Startup Founder Interview: The Startup Using AI and Data to Improve Adoption and Foster Care

1. What is your company in 2–5 words?

A startup streamlining adoptions, foster care, and social services.

2. Why is now the time for your company to exist?

Adoptions are at an all-time high with forward-thinking opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science (DS). As well as threats and risks in privacy and cybersecurity. I am adopted and we are a family who as adopted six different times. My insights are empirical, not rational or theoretical (even though some insights are, indeed, theoretical). I have built the entire business plan and vision for my startup around first-hand experiences of what I’ve seen, heard, experienced, and was told by others impacted by our industry and adoption community. Our solutions respond directly to current, existing, or future problems, risks, and threats.

3. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem?

I love that every member has the power to “see the unseen” when looking at “A Diamond in the Dirt”! When I first started, all I had was a “dollar and a dream,” really. Many of our team members are impacted by adoptions, foster care, or social services. Or they have direct connections to those who do and who are. This sense of experience builds buy-in and it builds a sense of belonging and gut instincts to know right from wrong. Everything we do has to feel right, all things considered. Empathy is key.

4. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing?

I never wanted to start this process so early in my career, sacrificing literally my everything years removed from the Master of Architecture. In my opinion, it was way too soon. I would’ve much rather have been working for someone else for 10-12 years and then consider doing what I am currently doing now. But that’s not what fate had in mind. Everyone’s life script is different. As long as I inspire people, that’s the best gift that I can give. Waking up every day knowing that the impact I leave, on whatever day that I go, will either solve or begin to solve problems not tackled yet with the best sustainable solutions. Life is a race and it’s all about passing the torch for others inspired by you to pick up where you left off and keep the race going!

“…If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants…” Sir Isaac Newton

5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics?

Many ways to measure success. Everyone’s definition of success is different and it varies. I don’t do comparisons or secretive competitions. I want what’s best for everyone who deserves it. That’s how we make the world a better place, when everyone is the best version of themselves, oscillating at their highest frequency. To each their own.

Right now, my definition of success is being happy, inspiring others, and leaving a positive imprint on our human history. Big-scale macro-view, yes. But I don’t think small, I think big.

“…A rose does not think about competing with the roses next to it, it just blooms…” Zen Shin

6. In a few sentences, what do you offer to whom?

We are building a startup that will bring online resource guides to people impacted by adoptions, foster care, and social services. Which relates to adoption law, Family Court, mental health, PTSD, transracial adoptions, eLearning, and cultural identity.

Key customers, consumers, end users:

Parental couples and/or guardian(s) who are looking to adopt, youth who are adopted, friends of adopted youths, Family Court officials and Judges, mental health counselors, adoption attorneys, foster care agencies, social workers, adoption law students, etc.

7. What’s most exciting about your traction to date?

That the vision is starting to really entice people’s confidence and support on a global scale. We have painted the vision, now we are seeing to bringing the vision to a realized fruition. Our product prototypes, demos, animations, databases, and user interfaces are evidence of this. As well as the global interest in our endeavors. Exciting times!

8. Where do you think your growth will be next year?

Aside from building out our in-house team and Board of Directors and advisors, likely our growth will be in exposure, funding, and potential market share. We have a few tricks up the sleeve with pending team members, partnerships, and associations. Funding is key and will open up many doors to scale our startup and hit the go-to-market (GTM) running.

9. Tell us about your first paying customer and revenue expectations over the next year.

Our first customer will likely be an adoption agency, a law firm, a college or university, and/or a government entity who purchases or licenses our IP, database, user interface(s), and/or SEO AI chatbot resource guides.

10. What’s your biggest threat?

Market shifts, economic trends, inflation, and the “stars not aligning” in time to gain the best competitive advantage.

This startup founder interview template is based on HackerNoon Founder & CEO David Smooke’s ten questions for startup founders.