Ep 008: Netflix and Chill, Plus Order Up! w/ Andrew Kootman

OrderUp San Diego is locally owned and operated out of Pacific
Beach. In preparation for its San Diego launch on August 17,
owner Andrew Kootman carried out beta market testing near San
Diego State University, where the app quickly became popular with
college students and university employees. The company then
expanded its reach to Pacific Beach, partnering with more than 25
additional, hyperlocal restaurants in preparation for its August
launch date. To date, OrderUp San Diego has delivered more than
30,000 orders, and long-term plans place OrderUp San Diego in
additional neighborhoods including North Park, Hillcrest,
Downtown San Diego and more.


 
Strategies Used to Fund Business

I had invested in a bingo machine company that was super random
and actually paid a huge return. It was that and borrowing money
from friends and family that really funded my business.
Founders

I did not have any partners. Everything was completely done on my
own.
Worst Entrepreneurial Moment

Starting out I didn’t have the budget to really hire somebody
full time. I really wanted to put most of it in marketing as much
as possible, and OrderUp kind of took off from the beginning and
I need help immediately. So I actually asked my sister to help me
out. But probably the worst entrepreneurial moment was working
with her. Not that she did a bad job, it’s just mixing family and
business, it just didn’t work.
HUGE SUCCESS

Watching OrderUp launch in Pacific Beach was pretty exciting and
really seeing the reception it had from the very get go was a
huge success. I was shocked by the amount of restaurants that had
already heard about us in PB even though we hadn’t marketed out
there. It’s just a very rewarding experience when people really
start to know your company.
Superpower

I can fly. That’s why our average delivery time is very fast. And
also it’s because of my understanding of the financial aspect
that goes on with a business.It’s not the most exciting thing,
but truthfully it is one of the most important factors with a
startup business.
Kryptonite

Stress. I have a tendency to think that people know what I know,
and so sometimes with communication I feel like I need to be
better at teaching people and explaining things.
IF YOU CAN HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER…

I would read people’s minds. We do so much sales and marketing,
and to be able to know what they think, we can find out what we
can do better for them.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE OR APP

Google Analytics: Improve performance across your sites,
apps, and other marketing channels. Google Analytics and related
products can help you turn customer insights into actionable
solutions for your business.


Uber: Your Ride, On Demand


 
RECOMMENDED BOOKS

 
ADVICE TO HACKER NATION

You got to just go for it! You got to do your research. I was
scared out of my mind when I knew I was going to make that
transaction, but you have to make it happen for yourself. Speak
to people that have done it before. You have to realize that you
don’t have all the answers.
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