Introducing New Brunswick Startup: Yimbie
With Propel ICT’s Demo Day coming up on June 21 in Halifax, we’re chatting with all of the New Brunswick companies who will be pitching at the Neptune Theatre.
Today we meet Cheryl Willson, CEO and CoFounder of Saint John-based Yimbie.
1) What’s your pitch?
Yimbie’s goal is to be the platform of choice for interconnect cities worldwide. We match users with the products, services, and events they enjoy whether they’re in their own community or a new one.
The average person sees over 5,000 pieces of information a day, but only notices about 11 per cent of that. Yimbie will help weed out the stuff you don’t want while focusing on the things you like. The more you use the Yimbie the more it adapts to you. The best part, no searching info is automatically sent to your smartphone! Yimbie is a city-wide app that connects users with the products, services, or events they enjoy when they’re only steps away. It is great for small/medium size businesses too as it gives them their own branded app once the customer is near. This is when tailored services will kick in. For example, you’ll be alerted when you’re close to a style of shoe you like, preorder your daily coffee, lunch, or dinner as you walk. These are functions of Yimbie, but we know it has to be fun too and that’s why we’re building city wide interactive gamification elements to help guide you in engaging ways.
2) What’s your story?
Yimbie was created out of our frustration of not being able to find what we’re looking for in stores, my desire for self-service and avoiding line ups…even today, if a line up is too long I’ll put whatever it is back and walk out I just don’t have the time to wait around and I’m not alone. 41 per cent of people will abandon items, while 86 per cent avoid stores all together if they think there will be a line up. We want to help provide a seamless experience for users.
I’ve worked with many wonderful people in my lifetime, but it was time for me to make a significant change. When I started learning about IoT (Internet of Things) devices I couldn’t rest. Technology is expanding exponentially and Yimbie wants a big part of it by supporting interconnected cities. Yimbie is a team of three. Terry Sznober, CTO, has over 20 years of experience. Terry has lived from the east coast to the west coast and the tech mecca of Silicon Valley. He brings development and build knowledge. While Jeff Willson, COO, not only knows how to build and create the tech, he is a thinker a true problem solver. Jeff understands the human factor, the problems, ethics, and how tech can help provide better solutions and experiences. Finally, my role as CEO is to envision Yimbie in the future and to ensure it stays on course. To listen to our users and customers to ensure their experience is seamless and engaging. All together we area perfect team with over 60 years of professional experience.
3) What’s next for you?
We are working with dedicated and engaged businesses through our early adopter program. Each business owner shares our vision and are encouraging us to build unique services for their customers. These services will roll out over three phases, from the most basic information content to more complex services by last quarter 2016.
Yimbie has a plan to grow and expand fast over the next eight months. To be transparent, respect privacy, and support communities. Our team is made up of innovators, doers, and builders, but most of all we’re ready to create real services and start guiding people to where the fun happens!