Founder Interview: Abe Bloom, GolfGolf, Cohort 6

GolfGolf is a startup that joined Founder University Cohort 6 and is building an AI golf companion. Learn more about the company and why we invested here.

We got the chance to interview Co-Founder & CEO Abe Bloom, to learn more about the inception of GolfGolf, his approach to idea validation, the nuances of fundraising, and the highs and lows of his founder journey.

Why do you want to solve this problem? How did you come up with the idea?

I am a celebrity golf caddy and wanted to create a product for my clients. I started off creating golf course management software and early users were uninterested. However, one user told me "golf is about vanity, help me improve my game and tell me what professional golfers my swing is most like, and I'd pay for that.”

How did you validate your idea?

I talked to my clients on the golf course for the last year.

How did you acquire your first users/customers?

I pitched the product to every client I've caddied for. I also cold reached out to people on LI, reddit, and asked fb groups. Then viral factors kick in and word of mouth in ways I have been very pleasantly surprised by.

As a founder, what is a lesson you wish you learned sooner?

Well, our pitch deck and pitch itself has improved so much since we started getting meetings and feedback. Like exponentially better. To an extent I wish it was more sophisticated early on - so some of my early leads took us more seriously. A program like Founders U has been a game changer to up my level of sophistication...and to be fair, it is fine to just reach out with updated information to investors or customers.

Tell us about your experience fundraising so far.

Getting a check from Jason goes a long way. Every time a new milestone hits I update potential investors. I also notice that it takes 3-7 touch points even on the warmest of leads to get that meeting, and the number one goal of most meetings is another meeting. I am also becoming savvy on what investors need to hear to be comfortable, and I realize a great outcome from a meeting is an introduction to someone who might be a better fit. Moreover, someone might not be a fit today but they might be during a series A, so even though I push hard, I realize they are still pipeline. Most frustrating is every no. It is great to get to a no, but hard not to take a no personally, especially from a warm lead or someone you have had a relationship with. Taking it personal as a founder is not the worst thing though, it is on my board of people to prove wrong.

What has been the most difficult part of your founder journey?

Gaining technical skills as a non-technical co-founder. There is very little room in an early stage company for a non-technical person. Figma is one of the quickest things to get good at fast and add real value. And I realize everyone should know how to code if they want to start a tech company.

What has been the most rewarding part of your founder journey?

Starting a company with my best friends.

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If you’re a builder-founder interested in joining the next Founder University, applications are open for our December 2023 cohort.

We review applications on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply at founder.university/apply.