Birthing a Startup: Our First Trimester

The last three months at Vivara have been nothing short of exhilarating. Transitioning back into startup mode after nearly two decades has been refreshing and motivating. After finishing up at Microsoft after 18 years, I took most of last year off to travel and spend time with friends and family. It was during this time of reflection that I experimented with large language models and started to prototype. Our journey began with a shared vision: to revolutionise personalised health guidance for everyone. This has been a vision of mine for almost seven years.

The rapid advancement in technology over the last year makes it the perfect time to go after a product that can help people live their best life regardless of where they are at on their journey and how they are motivated to change.

I want to take a moment to reflect on our progress and celebrate the milestones we've achieved together.

Forming the Dream Team

Collaborating with Keith Patton, our co-founder and brilliant CTO, Stefanie Kearney, our insightful and deeply experienced industry advisor, and Manfred Schneider, our co-founder and strategic advisor, has been incredibly rewarding. Each brings unique expertise and passion to Vivara, fostering a dynamic and innovative environment. I’d also like to give a special shoutout to Thao Carter whose instrumental role in the company formation helped align our vision and set us on the right path. Their collective dedication and innovative approaches have been pivotal in shaping the direction and future of our company.

Early Foundations

A special shoutout goes to Neal Thompson, whose early contracted product manager work was instrumental in shaping the Vivara product getting the ideas out of our head and into confluence with personas, user stories and validation against potential customers through our introduction experience. Neal's ability to translate our vision into actionable plans set a strong foundation for our product. His strategic insights and meticulous planning have been key to our progress.

Dane Mitchell, played a crucial role in building the Vivara brand identity. Dane's creativity and attention to detail ensured that our brand is visually engaging and user-friendly. His experience ensured that we didn't end up with a brand that looks just like another vitamin company.

Welcoming New Talents

We are thrilled to have welcomed Noah Costar (in an advisory capacity) and Pavan Kumar Josyula to our growing team. Their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm have already made a significant impact. To celebrate their arrival, we provided them with welcome gifts, a branded hoodie and t-shirt along with hibiscus tea and Iranian dried barberries, a small gesture to show our appreciation and excitement for the journey ahead.

Their contributions are vital as we continue to develop the Vivara product, aiming to provide personalised health guidance that truly makes a difference to everyone.

Progress and Milestones

Our work out of the BizDojo in Ponsonby has fostered a creative and collaborative environment. This vibrant co-working space has not only provided us with the resources we need but also connected us with like-minded entrepreneurs and innovators. It's been the perfect setting for brainstorming, working-out, collaborating, and bringing our ideas to life. And yes, Keith Patton, Pavan Kumar Josyula and I only take the stairs up and down the 9 flights of stairs twice every day!

In just a few months, we've made remarkable progress. Each step brings us closer to launching our MVP.

Back to Startup Mode

Being back in startup mode has been an incredible journey of rediscovery. The fast-paced environment, the challenges, and the thrill of building something from the ground up have reignited my passion for innovation. It's a reminder of why I ventured into the tech industry nearly 30 years ago—to create impactful solutions that improve lives.

As we continue this journey, I am grateful for the support and dedication of our team and the inspiring community around us. The next few months promise to be even more exciting as we move closer to onboarding our first set of users and making our vision a reality.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey so far. Here's to many more milestones and successes ahead!