SexTech Startup | Emilie Wiersma | Beyond Coding Podcast #86

Facing Failures

Emilie Wiersma's journey with Konfettie has been marked by significant setbacks. She candidly discusses the mistakes she made early on, such as getting too excited and overspending, which led to financial constraints but also faster decision-making processes 1. Emilie emphasizes the importance of learning from failures, noting that many initial assumptions about customer needs were incorrect despite thorough research 1.

You can do a lot of research, you can build everything everybody wants, but most people don't even know what they want.

--- Emilie Wiersma

Her experiences underscore the value of starting small and iterating based on real user feedback 2.

   

Building Marketplace

Building Konfettie was a complex process that involved significant trial and error. Emilie initially collaborated with a digital agency to create a custom marketplace, but after eight months and substantial financial loss, the project failed 3. She then pivoted to using existing technology with Shopify, which allowed her to launch the marketplace quickly and onboard sellers efficiently 3.

I started researching, how can I build a marketplace as fast as possible with only existing technology?

--- Emilie Wiersma

Emilie also learned the importance of doing things that don't scale initially, such as hosting sex toy parties, to build a strong foundation before focusing on scaling the business 4.

   

Finding Support

Finding the right support has been crucial for Emilie's success. She found her co-founder, Sonder, through a network connection, which significantly changed the dynamics of her business 5. Having a co-founder allowed her to share responsibilities and make more informed decisions, which was a significant shift from her initial solo efforts 6.

If you want to grow your company, you really cannot do it alone.

--- Emilie Wiersma

Additionally, Emilie has three mentors who provide invaluable advice on both business and personal well-being, helping her maintain a balanced approach to her entrepreneurial journey 7.