Johanna Persson – LogisticCo
Johanna Persson - LogisticCo #1
Describe yourself and your project. How did you get the idea?
“I study web development at BTH, Karlshamn and my dad is a truck driver. We, and also my boyfriend, talked about some problems they have in the truck industry, like that they don´t have any smart platform where they can communicate and cooperate with other truck companies. So we decided that I will make a simple platform for the truck companies so they can get information about each other easier and start cooperate for more sustainability.”
Who are you? Previous education/jobs/ experiences etc.
“This is so new for me, I used to be a hairdresser before I started to study web development. I worked for five years with that until I just got bored. So now, I´m 25 years old, lives in Karlskrona in Blekinge. And my goal for now is to start something up that I think is fun when I’m still at BTH. So, two years left...K ”
What will you do during these three months? How will you spend the time?
“I will begin with a research to see if there is a market for this idea. If there is, I have to do a research for what they need and don´t need on this platform, a technical research. And then make a prototype.”
What do you expect to achieve during Leapfrogs?
“I expect that at the end of this summer, I know what the truck companies really need and what they´re not, on this platform. And I really hope that I have the time so I can make a prototype of it.”
Johanna Persson - LogisticCo #2
Tell us what you have done on your project so far during the Leapfrogs time.
I have been doing a market survey to check out if there really is a need for this project/platform or not and how the customers want the logistics to be aswell. And it turned out to be a great need for this. There are others that have done almost the same webpages but they have failed in some parts where I think that I can do better. So now, I have started a bit with a prototype of the platform.
Has everything gone according to the plan? Has anything unexpected occurred? Has something been easier/harder than expected?
It has gone pretty much according the plan. But along the market survey I got so much information that I had no idea of before and that was some really important information to have. So that changed my way of thinking of the product a bit and I got in to new ways of solving the need. For example, it is not only the truck drivers that need to collaborate but also the suppliers.
What will you focus on during the remaining time? Will you follow your original plan or has anything changed along the way?
I will now continue working with the prototype most of the time I have left, I feel like that is an important part of this project. And also I found that someone are doing a research that they call “Transportrelaterat csr- arbete” that I have to read as well. Perhaps I could use the information as support for my project, which would be great.
Johanna Persson - LogisticCo #3
How did you experience the three months?
It was three months of great experience! It was so nice to work from home and decide by myself if I want to work late or start early. I was allowed to be creative with my project and not have to check with a boss before I make a change or something.
What has been hardest/most enjoyable?
The hardest thing has been to get people who have been important to the market survey to answer my questions. And also to make them understand the question without lead those into the answer that I “want” to hear.
The most enjoyable has been to get to spend all that time on my passion and my idea that I believe in.
Did it go as expected? Will you continue working on your project in the future?
It went largely as expected. In the beginning I thought that I would have the time to make a great prototype so when three months has gone I could just show it to some costumers and see if they were interested. But here I am and that is not the case. I realized that the survey takes time, and after that, you maybe want to change your idea a bit to the better and so on. But I have come far and I am definitely going to continue working with my project!
What would you say is the most important lesson learnt while working on your project?
I now believe that it never goes as you expected, because you have to have some room for creativity. If you just stick with your plan even if you see that it is not the best way, it probably will not be that good as you want it to in the end. You have to be flexible and listen to the costumers and also realize that the costumers not always knows their own best. It’s a balance!
Do you have any tips to other ”new” entrepreneurs?
Don´t freak out if you are realizing that you’re not alone with your business idea. You are never alone, you just have to make it better. Do something that you are passionate about.