In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Anthony Sapountzis sits with Daniel Wang, a Commerce student at the University of Melbourne and the Non-Technical Founder of the startup SPOT. Daniel shares his journey as a young entrepreneur, balancing university life with his ambitious startup goals. SPOT, often described as “Tinder for restaurants,” offers a platform designed to help restaurants gain visibility without the need for costly commission fees. Daniel reflects on his early entrepreneurial experiences, including his first pitch competition, which, although ending in disappointment, only fueled his passion for startups and building innovative solutions.
Daniel explains how SPOT has evolved through several iterations. Originally created to solve time coordination issues with friends, the concept pivoted based on user feedback. The current version of SPOT focuses on helping people discover restaurants, offering a personalised experience where users swipe through restaurant options based on preferences. This differentiates SPOT from other platforms like Google Maps or Zomato, aiming to provide a more tailored and engaging way to choose dining spots.
As a non-technical founder, Daniel faced challenges finding the right technical partner to bring his vision to life. He relied heavily on LinkedIn outreach to find a co-founder, navigating the difficulties of aligning visions and personalities with potential candidates. Eventually, he found a co-founder with strong technical expertise, allowing Daniel to focus on product features and business development while his partner handled the platform’s technical aspects. This collaboration has been key to SPOT’s progress, but it took several attempts and partnerships to find the right fit.
Daniel also addresses the difficulties of attracting investors and building a marketplace without charging restaurants commission fees. He plans to list 3,000 restaurants on the platform for free as part of a data-driven trial to prove SPOT’s value to potential clients. The long-term goal is to use this data to demonstrate the platform’s effectiveness in driving customer engagement and improving restaurant visibility. Daniel’s vision for SPOT extends beyond local markets, with plans for international expansion and a commission-based revenue model that incentivizes users to engage with the platform.
In closing, Daniel reflects on the importance of finding the right co-founder, sharing his personal experiences with challenging partnerships. He highlights the need for aligned visions and mutual trust to ensure long-term success. Despite the obstacles, Daniel remains optimistic about SPOT’s potential to scale globally, hoping to integrate payment tracking systems and develop the platform into the go-to solution for restaurant bookings worldwide. His story serves as a valuable lesson for aspiring entrepreneurs about the importance of perseverance, collaboration, and clear strategic direction.
Topics Covered
- Daniel Wang’s Entrepreneurial Journey
- The Evolution of SPOT
- Challenges of Being a Non-Technical Founder
- Building SPOT’s Platform
- Attracting Investors and Users
- Expanding Internationally
- Lessons on Co-Founder Relationships
Important Time Stamps
- The ‘Tinder for Restaurants’ – A First-Year Student’s Startup Story (0:07 – 4:13)
- Swipe Right for Restaurants: The Evolution of SPOT (4:14 – 7:27)
- Navigating the Startup World as a Non-Tech Founder (7:28 – 10:42)
- The Secret to Winning Investors? Data, Data, Data (10:43 – 17:21)
- SPOT’s Global Expansion: A Founder’s Vision for International Success (17:22 – 20:00)
- Co-Founder Red Flags: Why Vision Alignment is More Important than Time Together (20:02 – 28:13)
