This inspiring story is of a rising startup called StartingPoint started by Ray McKenzie. StartingPoint eliminates the need for professional services companies and teams to use multiple SaaS solutions that complicate the customer experience. Here is the story of StartingPoint in Ray’s own words.

Introduce us to your idea of StartingPoint

StartingPoint is a SaaS customer operations and experience platform for service-based companies, firms, and teams to simplify customer on-boarding, project management, helpdesk and service management, team management, and communication.

StartingPoint’s simple platform increases satisfaction, retention, and service delivery for your customers in one hour. StartingPoint can be deployed and customized in one hour, no actions take more than 5 clicks, and is simplified for non-technical business leaders and teams.

What’s your strategy story? What led you to start StartingPoint?

I founded a management consulting firm and we had challenges managing customers after we secured them. We would on-board the customer and put their information in disconnected systems and our team of consultants.

We never had a full picture of the customer, their communication, their projects, their support questions or requests, and their files to manage their workflow. After trying to use 5 to 7 different solutions and paying for multiple solutions, we decided there had to be a more efficient way to do this and manage the customer experience. Hence we developed StartingPoint.

What marketing, operation strategies are you adopting? How are you cost-conscious at StartingPoint? 

We are extremely cost-conscious since we have bootstrapped our startup to a post-revenue stage. We use Amazon Web Services (AWS) and monitor the operating costs of our infrastructure weekly and we have also optimized our environment to use serverless solutions to manage costs correctly.

Regarding marketing, we have to spend efficiently. Marketing is a large cost for SaaS solutions and we have refined our target buyer personas. And we use the right strategies to attract potential prospects.

We are using a very unique sales tactic. StartingPoint is for service-based companies and teams. And through LinkedIn, and other methods, we have a lot of service-based companies reaching out to us to sell their services. Once they reach out to us, we share StartingPoint with them, and they are immediately interested because we solve a problem they have.

Any strategy mistakes you have made and what did you learn?

The primary strategy mistake we made was activating a digital marketing campaign without nailing our proper company and product messaging. We developed messaging for our MVP and thought it would stick with potential customers. So we invested money into the digital marketing campaign but it did not work. We learned company, product, and value proposition messaging is EXTREMELY important before you invest in advertising and marketing.

Finally what advice do you have for your fellow entrepreneur readers?

Building a successful startup is one of the most challenging things to undertake as an entrepreneur. Always take care of your personal health by sleeping, eating correctly, and exercising. A great body will help you have a sharp mind.

Always do your research and testing prior to making a decision, but make decisions quickly, and watch the results closely. Do not wait to make a decision or no progress occurs. Make a decision and pivot or change quickly. This advice is applicable to your product, personnel, financing, and growth.

Disclaimer: The information in the above story is provided by the startup and The Strategy Story takes no responsibility for the authenticity of the product and services offered by the startup. Reader’s discretion is advised.


Check out stories of other aspiring Entrepreneurs

Also check out our most loved stories below

Johnnie Walker – The legend that keeps walking!

Johnnie Walker is a 200 years old brand but it is still going strong with its marketing strategies and bold attitude to challenge the conventional norms.

Starbucks prices products on value not cost. Why?

In value-based pricing, products are price based on the perceived value instead of cost. Starbucks has mastered the art of value-based pricing. How?

Illuminated Nike shoes doing brand marketing

Nike doesn’t sell shoes. It sells an idea!!

Nike has built one of the most powerful brands in the world through its benefit based marketing strategy. What is this strategy and how Nike has used it?

Domino's pizza slice separated from pizza

Domino’s is not a pizza delivery company. What is it then?

How one step towards digital transformation completely changed the brand perception of Domino’s from a pizza delivery company to a technology company?

BlackRock, the story of the world’s largest shadow bank

BlackRock has $7.9 trillion worth of Asset Under Management which is equal to 91 sovereign wealth funds managed. What made it unknown but a massive banker?

Why does Tesla’s Zero Dollar Budget Marketing Strategy work?

Touted as the most valuable car company in the world, Tesla firmly sticks to its zero dollar marketing. Then what is Tesla’s marketing strategy?

The Nokia Saga – Rise, Fall and Return

Nokia is a perfect case study of a business that once invincible but failed to maintain leadership as it did not innovate as fast as its competitors did!

Yahoo! The story of strategic mistakes

Yahoo’s story or case study is full of strategic mistakes. From wrong to missed acquisitions, wrong CEOs, the list is endless. No matter how great the product was!!

Apple – A Unique Take on Social Media Strategy

Apple’s social media strategy is extremely unusual. In this piece, we connect Apple’s unique and successful take on social media to its core values.