[quote style=”boxed”]It probably sounds cliche but I don’t think I would do anything differently. I’m happy with the choices that I’ve made and the mistakes that I’ve learned from to get where I am right now.[/quote]
Scott Falbo is the President of Front9 Technologies which is an app development company that focuses on creating legal and business mobile apps. Many of the apps created by Front9 Technologies are inspired by Scott’s wife who is a practicing attorney. iJuror is the flagship product of Front9 Technologies that has changed the way attorneys select jurors.
While Front9 Technologies usually focuses on bringing its own original ideas to reality, the company will occasionally
develop apps for clients in various markets – including those in the advertising, media, and retail spaces. The apps range in platforms from the iPhone, iPad, various Android devices, and more recently the new Windows 8 tablets and computers.
Scott is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science as well as an MBA. While not working on the latest apps, Scott enjoys spending time with his growing family, traveling to warm locales, playing sports, and enjoying a round of golf when the weather cooperates in his hometown of Buffalo, NY.
What are you working on right now?
Right now we’re working on expanding our popular iJuror iPad app to other platforms. We’ve just released iJurorConnect.com which is our cloud version of iJuror that can be used from any computer that can access the internet and now we’re creating iJuror for Windows 8 and Android Tablets like the Nexus 7.
Where did the idea for iJuror come from?
Just as the iPad was coming out I was at a party with my wife where other attorneys were present. I overheard some conversation about the Microsoft Word templates and sticky notes that were used in the juror selection process and how tedious this process tended to be. In my head the idea dawned for an app leveraging the new iPad to improve the juror selection process for attorneys. A few months later iJuror was available on the iTunes App Store.
How do you make money?
iJuror is sold through the iTunes App Store. Once you look past the novelty of the word ‘app’, it’s really just the traditional model of making a product that people find useful.
What does your typical day look like?
Most days are made up of some combination of the following: marketing our apps, helping and interacting with customers, and working on developing apps. No one day or challenge is ever the same.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I usually like to work on ideas that solve real world problems that I’ve come across. Once I’ve got an idea I will work on an initial prototype and present that to a few prospective customers. From there, the app will be tweaked based on the initial feedback and then the full development of the app will begin.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
I think the low barrier to entry in technology is pretty amazing. This is a unique period in time where anyone with an idea and access to the internet can create a business. That accessibility is really exciting to me.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I don’t think I’ve ever had an awful job but when I worked in the restaurant industry I did learn how much your own attitude can influence those around you. If you’re dealing with an unhappy customer it helps to see the situation from their point of view and do your best to make them happy.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
It probably sounds cliche but I don’t think I would do anything differently. I’m happy with the choices that I’ve made and the mistakes that I’ve learned from to get where I am right now.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I constantly try to learn new things – especially things that you are uncomfortable with. It gets you out of your comfort zone and forces you to learn new skills to make you a more well rounded person.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Many of the first few apps that I created in 2009 did not gain as much traction as I had hoped during the ‘gold rush’ period of the iOS App Store. I reevaluated the iOS app opportunity and modified the approach to focus on high quality business and legal apps. This experience taught me that sometimes you just need to make some minor changes to turn a failure into success.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
This is something that I would pay for – I just haven’t had the time to actually work on it myself. I would like to see a service that would convert iOS Promotion Codes into something physical that you can easily give away like a business card.
Often as an app developer it is difficult to distribute your promotional codes and I can see this service helping many developers. If any of the IdeaMensch readers run with this idea please let me know on Twitter so I can use it!
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be and how would you go about it?
I wish people would just generally be good to one another. If we can focus on our similarities and not our differences I think the world may be a bit better. Maybe if we created some kind of device where you can live in another person’s shoes for a day that would help broaden our perspectives.
Tell us something about you that very few people know?
Unlike many other developers I didn’t grow up writing code. My first exposure to writing code was Java development during my sophomore year of college. Once I got started I was addicted and now here we are many years later.
What are your three favorite online tools or resources and what do you love about them?
Dropbox.com – After using Dropbox I couldn’t imagine not using it. It makes your documents accessible from your many devices and makes it easy to share your files.
Google.com – I use Google countless times a day for so many reasons: travel, coding help, finding a restaurant – it’s like my second brain.
AppAnnie.com – AppAnnie is a great site for iOS and Android developers that provides daily sales tracking and ranking information.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Start Small, Stay Small: A Developer’s Guide to Launching a Startup by Rob Walling. It shows how almost anyone can start a business and that you don’t need millions of VC funding to get started. It also reinforces that you should just ‘do’ something and stop talking about it. Worst case is that you are not an overnight success but at least you learn from your experience and that’s invaluable.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
Seth Godin – Insights on marketing, business, life, etc. from Seth Godin’s blog
How To Geek – Great how to info and advice for everything tech
Russell Simmons – Russell Simmons has been successful in many businesses and his Twitter page encompasses this along with inspiration and entertainment depending on the day
When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
Today – my Boston Terrier named Mac. It’s amazing how something as small as throwing a ball for him makes him so happy. I think it’s a lesson that pets can teach humans – find joy in the small things that we have.
Who is your hero, and why?
I can’t pick just one – my parents are my heroes. They taught me the value of hard work and they worked hard to make sure I had a better life than they did.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own business tomorrow?
Release early and often! I spent many years working on ideas and never actually releasing the finished product because I strived for perfection. Now I follow the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach which has been invaluable. Work hard to get your initial version released and into the hands of your customers. If people are engaged, work hard to refine and perfect your product. If it’s not resonating with your target market, make some tweaks so that it does gain market adoption or move on to your next idea using the lessons you’ve learned.
What is your favorite way to burn off steam?
Exercise is my outlet and helps keep me focused. You can’t sit at a desk and stare at a computer all day and be effective.
Be active – take the dog for a walk, go to the gym, play basketball, anything that gets you moving. When you get back to work you’ll have better ideas, be more focused, and feel refreshed.
Connect:
Front9 Technologies on Facebook:
Front9 Technologies on LinkedIn:
Front9 Technologies on Twitter: @front9tech
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.