John Fan
500 Startups
First version of PicCollage
Initial Launch
Top photo app in US, Japan
How to Build Product
1. Talk to your users.
2. Build. Measure. Learn.
3. Leverage Global Platforms.
1. Talk to Your Users
Rule of thumb:
Before you start a new project,
talk to 5 people.
How to do User Interviews:
Ask open-ended questions.
Seek facts, not opinions.
Observe what users do.
Look for pain points.
"What do YOU think this is?"
"How do you feel about this?"
"When was the last time...?"
Talking to users on the train!
2. Build. Measure. Learn.
Build an experiment
Measure the result
Learn and improve
Build the simplest thing possible
to test out your idea.
MVP = Minimum Viable Product
Interactive prototypes
A/B Test: Remove Watermark
3. Leverage Global Platforms.
Reach billions of users via
massive global platforms from
Facebook, Apple, Google, etc.
Launched everywhere on day 1!
100% Organic Downloads
App Store Optimization
Localized to 12 languages.
App Store Optimization:
Use tools to optimize keywords
Encourage user reviews
Update screenshots for holidays
Reached Top 10 in 150 countries!
What do users really need?
1. Talk to your users.
What product should you build?
2. Build. Measure. Learn.
How do you distribute your product?
3. Leverage Global Platforms.
You have many bad ideas!
You need to validate your hypotheses.
Team
International team (TW & US)
Launched on iOS, Android & Windows
Raised $2.7M funding in Silicon Valley
120M downloads, 15M active users
Achieved profitability via IAP and ads
Working on video, computer vision...
PicCollage Company Culture
Open communication.
Flexible work environment.
Fun, creative & international.
Work smart.
Be proactive, not reactive.
Always be learning.
Make the world
more fun and creative!
What does PicCollage do in the US?
1. Work with platform companies.
2. Work with brands.
3. Coffees. Meetups. Conferences.
1. Work with platform companies:
Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Amazon
2. Work with Brands:
Sanrio, Mattel, HP, Interscope, ...
3. Coffees. Meetups. Conferences.
How to build a global startup?
How to build a global startup
from Taiwan?
Taiwan - from ODM to APP?
ODM: hardware, clients, tech
APP: software, users, design
In the APP era,
the smile curve has collapsed!
"Software is eating the world."
-- Mark Andreesen
Every company must become a
software company.
To build software for global users:
Software developers
UI/UX designers
International talent
Company culture
Market knowledge
Product process
The importance of clusters:
Talent pool
Training
Collaboration
Partnerships
Informal info sharing
SoMa (South of Market)
Taipei Startup Cluster
Taipei Startup Cluster
Garage+, Appworks, MOX,
VentureLab, SYNTREND, Qualcomm,
Taiwan Startup Stadium, III,
CIT/FabLab, FutureWard, HWTrek,
Google, Microsoft, 數位時代,
Yahoo, KKBOX, Trend, Mozilla,
Cherubic, Cheetah Mobile, NTU,
and HUNDREDS of startups...
Informal info sharing
PicCollage hosts community events for iOS,
Android, UI/UX designers and product managers!
My ideas for Taiwan ecosystem...
Import more international talent
More English-speaking events
Set up a "User Interview" center
Provide more funding for TSS
Need to validate...
Talk to users!
tinyurl.com/tw-startup-survey
piccollage.com/jobs
Multimedia Algorithms Engineer
Financial Operations Manager
Product Operations Interns
Thank you! :)
PicCollage @ AAMA
By piccollage
