Native New Yorker Alex Koblenz had a dilemma. After attending a Jay-Z concert, he wanted to know what the renowned hip-hop artist’s wardrobe consisted of that evening. Countless hours spent searching on Google didn’t provide Alex with the answers he was looking for, so he decided to create Pradux.
Pradux, pronounced “products,” just released their first app in the Window Store recently.
We spoke to Alex about how his team is building the largest database of celebrity style, how they overcame their biggest screw up, and his advice to share with aspiring entrepreneurs.
I’m originally from New York, but I attended George Washington University in Washington D.C. One week after graduation, I worked at a hedge fund for four and half years where I focused on retail and technology stocks. From there, I had the courage to make the leap to start a company. Some of my first investors came from my fund and encouraged me to take a shot.
Pradux allows users to shop the world’s largest database of styles worn by television stars and celebrities. In addition, users can share their own style and trends and earn cash money provided that consumers purchase merchandise through their page.
One of our biggest mistakes was not getting the product out to the public quickly. Nothing will ever be perfect, and you’ll constantly be iterating and improving. However, there is a point when you can start getting feedback and build a user base, even when the product doesn’t include everything you had envisioned.
Part of being a leader is being able to accept feedback from other people. Surround yourself with individuals who have an expertise in areas where you don’t, such as engineering or design. I listen to opinions from these experts and mix them with my own to help me make decisions.
Proper communication is extremely important as well, whether you have a small or a large team. It’s essential for everyone on the team to know why we’re doing certain things so they understand how the current work they’re doing will affect the company’s future.
It’s an extremely long journey when you’re in a startup. Each day, you should point to some type of progress you’ve made as a company, no matter how small the accomplishment. Take some time to celebrate the successes because there will be plenty of failures. As an entrepreneur who is trying to create something from nothing, I am constantly pushing a ball uphill. Sometimes it’s okay to look down at how far you’ve come.
Photographs by Lauren Kallen