Good Fika

About a week out from launch assuming nothing too problematic comes up on the engineering side. The data model is flushed out, most interactions are finalized, we're just in polish and quality of life features for our internal testers (of which there are about 200 at this point).

As we near this milestone, we've clarified a lot about the product that we were unclear on before. One major thing you all might note is that the app name has changed from "Undergrounds" to "Good Fika", and we have narrowed our focus to just coffee. (As we got into development, we realized the scope of just building an app like this that really served the coffee community well, was challenging enough, and we would be doing a disservice to our users if we went beyond that scope).

One final thing for this update, the platform of Good Fika, is starting to show potential. Today, I was adding Editor's Picks, and I was inspired to write this post because the potential got me so excited.

Take a look at the screen shot below:

This screenshot reflects Good Fika having the potential to meet one of my personal goals with starting this (or any other) business, which is:

Don't just make a profit, make a positive change in the world.

Having the ability to promote a cause like this was something I wasn't sure I could do with a narrowly focused app like Good Fika, and it seems I can. How exciting!

More updates soon.

P.S. If you're looking to support Colectivo Coffee and their employees' union efforts, give them a follow on Instagram.

Started a logo design contest on 99 Designs. I've used their designers before (but on an invite basis) and have been pleased with the results.

Created a logo and branding contest here, assuming that goes well, more work for some of the collectible cards will be in the future should working with the designer that wins be enjoyable.

Back on the grind starting tomorrow.

Very excited to get back to work. Going to start focusing on what the book Traction says, and do product development at the same time as channel development.

I always struggle with traction, so I want to make sure that I keep focus on both.

Used KickOff Labs to create an early access page for Undergrounds.

Hope to open up general access in March '21. Until then, you can sign up here to get early access via TestFlight.

Click here to Join Undergrounds - Untapped for Coffee, Whiskey, and Wine

Here's a sneak peek (I'll be sharing these periodically until launch date (hopefully Marchish)) of the Feed Screen.

This is fully functional in app, and works like a snapping scroll vertically.

Haven't added an empty state here yet for first time users but once you've followed a few folks this is what you get.

More features to come on the check ins themselves, keeping that under wraps until launch.

After leaving my full-time job, and an unsuccessful acquisition of a business, I started thinking about what I wanted to see made.

I asked myself, "if I had all the money in the world, or if money were no issue, what would I want to see / work on?"

I came up with a bunch of ideas, but the one I was stuck on was one that I tried to build in 2016 but work got too distracting and I stopped.

Untappd for Coffee

I love Untappd. In fact, it's the only app I've used consistently since I first downloaded it. I love rating, I love collecting badges, I love finding a new rare beer, I love saving where I've been, connecting with people that are likeminded, and that it pushes me to broaden my palate and try new things.

Finally, I love that it's a way to share a snapshot in time without getting too personal. It seems to me that the most memorable events in life are preceded by and followed by sitting down with a drink, be it a coffee, beer, wine or whiskey. Looking at my Untappd, I see that I've been using it that way, to share a memory or milestone and to do that with others. Not too much, just enough to stay connected.

So I'm building it, so that non-beer drinkers can get the same benefit I got from the Untappd experience.

I have no idea how I will monetize this thing, or what the total addressable market will be, or pretty much any of the "right way to build products". All I know is I want to use this app and I hope others do too.