.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Jeet's journey with Swift App offers a roadmap - identify a significant problem, integrate growth into your building process, and most importantly, choose your team with care and foresight. In these lessons lie the seeds of potential success for any entrepreneurial venture.
Join Our Journey: Explore More Business Success Stories with Us
As you've journeyed with us through the remarkable story of Swift App, we hope you've found inspiration and insight in the experiences of Jeet Mehta and his team. Their path from a small-scale side project to a thriving $120K/year enterprise in the sports facility management sector is not just a business case study; it's a narrative filled with determination, innovation, and the power of strong partnerships.
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