Think Big Accelerator Spotlight: Parker Hills of Keyzio

Almost every entrepreneur will tell you it’s usually not the first venture that works out to be a success. And for Kansas City native and engineer Parker Hills, founder of Keyzio, this statement reigns true. His first venture into the startup world began a few years ago with a small company that developed and deployed algorithmic trading strategies in the US equities markets.  As Parker puts it, “We built a lot of really cool things and learned a ton.  But it got to a point where it wasn't profitable, so it was best to just shut it down.”

Parker Hills,  founder of Keyzio

But when one door closes, another door almost always opens.  And the idea of Parker’s current venture, Keyzio, sparked when he and his wife sold their house but couldn't find a new house that met their desires.

“We were looking in an in-demand area, but weren't finding anything available that met our specs and our budget, and the clock was ticking” says Parker of the problem he faced.  “We had heard stories of house hunters having success dropping letters or knocking on doors simply asking homeowners if they’d be interested in selling their home.  There is a world of hidden sellers out there, but they are tough to find.”

And that was the simple idea that Parker took to Startup Weekend in Kansas City. 

The initial design of Keyzio was to be able to push a button on your phone and let an owner, who isn't necessarily looking to sell at the time but is open to the idea, know you’re interested in purchasing their home.  Since the original idea, Keyzio has grown into a full-fledged business model that connects buyers, sellers, lenders, real estate agents, and other entities that encompass the real estate industry.

Due to his success at Kansas City Startup Weekend (Keyzio earned 2^nd place) and the evolution of Keyzio, Parker decided to apply for the KC-based accelerator program run by Think Big Partners.  He was accepted into the first class. 

“I had met Herb (founding partner of Think Big Partners) in the past and had been following Think Big’s growth,” explains Parker. “When I saw the announcement and launch of the accelerator, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to stop toying around with the idea and see if it actually had legs.”

Currently, Keyzio’s website is live in public beta and its buyer-focused iPhone application just hit the app store (just search Keyzio in the app store).  Although the service is running in a minimal capacity, the startup is constantly iterating on the structure it already has in place.  One of the most interesting aspects of Keyzio is the feature that allows prospective buyers to send a personalized letter to a homeowner to express their interest in a particular home. The feature is currently being tested, but thus far, has yielded very positive results.

As for the future of Keyzio, Parker’s hopes to fulfill the vision of Keyzio’s tagline “Where every house is for sale”, where buyers can easily connect with the entire universe of potential sellers, and sellers can privately test the market before they are ready to publicly list their home.

Parker feels the Think Big Accelerator program has benefited him so far in his journey of building Keyzio.

“The first few weeks were definitely more intense than the last few weeks, but it has really kept us focused on short term priorities and customer validation,” he explains. “Time is extremely valuable right now.  There’s no reason to spend time on something that isn't absolutely critical to validating our business model or staying on schedule to launch early next year.”

Follow Keyzio! @KeyzioInc

Read About our other Accelerator Startups here.

Think Big Accelerator Spotlight: Connor Sweeney of Weejay

Connor Sweeney, founder of Weejay.

A few weeks ago, Weejay, a startup company founded by Connor Sweeney, was accepted into the Think Big Accelerator program.  The startup, which originally was planned to be a mobile jukebox, has pivoted into a marketing platform with a music focus.  And now that the startup, and the entrepreneur behind it, has gone through a few weeks of the Think Big Accelerator program, things are starting to look bright for the Kansas City-based Weejay.

But it wasn't always that way.  After coming up with the idea, researching it and watching parts of his vision come to life, Connor decided to walk away from the Weejay project in June of 2012 when he found multiple competitors who were already years ahead of him in the space.

"As an entrepreneur, when you have an idea and then discover that someone else does the exact same thing already, it's a deflating moment," says Connor. "But then Blake [Miller] from Think Big gave me a call and encouraged me to move forward.  Think Big gave me the confidence to continue with Weejay.  They reminded me to think of Coke and Pepsi.  There's always room for two in any industry."

But after creating Weejay's design, crafting up a layout and starting the Think Big Accelerator class, Connor still didn't feel 100% about his idea and where it was headed.  So, within the accelerator program, he learned the power of the pivot.

"I had an ah-ha moment a few weeks into the accelerator," says Connor.  "I realized that instead of a mobile jukebox, Weejay could become a marketing platform with a music focus.  It's how other great apps like Pandora and Front Flip have become so successful.  I am now creating a unique music discovery platform that is even better than my original idea."

According to Connor, Weejay is currently in "baby-step mode".  The startup has set out to prove its new model and has begun testing for engagement from establishments around Kansas City (i.e. restaurants).  In addition, the startup is narrowing down much of its gaming components, design and MVP.  But there's no denying it--Connor is anxious to tie up all the loose ends and begin the funding phase.

"I am so grateful for the structure, guidance, education and confidence that the Think Big Accelerator program has given me," says Connor.  "Plus, this is a lot of fun!  I am very excited to move forward through the next 30, 60, 90 days."

Read another Accelerator Spotlight blog post: Dwayne Brock of Kahootz

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Think Big Accelerator Spotlight: Dwayne Brock of Kansas City Startup Kahootz

How many calendars do you have? If it takes you more than five seconds to answer that question, you’re not alone. Dwayne Brock, CEO and co-founder of Kahootz, along with his wife Annie, had the very same problem.  

With too many calendars to keep track of, the idea of Kahootz, a unifying calendar among many platforms, was born.  The Kansas City-based startup is a consumer-focused online calendar platform that provides users with easier ways to combine, share and manage all obligations and profiles on one easy-to-maintain social-based platform. Kahootz also enables user-controlled, privacy-enabled, permission-based business-to-consumer markets through event promotion syndication.

“It was [Annie’s] idea,” says Dwayne Brock. “She put together the idea for Kahootz, but there wasn’t any business model or revenue producing stream.  That’s where I came in.”

Ever since the realization of their great idea and natural collaboration, Dwayne, a veteran manager of the medical supply and pharmaceutical sales industry, found himself in his first entrepreneurial endeavor to build and create Kahootz.  As he puts it, “I became an entrepreneur by default”.

Through networking and connections, Kahootz came in contact with Think Big Partners and, more specifically, the Think Big Partners Accelerator.

The Think Big Accelerator started its 22-week journey on Tuesday September 25^th, 2012 in order to help six startups launch their businesses faster, better and smarter. The six startups that make up the first accelerator class united from all regions of the U.S.—from Kansas City to New York to Los Angeles.

Each startup in the accelerator has had its own unique experience so far.  In Kahootz’s case, the accelerator process has involved developing and building the web and mobile based platforms for the calendar-centric app. 

In addition to guiding developers and the vision for Kahootz, Dwayne has also continued to work and manage a 16-state medical supply sales and distribution territory.  Dwayne reiterates, “Ultimately, I’d love to make Kahootz my full-time job, and we’re growing at rate where it needs to be. But we’re funding this 100% ourselves so far. Basically, I’m working one to fund the other.”

Though he has been pulling double duty, Dwayne feels that it is all worth it in the end.  “Kahootz brings something to the table that no other calendar platform does.”