Bytes Over Bagels ยท S1E24
Mark Lawrence, Co-Founder & CEO at SpotHero: transcript
A timestamped transcript with speaker turns separated acoustically from the original recording. Neutral speaker labels remain until individual names are editorially confirmed.
John Ostler
Bada boonski, Chicago.
John Ostler
It's sometime in July 31st, and you're listening to another episode of Bo-
John Ostler
It's Chicago's favorite tech morning show. With me in the studio as always is one Miss Heather Brown,
Speaker B
Happy to be here.
John Ostler
one Mr.
John Ostler
Brett Mackey,
Speaker C
I do not look like a young Joe Pesci.
John Ostler
and Dave Seidler.
John Ostler
Yes, you do.
Speaker D
You damn scum.
John Ostler
I'm John Osler.
John Ostler
We got a great show for you guys today, for you. Dave, who's on the show?
John Ostler
We got Mark Lawrence, founder and CEO of Spot Hero.
John Ostler
He's actually a co-founder, but he'll pro he'd probably roll with founder.
John Ostler
That's cool. He'll take it. That's cool.
Speaker E
Oh yeah, probably.
John Ostler
That's a great interview. Also today is
Speaker D
The day.
John Ostler
the day Chicago Tech Startup Madness, our two finalists submit.
John Ostler
submitted audio less than two minutes to win your votes so today you're going to listen and vote on who's best through Twitter
Speaker F
Are you guys pumped for that? Are you guys ready for...
John Ostler
I am
Speaker G
Wait.
John Ostler
hyped because my company's gonna win.
Speaker G
Remind
Speaker F
No.
Speaker G
us of the companies. Who's in?
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Project
Speaker G
We have two kids.
Speaker F
Project Travel, the obvious winner.
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And Mystery Tackle Box,
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everybody likes to fish.
Speaker F
We deliver.
Speaker G
I'm
Speaker F
What
Speaker G
so
Speaker F
happened
Speaker G
excited.
Speaker F
to you guys? You guys fell off the face of the earth. Yeah, they really did.
Speaker G
You
John Ostler
Yeah.
Speaker F
guys, you guys blew it out the first round and I don't know what
John Ostler
They've
Speaker F
happened.
John Ostler
got to pay attention to
Speaker F
Yeah.
John Ostler
the show. They cannot just stop listening.
Speaker F
Yeah.
John Ostler
That was their problem.
Speaker F
They're probably not...
Speaker F
They're probably not that busy.
Speaker F
I blame myself.
Speaker F
We got a lot of show for you guys, so let's get on to it!
Speaker F
The title of today's episode is...
Speaker G
They're brought to you by the one, the only New York City Bagel, Deli, and Catering.
Speaker G
Get on over there, get some kettle baked goodness today.
Speaker F
Yeah girl.
Speaker F
And if you want some refreshments, head on over to Bow Trust Coffee.
Speaker C
Woo-hoo-hoo!
Speaker F
Check them out at BowTrust.com.
Speaker F
It's refreshing.
Speaker F
And guys, we are running a sweet promo with our partner Bow Trust. Sign up now to our newsletter and we will email you a coupon for a free cup of hot or cold brewed iced coffee at BowTrust Coffee Roasters. Check them out.
Speaker F
It's now time for Chicago!
Speaker G
To...
Speaker F
Buh-da-ba! Madness!
Speaker G
It's the greatest day!
Speaker F
Oh man, I'm so excited. This is the finals, bitches. The last two.
Speaker C
Eight weeks in the making, maybe ten.
Speaker F
32 entered the dome.
Speaker G
I And know just only two come out alive.
Speaker F
I can't wait till
Speaker C
Only this one
Speaker F
thing is
Speaker C
this
Speaker F
over.
Speaker G
week. And then one next week.
Speaker C
Dave, you're just disappointed none of your
Speaker F
I can't
Speaker C
none
Speaker F
wait till
Speaker C
of this your
Speaker F
is
Speaker C
companies
Speaker F
is over.
Speaker C
made it
Speaker G
We're
Speaker C
to the finals.
Speaker G
all so
Speaker F
Okay,
Speaker G
sad.
Speaker F
so uh we got two f in the final two in the final.
Speaker C
That's right.
Speaker C
We got mystery tackle box
Speaker F
And project travel.
Speaker G
Oh
Speaker F
So we asked them to submit us less than two minutes to pitch to y'all to win this thing for votes.
Speaker F
So we're going to play the audio clips now to see who goes first.
Speaker F
Brent and I are going to paper, rock, scissors.
Speaker F
Are you ready?
Speaker C
Is this best out of three?
Speaker F
No, no, no. It's just out of one,
Speaker F
and we're going to do one,
Speaker F
two,
Speaker F
three, shoot,
Speaker F
not one, two, shoot.
Speaker F
Okay?
Speaker C
Oh, thank you for clarifying.
Speaker F
Okay, here we go. Ready?
Speaker F
Paper, scissors,
Speaker G
Oh,
Speaker F
both.
Speaker G
jeez.
Speaker F
Both paper.
Speaker G
Oh, and Mackie takes the
Speaker C
Son
Speaker G
crown!
Speaker C
of a
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Mr.
Speaker F
Red takes
Speaker C
Hat in
Speaker F
it. Yeah.
Speaker C
the box.
Speaker F
He had paper.
Speaker G
Smoke.
Speaker F
John had rock. We all know what happens with that.
John Ostler
Project travel,
John Ostler
I am so sorry, but that was strategy. We knew that you knew to go last anyway.
John Ostler
Hissoke, here we go. Let's play the first quiz.
Speaker C
I can't.
Speaker H
All right guys, first of all, let me say that we are honored for the opportunity to take home the coveted Bites Over Bagels Shiva trophy. Shiva Kamini Soma Khandakram. For those of you that have no idea what I'm talking about,
Speaker H
that's quite okay. Where am I going with this?
Speaker H
Right,
Speaker H
mystery tackle box.
Speaker H
So just what is so mysterious about these tackle boxes?
Speaker H
Fishing? Do you fish?
Speaker H
Well,
Speaker H
40 million US anglers do,
Speaker H
and we're helping them discover new and innovative
Speaker H
I've made a fishing lures each and every month talk about an exciting way to stock my box.
Speaker H
It's like Christmas once a month.
Speaker H
Don't believe me? Well, let's see what our very own KVD has to say about it
Speaker C
My name's Carl Von Dibble, and I love fishing.
Speaker C
No,
Speaker C
I really love fishing.
Speaker C
I love it more than ice cream or fancy cars,
Speaker C
and I sure as shad love it more than my mother-in-law.
Speaker G
What was that, Carl?
Speaker F
Uh, nothing honey.
Speaker F
There's only one thing I love as much as fishing.
Speaker F
My subscription to Mystery Tackle Box.
Speaker F
You see,
Speaker F
each month Mystery Tackle Box sends me all kinds of fishing lures from top brands.
Speaker F
You got crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits, plastics,
Speaker F
and much more.
Speaker F
I'm not talking cheap stuff either.
Speaker F
I mean some of the most innovative stuff on the market.
Speaker F
So I get to find new stuff I never tried before or try stuff I've always wanted.
Speaker I
Carl,
Speaker I
my mom will be here any minute.
Speaker I
Minute. Are you coming down?
Speaker C
No, I have an appointment at the lake with my boat,
Speaker C
fishing.
Speaker C
My mystery tackle box just came yesterday.
Speaker C
Log on to mysterytacklebox.com and get your first box for only five bucks with the code GET499.
Speaker C
There's always free shipping and you can cancel any time.
Speaker C
Makes a great gift,
Speaker C
too.
Speaker F
All right,
Speaker F
all right.
Speaker G
And
Speaker C
Yeah?
Speaker G
now he does not like his mother-in-law.
Speaker F
Oh,
Speaker C
No,
Speaker F
my God.
John Ostler
he doesn't. He's got a meeting.
Speaker G
Smoke.
John Ostler
He's got a meeting on the lake.
Speaker C
His boat.
Speaker G
With his boat,
Speaker C
That
Speaker G
with
Speaker C
was
Speaker G
Mr.
Speaker C
Jeremy,
Speaker G
Taco Bell.
Speaker C
by the way, founder.
Speaker C
Mystery Tackle Box. Pretty sweet dude. He's actually off fishing this week.
Speaker F
Oh,
Speaker C
So the
Speaker F
surprising.
Speaker C
guy practices what he preaches.
John Ostler
Who was the crew doing the thing, did he say?
Speaker C
Nah, he didn't he didn't say who did that.
Speaker F
Probably paid actors.
Speaker G
Nonsense!
Speaker C
Easy John,
Speaker F
What did you pay to get on this, uh, to win this thing?
John Ostler
What's
Speaker F
that? Wouldn't you pay an actor
Speaker G
Yeah,
Speaker F
to john. win this Oh, Chicago for Tech
John Ostler
sure,
Speaker F
Tournament
John Ostler
for sure, for sure.
Speaker F
Yeah.
John Ostler
I went with clowns, classic clowns.
Speaker F
Oh, yeah.
Speaker G
Stilts.
John Ostler
Okay. Okay, so...
John Ostler
Uh, let's go on to Project Travel.
Speaker I
What do you do when you're broke as a joke, but you want to travel with the lassies and the blokes?
Speaker I
What do you do when you're living on a shoestring, but dream in Mandarin and going to Beijing?
Speaker I
Go Project Travel.
Speaker I
Honey, would you like to study with your honey in Germany?
Speaker I
We need to get from here to there, volunteer or study,
Speaker I
teach or repair.
Speaker I
Go project travel.
Speaker I
Go project travel.
Speaker I
Hold on now,
Speaker I
how does this all work?
Speaker I
Start your project online,
Speaker I
you'll go in no time. Write your story and tell all your friends.
Speaker I
When your funds fall short, community...
Speaker J
I could do that. Sure you could.
Speaker J
Go project travel.
Speaker J
Go project travel.
Speaker J
The financial aid and scholarships simply aren't enough.
Speaker J
Some might say, well that's just tough.
Speaker J
Not us. Yeah,
Speaker J
we say.
Speaker J
Go project travel.
Speaker F
Oh,
John Ostler
Cute
Speaker F
make
John Ostler
song.
Speaker F
sure it's Sam that you put it back.
Speaker C
Man, that was good.
John Ostler
Cute song.
Speaker F
I don't
Speaker G
That was
Speaker F
know.
Speaker G
awesome.
John Ostler
I don't know.
Speaker G
Props to those
Speaker C
That
Speaker G
ladies.
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was a little like Juno-ish,
Speaker G
That was awesome.
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you know like
Speaker C
They didn't really have a promo code in there though,
John Ostler
Oh,
Speaker C
did they?
John Ostler
Brett,
Speaker I
I
John Ostler
come
Speaker I
was on. so upset.
John Ostler
No way, that was sweet.
Speaker C
Sometimes it's not just
Speaker G
It's not about the promos.
John Ostler
It's not about
Speaker G
Give
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giving away
Speaker G
it.
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free stuff,
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Brett. All
Speaker C
You
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right, so
Speaker C
guys
John Ostler
let's
Speaker C
are right.
John Ostler
bring everybody in. So hopefully you liked one of those.
John Ostler
Otherwise, you can just tweet at us, right? And well,
John Ostler
no, that's not true. Okay, so here's how it goes. So the final week of voting, it's going to go through uh but prior to next episode, we're going to announce the winner on the next episode. So Tuesday night, you better get your votes in. And uh voting is for these guys is the same way it's been the whole time. Or basically as long as you include the hashtag Chicago Tech Startup Madness.
Speaker F
With your tweet and who you're voting for,
Speaker F
they'll get a vote.
Speaker F
So it's literally,
Speaker F
you know, every unique vote for this next week is going to be calculated for the winner.
Speaker F
All right, everybody,
Speaker F
that's the rules. Enjoy the last voting for Chicago.
John Ostler
Start.
Speaker C
Boom! We got a new sponsor, y'all. Uh, it is Cobalt. They make some fine whiskeys and spirits here in the heart of Chicago. So if you thought we were idiots on the show before, look out, 'cause we are drinking now. Thanks, Cobalt.
Speaker F
Goes great with some Velcro's coffee.
Speaker C
True.
Speaker F
Ooh!
John Ostler
True.
Speaker G
And
Speaker F
You know.
Speaker G
some NYC bagel, deli, and catering.
Speaker F
Today's feature interview is with Mark Lawrence.
Speaker F
He's co-founder and CEO of Spot Hero.
John Ostler
Ooh, he's
Speaker F
A
John Ostler
a hero.
Speaker F
hero
John Ostler
He is a hero.
Speaker F
of spots.
Speaker F
So,
Speaker F
this is how we usually start the show.
Speaker F
Please tell our listeners,
Speaker F
what is Spot Hero?
Speaker F
Spot Hero allows you to reserve a parking spot online or on your mobile phone. So we save you from parking tickets.
Speaker F
That's how we're heroes.
Speaker F
Yeah.
John Ostler
Yeah!
Speaker F
Those are the best heroes.
Speaker F
Do you literally fend off those guys with the orange vests?
Speaker F
Oh, we do way more.
Speaker F
We have customer heroes, spot heroes.
Speaker F
We save lives.
Speaker F
That's amazing.
Speaker F
So talk about the evolution. How did this all come to be?
Speaker K
So when Jeremy and I first started this,
Speaker F
Oh, Jeremy,
Speaker F
the other guy.
Speaker K
the other guy,
Speaker F
Yeah.
Speaker K
the other co-founder.
Speaker F
Yes.
Speaker K
We have a third too.
Speaker F
Do you? Oh no.
Speaker K
His name is Larry Kiss and he was recently named
Speaker F
The Kiss.
Speaker F
They call him the Kiss.
Speaker K
the kiss one of the sexiest developers according to Business Insider.
Speaker F
No way.
Speaker K
Yes.
Speaker C
What
Speaker F
Don's gonna be so upset. Sorry, I'm making a dime.
Speaker F
In a Don Kelly.
Speaker K
Larry kiss, sexiest developer
Speaker F
Of course
Speaker K
ever.
Speaker F
it is, because it's the last name.
Speaker F
Are you looking him up?
Speaker K
Yeah. Larry Kiss, business insider, sexiest developers alive.
Speaker F
Who nominated him for that?
Speaker K
I did?
Speaker F
Yeah,
Speaker K
Of
Speaker F
that's course awesome.
Speaker L
you did. Of course you did.
Speaker F
All right, sorry. So there are three of you,
Speaker K
Yes.
Speaker F
and yeah, how did this all happen?
Speaker K
Well,
Speaker K
we both got a lot of parking tickets,
Speaker K
and we wanted to make parking easier and better. And so we started selling individual people's driveways in and around Wrigley Field.
Speaker F
Oh, okay. So you guys were living in Wrigleyville?
Speaker K
So I wasn't. I wouldn't have lived
Speaker F
You
Speaker K
there.
Speaker F
wouldn't be that foolish.
John Ostler
Ooh.
Speaker K
No.
Speaker F
Do never say that about him again.
Speaker F
He does not live by it.
Speaker K
Um, so i i
Speaker K
I had gone there to park. My business partner Jeremy and friend had always parked there too. And all of our friends were constantly getting tickets in and around Chicago.
Speaker K
Wrigleyville was where we started, but the goal was to make parking easier across the city as well.
Speaker F
So you partnered,
Speaker F
you went up to people who own parking spots and said,
Speaker F
hey, I can fill these spots for you?
Speaker K
Yeah, we said we can sell your spot online because there's a lot of people that...
Speaker K
people that stand outside and flag people in, but there's a lot of people that have a parking spot but used to work during the day, and this was a way for them to be able to sell it, and they didn't have to stand on a corner. So
Speaker F
That's awesome. So were you getting parking tickets in college when you came up with this idea or
Speaker K
Oh, got a lot of parking tickets in college. But
Speaker F
yeah.
Speaker K
uh I had already graduated and I was working at a bank and and and left corporate America, so I wasn't really doing anything at the time, um and neither was Jeremy. So
Speaker K
You know, he decided to work at a pizza place because he wanted to he he actually wanted to own a a a pizza restaurant.
Speaker F
Which one?
Speaker K
Uh he worked at Ian's Pizza.
Speaker F
Oh, in Reelyville.
Speaker K
In Wrigleyville.
Speaker F
Yeah, okay, got it.
Speaker K
And and so he quickly or not so quickly found out that he didn't want to own a pizza place after working there for a long time. Um and
Speaker F
Yeah,
Speaker K
so
Speaker F
when when you're cleaning the bathroom at Ian's at three A_M_
Speaker K
Oh man.
Speaker F
that's gonna really deter you.
Speaker F
When I was at Michigan State, I was also at a pizza
Speaker F
pizza place where I had to clean the bathroom in the morning.
Speaker F
I don't know what to say about that.
Speaker H
Oh.
Speaker F
It'll change your life in a bad way. Maybe in a good way.
Speaker K
I think that's why Ian's got rid of the bathroom. They don't have one anymore.
Speaker F
No kidding?
Speaker H
Ooh.
Speaker K
Yeah, there's no bathroom there.
Speaker F
It's genius.
Speaker K
I don't know if it ever did have one.
Speaker F
Why didn't
Speaker K
Yeah, I don't
Speaker F
it get
Speaker K
know if
Speaker F
that?
Speaker K
it ever did either, You but... don't want to, if you're open till 3 a.m., you don't want a bathroom in your place. Yeah. I'll tell you that much.
Speaker F
All right. So, all right. So y he was working at a pizza place and
Speaker K
And he started SpotHero as a side project.
Speaker F
got it.
Speaker K
Jeremy originally started it and I was, you know, a friend of his and I liked the idea. Um and we decided to do it together full time and go all out. Um and he stopped working at the pizza place and him and I together did SpotHero full time.
Speaker F
Cool.
Speaker K
So we're signing up the different individual parking spaces and selling those for just
Speaker K
uh Cubs parking before we moved into selling parking spaces. Not at individuals'
Speaker C
Oh.
Speaker K
houses and garages, but actually at large parking lots and garages.
Speaker C
Hmm.
Speaker F
Yeah, what challenges did you face like with the parking industry in general? Like did you
Speaker F
Are there laws? Are there issues that you ran into?
Speaker K
Uh it wasn't any like laws or like issues specific to the parking industry, it was more just like logistics. A car parking in a spot, uh trying to sell that over and over with the individuals was difficult to scale and i it we were trying to make parking easier across the city, and it just really wasn't moving as fast as we'd like, um and being very operational intensive. What is
Speaker K
what is a product when you have individuals versus the product now which is you know exactly what you're going to get, you know how much you're going to pay. It's very simple, it's uh a awesome alternative to street parking,
Speaker F
Mm-hmm.
Speaker K
um because you know, the cost of street parking also the s time spent driving and around in circles. So it took a while for us to really get the product and offering available so when consumers came, they'd be like, hell yeah, this is this is a much better than driving around in circles and getting a ticket.
Speaker K
Take it.
Speaker F
So if somebody has a parking spot that they're not using,
Speaker F
Do they reach out to you? Or how does this how does this
Speaker K
So
Speaker F
go down?
Speaker K
we work with large parking lot companies and uh... the down to individual lot owners. So if you have a particular
Speaker F
Okay.
Speaker K
single space, uh we we wouldn't, but we would work with someone even if they just have one parking lot. Uh someone we work with, hey I have eight spaces. Um and then we work with large garages that have thousands of spaces just in one single location.
Speaker F
Do garages have a hard time filling up their spots? Or, you know, is it is it more of a convenience for the garage to use you guys or is it more of a convenience for the consumer to know that they have a spot in a garage?
Speaker K
So the goal is to build this consumer product that makes it easier for the consumers to park. The reason the parking lot companies like it is because, you know, previously they had a sign outside,
Speaker K
and this is their sign on the internet.
Speaker K
And so
Speaker K
They'll, th it allows them flexibility to offer certain discounts during different certain times. We don't work with every parking lot company.
Speaker F
So Mm.
Speaker K
the ones that work with us get huge benefits. We allow them to compete with the street for the first time ever and we make parking sexy. It that was previously
Speaker C
Oh
Speaker K
never
Speaker C
my.
Speaker K
thought possible.
Speaker C
Dude, man, this guy is
Speaker F
Sexy
Speaker C
a hero and
Speaker F
developer,
Speaker C
he's sexy he's
Speaker F
sexy developer,
Speaker C
the greatest
Speaker F
he's a hero.
Speaker C
in the book.
Speaker F
Yeah, so how many how many people are now
Speaker F
On the team doing sort of
Speaker K
Being
Speaker F
the reach
Speaker K
heroes?
Speaker F
out. Yeah,
Speaker K
Being
Speaker F
I mean
Speaker K
heroes, yeah. We've seventeen heroes.
Speaker F
Seventeen. And how long were you was it just the three of you?
Speaker K
So it was just the three of us all the way up until August
Speaker K
of 2012.
Speaker F
Well, so you blew up pretty quick.
Speaker K
So...
Speaker K
Yeah, it's 2013 I
Speaker F
Yeah.
Speaker K
think.
Speaker F
Yeah, that's pretty good.
Speaker K
So
Speaker F
Let's get down to some nitty-gritty stuff like how did you have money to make to build the website from the beginning? How do you have money now? Like can you talk about raising money or how you guys went about that?
Speaker K
So when we first started we had a part-time um
Speaker K
uh contractor that worked with us who was great and he gave us very favorable rates uh he was a friend of my uncle's and we got money a few ways. First we had some savings, so we put in um you know our our own money, we started with twelve and a half thousand dollars to to start that. And it wasn't that expensive because it took so long uh to to make it. I mean we started in October of two thousand ten, we didn't actually launch until July.
Speaker K
of 2011.
Speaker K
So it felt like a really long time, but we got the minimum viable product done very um reasonably inexpensive. Um and the other way is we kept winning contests. So we s would apply to literally every contest. So we won um even, you know, five hundred dollars here. We won five thousand dollars in a contest in Cleveland where our developer was based at the time. We won ten thousand dollars from a city of Chicago contest. We literally just applied to every single type of contest and
Speaker K
We I guess bootstrapped through um you know we started with our savings, then we b we bootstrapped through contest winnings, and then once we started to make um revenue we bootstrapped through that before raising money, and that's like
Speaker F
Very cool.
Speaker C
A
Speaker K
three
Speaker F
So how
Speaker K
years
Speaker F
about
Speaker K
compressed into
Speaker F
I thi I think this is important. So what's different about the site now than what you guys first launched with? Because I think that most people are like, oh I gotta do my M_V_P_ and then they're like yeah, it's gotta have eighteen features.
Speaker F
features in it, like what did you guys launch with to get this going?
Speaker C
No.
Speaker K
So we didn't have an Android or iPhone app, it was just the website. And we only allowed you to purchase parking and you had to check out through Amazon. So it was about,
Speaker F
Yeah.
Speaker K
we I think I remember documenting it out, it was like a forty seven step process to purchase parking, um because you'd have to search, find then create or sign in.
Speaker K
to your Amazon account, and then if you didn't have one you had to it was it was um very bare bones, but it worked, um and
Speaker F
How many how many customers did you guys have with that system?
Speaker K
Uh
Speaker F
Do you remember? Like ballpark?
Speaker K
so I think we had that system up till, you know, at least ten thousand customers. And so
Speaker F
Oh.
Speaker F
Entrepreneurs, are you listening? You can build a product that is somewhat janky and
Speaker K
Oh,
Speaker F
still get ten thousand customers.
Speaker K
it was very janky for a very long time and when
Speaker F
You've heard it here.
Speaker K
when we were raising money, it was really funny when a lot of people would say, wow, you have this traction despite yourselves.
Speaker F
You're like, yeah, we weren't even trying yet.
Speaker K
They're like, wait, people, wait, you're doing how many transactions through this website?
Speaker K
cite uh so That's That's brilliant. not there still a lot
Speaker F
That's
Speaker K
we have
Speaker F
brilliant.
Speaker K
to do. I mean there's still a lot of, you know, development. If you look at, you know, each platform, we have web, Android, iPhone, and they've all been at varying degrees of uh head of each other, and right now the iPhone app is by far uh the farthest ahead of any of of the platforms. I Android was, now iPhone's way ahead. And if you look at and compare, um but yeah, the first time
Speaker K
We launched. Two people tried to buy the same parking space at the same
Speaker F
Oh,
Speaker K
time.
Speaker F
a fight.
Speaker K
Well, the site crashed um and we found out that that was the reason 'cause I guess two people clicked like they could something couldn't handle something, I still don't know what
Speaker F
That's
Speaker K
happened.
Speaker F
amazing. It's like the Seinfeld episode where one guy's going front end and the other guy's going back end.
Speaker K
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker F
It's a fight, you don't know
Speaker F
He's talking about parallel parking by the way.
John Ostler
Ha ha.
Speaker F
That's that's true. You aren't getting that reference.
Speaker K
You can just cut that out.
Speaker F
Thanks Dave.
John Ostler
Um
Speaker F
Very nice. Good reference.
Speaker K
Yeah.
John Ostler
So that's interesting. So so uh I uh essentially you guys were sort of able to grow this from seeds
Speaker K
Mm-hmm.
John Ostler
outright and and was it a lot of were you doing a lot of outreach initially? Like w how much proactive work were you doing versus trying to advertise?
Speaker K
It was all proactive work and no advertising, because we were a week away from launch or two weeks away from launch for seven months. So
Speaker K
We kept almost thinking we were about to launch and it didn't happen. So when we started in October 2010 we were supposed to launch in December. So we were two weeks away from launch until July,
Speaker K
which um so we were constantly doing outreach, just constantly trying to figure out ways I mean we're in the newspapers a lot before our thing launched because we kept talking about free parking tips that we were parking gurus 'cause when we launched we were like oh yeah, we're the parking guys.
Speaker K
Yes, but it went on for so long and we didn't have our site. Um but it was nice because when we did launch we had all these articles and some of those articles that we, you know, we were in and the different blog pieces and all of this outreach into to different companies or people that have helped along the way, we get tons of business still, residual um every month, and a lot of those efforts were done six months before the site even launched. We
Speaker F
Wow.
Speaker K
had built, you know, that whole from, you know seven months
Speaker K
We
Speaker K
of
Mark Lawrence
constant outreach um made it so that when we did launch we already had an email list of I think we had about five hundred people so when we launched it was like hey we're here and these were people that wanted to know, they wanted to use the service. So you know, it took seven months, it was very hard, definitely stressful when you're that far
Speaker B
Sure.
Mark Lawrence
when you're that close yet that far, but when we did launch it made it um a lot easier.
Speaker B
So were you working at this time, like when the seven months
Speaker B
months before launch or what were you doing personally?
Mark Lawrence
I was just doing spot hero. That's
Speaker B
it. Okay.
Mark Lawrence
It was full time which
Speaker B
Were
Mark Lawrence
was you wow.
Speaker B
like living in a in a car or something like what were you doing?
Mark Lawrence
So, you know, a lot of different creative ways to make money. So, uh, rented out uh, place on Airbnb,
Mark Lawrence
sold different things online. Uh, I had savings from when I worked at the bank because I, I wanted to, I guess like save for my freedom. So I didn't know what I wanted to do. I just knew I didn't want to work.
Mark Lawrence
I work at the bank, um felt very stifled over there and so I I guess I had savings because I wanted to have enough I guess personal runway so that I could figure something else out. But it it there were a lot of things that were really stressful because when you're seven s it took seven months and you're so close it's like your personal runway is running out but also you're like
Mark Lawrence
You're wanting to launch and everything you've been working for just keeps getting pushed farther and farther and farther away and
Speaker B
Mm.
Mark Lawrence
that definitely
Speaker B
Takes a toll.
Mark Lawrence
takes a toll.
Speaker B
Yes.
Speaker C
Yeah.
Mark Lawrence
Speaking of cr driving right
Speaker B
Oh, the
Speaker C
Oh.
Speaker B
toll is my.
Speaker C
Yeah, I've had some.
Speaker B
I'm sorry,
Speaker C
It's
Speaker B
I did not
Speaker C
two
Speaker B
mean
Speaker C
for
Speaker B
that.
Speaker C
two, boys.
Mark Lawrence
I was yeah.
Speaker C
Two for two.
Mark Lawrence
Nobody likes tolls.
Speaker B
No. Not even the heroes over
Mark Lawrence
Not even
Speaker B
here.
Mark Lawrence
even the people at
Speaker C
Toll
Mark Lawrence
the toll
Speaker C
heroes.
Mark Lawrence
toll booth.
Speaker B
No, they definitely don't
Mark Lawrence
Oh
Speaker B
like working there.
Mark Lawrence
no.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker B
We gotta make tolls better.
Mark Lawrence
Yeah.
Speaker B
So were you always an entrepre were you did you always have like this entrepreneurial drive? I mean you went to university where'd you go to school?
Mark Lawrence
I went to Bradley.
Speaker B
Oh I was gonna say you went to Bradley.
Mark Lawrence
Yeah.
Speaker B
And
Speaker B
What did you always want to start a company? You were working at the bank, but like what was your passion before the bank?
Mark Lawrence
So I've always started different businesses, not necessarily a company.
Mark Lawrence
So I mean, I, you know, going back to the second grade, I started selling perfume that I made reading out of stuff in the encyclopedia, stuff like that. I wouldn't call it a company.
Mark Lawrence
and that was shut down by principal's office for running a business in school so I never really did like well in school I always like was being like fought but I feel like I know the whole education thing's another thing but I started a business in different businesses and it was like I was constantly like running up into issues with the schools even at Bradley University the bookstore I started a used textbook business online which was very successful and I got you know
Mark Lawrence
s a good amount of savings from that. Uh they really did not like the fact that I had a competing entity to their to their store. So I guess I started these little businesses
Speaker B
Yeah.
Mark Lawrence
here and there, um and uh I I don't know I just I like building stuff and it's always been like fun and exciting, but I never I never really felt like oh I wanna start a company, it was just like oh I wanna just find efficiencies, build stuff. I don't know.
Speaker B
Yeah. So yeah, when you say building are you what's your
Speaker B
What's your weapon de choice?
Mark Lawrence
So, uh
Speaker B
I mean are you
Mark Lawrence
a hammer.
Speaker B
more in yeah, are you more in terms of orchestrating or are you literally in the code doing stuff?
Mark Lawrence
So I've never been in the code, but I just did stuff. So like I guess the perfume I d is just physical.
Speaker B
Yeah, that makes
Mark Lawrence
No,
Speaker B
sense.
Mark Lawrence
it's no code needed. Um
Speaker B
He smells great by the way.
Mark Lawrence
I I
Speaker B
Smells great.
Mark Lawrence
I did Theatre I did cologne too.
Mark Lawrence
the uh and then the use tax for business I didn't need um coding 'cause there's all these different tools to create websites, there's distribution, you know, half dot com, Amazon, like you know, there was a big arbitrage opportunity at the time which I c I couldn't build that now today because of the way that things exist, but when I started that in high school and carried that through college there it was just an a nice arbitrage opportunity because of the huge mismatch
Mark Lawrence
in the in the market of textbooks.
Speaker B
So in the time you were waiting to launch,
Speaker B
your idea was to
Speaker B
be around Wrigleyville and sell those parking spots uh residentially. But were you already partnered or like had plans to partner with parking garages and did you have those relationships already starting at that point?
Mark Lawrence
No, definitely not with the garages and lots, no.
Speaker B
Okay.
Mark Lawrence
But for the rest of the city in terms of the outreach,
Mark Lawrence
yes.
Mark Lawrence
So we made free parking maps for a all these different neighborhoods around the United Center, around McCormick Place, um
Mark Lawrence
you know, by downtown, you know, different parking tips, where you can park for free. And our whole thing was, let's make parking easier. If you can park for free, park for free. If you have to pay to park
Mark Lawrence
You spot hero.
Speaker B
I like that.
Speaker B
That's awesome.
Speaker B
So what do you what do you want it? I mean, I guess you sort of mentioned it But I mean, what is your ultimate goal? Do you see spot hero in every major city or like I guess What's what's the bigger vision right now? Are you allowed to talk about it?
Mark Lawrence
The goal is glory.
Speaker B
Now that's the show title. Yeah,
Speaker B
for sure What is glory to you?
Speaker D
Glory?
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker E
No wait, let's re-ask that. Let's re-ask that.
Speaker B
What do you want your legacy to be? I know it's a little early, but since this is a time capsule and you'll probably listen to it in ten years when you're bored.
Speaker D
Glory.
Mark Lawrence
Hmm.
Speaker B
Really?
Speaker D
Yeah.
Mark Lawrence
Yes.
Speaker B
It's kind of like how we say the future.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker B
We just wanted it kind of sums it up.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Mark Lawrence
I just love the word. I think it embodies everything that goes into what
Mark Lawrence
like a glorious life should be. And so when I'm in a really good mood, a lot of times like I'll sign my email signature Glory comma Mark. I don't do it all the time. But if you've received an email from me, you know that I was in a really good mood at the time.
Speaker B
Oh my God, you didn't sign glory comma Mark, did you?
Mark Lawrence
I did not.
Speaker E
It was not in a good mood.
Mark Lawrence
No,
Speaker B
No,
Mark Lawrence
no, no. That doesn't mean I wasn't
Speaker E
Oh,
Mark Lawrence
in a good you're mood.
Speaker E
just you were just in a normal mood.
Mark Lawrence
Exceptional
Speaker B
Yeah,
Speaker E
Yeah.
Mark Lawrence
mood.
Speaker B
yeah.
Speaker E
Yeah.
Speaker B
So, between glory and exceptional.
Speaker E
What about product development right now?
Speaker B
Are you guys making a lot of changes? I mean what does that what does that look like right now in terms of your technology and like
Speaker E
How are you guys thinking about the mobile apps and the and the website?
Mark Lawrence
Uh constant change, constant iteration from product uh, you know, feedback from our c our consumers and also the roadmap of where we want to go. So for example, ex excuse me.
Mark Lawrence
Ah, thinking about those sleds.
Speaker E
Did you offer this man some water?
Mark Lawrence
I did he
Speaker E
Rejected?
Mark Lawrence
he's a hero, this guy doesn't want water.
Speaker E
Do you want some water now?
Mark Lawrence
No thank you.
Speaker E
Okay.
Mark Lawrence
Uh so, for example, um when when we first started, most of the locations, you had to print out something ahead of time and place it on your dashboard, a physical piece of paper. And if you didn't, you had to push a button to reach a call centre and have be let out remotely. And now we're integrated with
Mark Lawrence
With different types of hardware, you can scan your phone, it provides for the easiest and most glorious customer experience, because you can purchase on your phone, you get there, you scan, it lets you in, you scan, it lets you out, and it's just you forget that parking used to be painful at all.
Speaker E
Alright, let's let's go back in time. You're starting Spot Hero again with the knowledge. It's a quantum leap kinda?
Mark Lawrence
Yes.
Speaker E
What are you doing different this time?
Mark Lawrence
Using a framework?
Speaker E
Ooh, using a framework. So is this all custom flat out?
Mark Lawrence
Not anymore. We're on Django right now.
Speaker E
Okay. What was it originally?
Mark Lawrence
Rattlesnake.
Speaker E
I've never heard of it.
Mark Lawrence
So it worked. It it got us to where we needed to go.
Speaker E
Nice.
Mark Lawrence
Yeah.
Speaker E
It's now time for the most important question. Are you ready?
Speaker E
Why?
Speaker B
What is your favorite type of bagel and how do you like it prepared?
Mark Lawrence
That's easy.
Mark Lawrence
My favorite type of bagel is a poppy seed bagel, which I like with chive cream cheese,
Mark Lawrence
capers, red onion,
Mark Lawrence
tomato and lox.
Speaker B
Wow, that was awesome.
Speaker E
Toasted?
Mark Lawrence
Oh, yeah.
Speaker E
Right.
Speaker E
Okay, good.
Speaker E
A lot of people, they get specific about the toasting. They're like, double toasted,
Speaker E
I want it sent through twice.
Mark Lawrence
No, no, definitely
Speaker E
Just
Mark Lawrence
not.
Speaker E
right, just straight.
Speaker E
What place?
Mark Lawrence
Um, so New York bagel and bialy in on Tui just off the expressway
Speaker E
Oh,
Mark Lawrence
is incredible.
Speaker E
yeah,
Speaker E
it's good.
Mark Lawrence
I just recently had the most glorious bagel ever at Russ and Daughters in the Lower East Side of New York. It's been open 99 years, hand-cut salmon with
Mark Lawrence
All its glory. I actually even had a piece of smoked sable on the bagel as well, which was even
Speaker E
That's
Mark Lawrence
more
Speaker E
deluxe.
Mark Lawrence
glorious. It was beyond deluxe,
Speaker E
Glorious?
Mark Lawrence
pure glory.
Speaker E
I think you should give everyone in spot hero one of those bagels as a anniversary gift.
Mark Lawrence
You look it up. It's five stars on Yelp. It's been open 99 years.
Speaker E
How many stars does spot hero have on Yelp? Are you guys on there? I don't...
Mark Lawrence
We're four and a half so the bagel the bagel shop beat us, but I understand
Speaker E
Not bad.
Mark Lawrence
all right. You'll you'll
Speaker E
Who was
Mark Lawrence
give
Speaker E
that one guy who's
Speaker F
Yeah,
Speaker E
like
Speaker F
this one guy
Speaker E
is terrible!
Speaker F
gave you guys like two.
Speaker E
Ha he was Dave. It was Dave.
Mark Lawrence
That was not
Speaker E
You
Mark Lawrence
me.
Speaker E
gave me the wrong location. I, to be honest with you, I have not used your app, but I do want to now for sure.
Mark Lawrence
And the bagel place too.
Speaker E
I want to go to the bagel place. Can we go there together one time?
Mark Lawrence
I I'd like that
Speaker E
Can place. we park somewhere by there?
Mark Lawrence
Don't need to park, probably just take the
Speaker E
Okay,
Mark Lawrence
train to that place.
Speaker E
okay.
Mark Lawrence
It's it's amazing.
Speaker E
That's cool.
Mark Lawrence
Yeah.
Speaker E
Well, Mark, let's get you out of here.
Speaker E
Thanks so much for coming in.
Speaker B
Thanks
Speaker E
Good.
Speaker B
man.
Speaker E
Best of luck.
Speaker G
Today's music is brought to you by Shana's very own, yes indeed,
Speaker G
it is The Suedes. Check them out,
Speaker G
facebook.com slash The Suedes, that's S-U-E-V-E-S or at bitesoverbagels.com.
Speaker G
And that concludes episode 31 of Byte Over Vegas!
Speaker G
Brandon, you have got to get in the game.
Speaker H
Ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya
Speaker G
Oh, man.
Speaker E
Tune in next week for David Vinca and Luke Shepard. David is the co-founder and CEO.
Speaker B
And Luke is the CTO of eSpark Learning.
Speaker E
This is a pretty awesome interview.
Speaker E
Luke's a former Facebooker.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker E
Speaker B
Yeah,
Speaker E
developer.
Speaker B
engineer
Speaker E
Get ready.
Speaker B
at Facebook.
Speaker E
M M Yep.
Speaker B
Wow.
Mark Lawrence
Yeah.
Mark Lawrence
Sure.
Speaker H
No comment after
Mark Lawrence
Sure.
Speaker H
that.
Speaker E
Yeah.
Speaker E
Uh also next week we're going to announce the winner of Chicago Tech Startup Madness. Do you realize that there is one who will rise above the thirty two to claim the
Speaker H
Dun
Speaker E
top prize for our first annual awards show?
Mark Lawrence
Yeah, what's that prize?
Speaker H
As
Speaker E
Well
Speaker H
made for Ozpark.
Speaker E
Yeah, we're gonna take a picture.
Speaker B
Hmm.
Speaker E
We're we're baking something nice if you guys can pull it off, we're baking something nice.
Speaker B
Yeah.
Speaker E
So.
Speaker B
Literally baking.
Speaker B
Mm.
Speaker E
Maybe.
Speaker H
Sweet, fresh cookies.
Speaker E
Melting plastic.
Speaker H
Made by Dave
Speaker E
Hopefully.
Speaker H
himself.
Speaker E
As
Mark Lawrence
So
Speaker E
always you can check us out at bytesoverbagels.com. You can go to iTunes, you can go to Facebook,
Speaker E
Instagram,
Speaker E
Twitter,
Speaker E
what do you want? Vine?
Speaker B
Mm.
Speaker H
Sure,
Speaker E
You want
Mark Lawrence
Hi.
Speaker E
you wanna
Speaker H
all
Speaker E
be over
Speaker H
you folks.
Speaker E
there?
Speaker E
And, last but not least, subscribe to our newsletter.
Speaker E
We will not spam you. We will just send you a guest announcements, and Dave and Steve worked really hard on it. And if you reply directly to that, they'll send you love notes every evening. And finally, don't forget, signing up for the newsletter also gets you a free coffee from Bo Truss. That concludes today's episode. Have a good week.