I had several goals when I started this venture. Like many others, one was to create a side project that could generate passive income. Additionally, as a software engineer, I wanted to leverage my skills to build a product that addresses a real problem—this idea was inspired by a challenge my brother faced. I saw it as an opportunity to develop a SaaS solution to help others with similar issues. Lastly, I’m passionate about startups because they push me beyond programming. They enhance my critical thinking, problem-solving, and product-focused mindset, helping me grow as a more well-rounded software engineer.

Yes, I have. Being a member of the BOLD Fellowship allowed me to apply for their grants, and I was fortunate to be selected as a recipient. This funding brought a new level of professionalism to the project and made the process significantly smoother. It enabled me to delegate tasks I’m less skilled at to experts, saving me valuable time. It’s not about avoiding learning but about focusing on areas where I can make the most impact while ensuring the project moves forward efficiently.

A key trend shaping Perkard is the shift toward digital platforms, driven by the growing demand for mobile-friendly, QR code-enabled, and cost-effective solutions. The widespread adoption of QR codes has made them a popular and familiar tool for both businesses and customers. Businesses are embracing digital platforms to replace traditional ways of doing things, which increases their profits and saves them a lot of time. This trend aligns with the rising importance of sustainability, as digital solutions reduce the need for physical materials. Additionally, the demand for actionable insights is transforming loyalty programs into tools for data-driven decision-making, enabling small businesses to compete with larger players. Perkard is positioned to leverage these trends by offering flexible, QR code-powered loyalty solutions tailored to modern business and customer needs.

The biggest challenge we’ve faced in growing our startup has been obtaining our first customers and building trust. As a new player in the market, convincing businesses to adopt our solution required more than just offering a great product—it meant proving our reliability and value. Many businesses are hesitant to shift from traditional methods to digital methods without established credibility. To overcome this, we focused on creating a user-friendly experience, building strong personal relationships, and offering free opportunities to showcase how our platform adds tangible value.

The biggest challenge we’ve faced in growing our startup has been obtaining our first customers and building trust. As a new player in the market, convincing businesses to adopt our solution required more than just offering a great product—it meant proving our reliability and value. Many businesses are hesitant to shift from traditional methods to digital methods without established credibility. To overcome this, we focused on creating a user-friendly experience, building strong personal relationships, and offering free opportunities to showcase how our platform adds tangible value.

If you’re starting a startup, focus on solving a genuine problem rather than chasing an idea. It’s easy to lose direction when targeting a massive market with the ambition of becoming the next Facebook or Instagram. Instead, think about scaling in the future but begin with a small, focused approach and execute it exceptionally well. Validate your idea early by engaging potential customers and iterating based on their feedback—this is why B2B concepts are powerful, as you can secure initial customers even before the product is fully developed. Lastly, prioritize solving the core problem over adding unnecessary features.

What drives me forward is the love for creating something useful and deep belief in the value of the problem I am solving, and the potential impact my startup can have. It is the combination of purpose, passion and the thrill of turning an idea into reality.