Hey - Marc here.


Happy Saturday afternoon, motivated B2B SaaS Founders!


Here's at least one tip to keep in mind as you grow your B2B SaaS company:


Today's issue takes about 5 minutes to read.

 

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In today's issue, I share some key takeaways from a recent interview between Nathan Latka, the host of Daily Interviews with SaaS Founders, and Toni Mumo, the CEO and founder of MarkMe Icons. They discussed how he’s revolutionizing education across Africa with accessible eLearning solutions.

Toni Mumo's journey is a classic bootstrap saga, from leveraging his marketing salary into Facebook ad-driven student acquisition to piloting education via WhatsApp groups. Now, he’s teaching graphic design among other courses through his app.

About MarkMe Icons

In December 2021, MarkMe Icons catapulted from a WhatsApp group experiment into a full-fledged beta application. With an initial investment of a $1.50 in Facebook ads, Mumo secured 102 beta users, of which 64 are active daily.

This speaks volumes about the app's engagement levels and the quality of courses offered, including the highly sought-after web design skills course. This traction caught the attention of investors, leading to a pre-seed fundraise of $18k.

A team of six now drives MarkMe Icons, which includes talents across analytics, design, legal, and content creation. The app's imminent paywall launch is set for January, priced affordably to ensure accessibility for Kenyan learners.

Challenges

Transitioning from WhatsApp group lessons to a structured app-based learning platform.

The pivot to MarkMe Icons was a calculated risk, banking on the hypothesis that Kenyan students were ready for more formalized online learning. With affordability as a key concern, setting the right price for sustainability without compromising on reach was a tightrope walk.

Advice to Other Founders

Leverage your day job to fuel your dream.

Mumo used his salary from his day job to fund the early stages of his business. Be resourceful and recognize that your current employment can serve as the seedbed for your entrepreneurial endeavors. It's about committing to your day job not just as a means of survival but as a potential investment in your future enterprise.

Start small, think big.

Mumo’s journey began with a simple WhatsApp group, a platform accessible to anyone with a smartphone. Even the most expansive dreams have humble beginnings – this is a call to action to start where you are with what you have. WhatsApp groups may seem basic, but they can be a powerful testing ground for bigger ideas.

Keep a pulse on market needs and adapt quickly.

The most popular course on MarkMe Icons is web design, a direct response to the growing tech scene in Kenya. Mumo's strategy to offer a course that teaches codeless web design shows an acute awareness of market demand and skill gaps.

Bonus

  1. At 25, Toni Mumo is a relationship-minded entrepreneur with a refreshing perspective.

  2. He's a night owl with six hours of sleep, whose favorite book is The Bible.

  3. Toni draws inspiration from Zuckerberg's digital empire.

  4. His advice to his 20-year-old self would be to embrace the inevitable bumps on the road to finding one's purpose.

TLDR

Toni Mumo, a marketer turned EdTech innovator from Kenya, has built MarkMe Icons into a beacon of digital learning with just $1.50 and a WhatsApp group. With 102 beta users, 64 daily active devices, and a pre-seed funding of $18k, MarkMe Icons is poised to introduce a paywall for its popular courses, such as web design, in January. Mumo's story is a masterclass in starting lean, utilizing social media marketing effectively, and growing a dedicated team—all while preparing to scale in Kenya's burgeoning tech landscape.


PS Here is a link to the full interview if you are interested in listening to the full episode: First-time Kenyan Founder Uses $1.50 FB Ads to Get First 100 Users, 64 DAU


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See you again next week.


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