1.What stage was your company in when you have met with US MAC? Please briefly describe what you had already achieved previously.
The company was approximately 15 months old. We developed a Questions & Answers solution for specific products of customer’s websites. The question & answers are specific to the product. For example, if a company has multiple products, each product would have its own q&a relating to that particular product. Therefore, as questions are asked and answered about a specific product, the information on the page becomes richer over time building a better knowledge base for the next visitor to that page. In 15 months, we were breaking even with customer money i.e. we were revenue generating. We had a lot of traction in the education market.
2.What exactly was the offer of the US MAC? What was in their proposal as their added value to your project?
For me the best offer was the local mentor based in Silicon Valley. Trying to break into a new market is obviously very difficult. To have the US MAC guys helping with introductions and contacts was a major benefit.
3.What were your expectations when you accepted their offer?
The expectation was that they would help us set up customer meetings (7 in total) over the period that we were there. My main focus was on sales (not raising money) so the meetings were sales focused.
4.How was the US MAC actually contributing to your project during the program? Were they really helpful in what you needed the most? What was the result of your cooperation?
I worked very closed with our mentor. He was really helpful. We got a small sale as a result of one of the meetings that was set up. This was obviously extremely pleasing. The other US MAC members also kept in contact through the basecamp project management tool.
5.Was there any follow up from US MAC? Have you kept in touch with them following the program? Any subsequent offer?
Very minimal. I have kept in contact with our mentor from time to time but mainly from a personal point of view. No subsequent offer.
6. Overall how do you rate the program you have taken part in? Would you do it again? Do you have any other comment?
For trying to get into the US market, I think the programme is very beneficial and yes I would do it again. Because of the local contacts that they have it’s a great way to get a friendly introduction to a potential customer or investor. Looking back we made one mistake. I should have worked more on trying building a “dream customer list” BEFORE I went to the US. There should be time spent working with the US MAC guys on this before you go there. It sounds very logical but it’s something that I didn’t do before I went. This would have saved me a lot of time when I was on the ground in the US.
