When Moazzam Ahmed picked up his daughter every day from school, he wondered why the dismissal process for students was so chaotic and slow. There had to be a better way.
So, naturally, the software developer started QManager as a tool that helps administrators and parents save time when dropping off and picking up children.
The service automates the sign-in/sign-out process by allowing parents to sign for their child with a smartphone app. Once notified, teachers can bring the student outside. All the information is stored in QManager’s back-end platform.
Founded in 2010, QManager hopes to automate and improve queue management for not only schools but all businesses.
We caught up with Ahmed to learn more for the latest edition of Startup Spotlight.
Explain what you do so our parents can understand it (in a Tweet-sized statement): Pick your preschool children up faster from school, be home sooner!
Inspiration hit us when … Our first version of the software was all about a location-based app. Inspiration hit us when we realized we needed an enforcing feature such as signature capture during arrivals and dismissal at schools; the product really took off after that.
VC, Angel or Bootstrap (And Why): Bootstrap! We were profitable one year after product launch and haven’t run out of money so far.
Our ‘secret sauce’ is: Being open to our market and helping our customers solve problems rather than selling them our product.
The smartest move we’ve made so far: Adding Saudah and Mojdeh as co-founders.
The biggest mistake we’ve made so far: Not bringing on a CTO who can code.
Would you rather have Gates, Jobs, Zuckerberg or Bezos in your corner: Bezos! His sense of getting to the root of the customer’s problem and solving them would be great to enhance our product.
Our world domination strategy starts when: When every parent realizes waiting too long for their child in the school driveway is so 19th century.
Rivals should fear us because: We are innovative, know our customer (schools) and are on our way to help them connect with their customers (parents).
We are truly unique because: We are opening up doors for “real-time” communication and interaction between schools and parents through technology.
The biggest hurdle we’ve overcome is: Getting our app to a point where it is easily expandable to more features.
What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other entrepreneurs just starting out: Don’t hide your idea! Share it with others, tell everyone what you’re doing, welcome feedback and work hard to incorporate what fits your customer’s problem.
