Karen Ahrens Is Building Wait4me, the Personal Assistant App for Real Life

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

I'm Karen Ahrens,  the CEO and Co-founder of the Wait4me app. We are like Uber, but for everything a Personal Assistant does.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No, the idea terrified me. I liked the stability of a paycheck and benefits and doubted if I had it in me to launch something. But as I grew a bit older, I realized that I absolutely have what it takes and more.

Do you have a co-founder?

I was introduced to my co-founder via a mutual connection. I knew we would be a good fit because we bring very different talents and experience to the table. No one needs two of me. Search for someone whom you can compliment.

Are you a mamaprenista?

Trust your gut and don't compare yourself to other moms. You are your own person and the bravery you have to be an entrepreneur teaches your children important lessons every day.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

I am bootstrapping Wait4me, so we started our marketing as scrappy as you can get. This worked with launching an MVP app as well as it allowed us to go slow and steady, gathering feedback and improving the app. We handed out flyers, talked to everyone we knew, joined Reddit discussion threads (the best tactic so far), and set up our banner places where potential Clients and Assistants can be found.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

I'm very proud to have launched the app in Los Angeles. It's easiersaid than done to design, build, test and release an app while juggling priorities, wanted and unwanted suggestions about what we should build, and a fixed and modest budget. I have spoken to founders who have been working on their product for years. We got ours live in less than a year. I am also incredibly proud of the advisory board that we have assembled. It's a testament to the amazing people we've worked with over the years and people who believe in what we are doing.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

I JUST started it so I'm still in the I-don't-know-what-I don't-know phase, but I'm excited to see the connections I can build.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

Now I have told you about what we are looking for and where our company is going. What gets you excited? What do you want to focus on most?

What did you go before starting your own business?

I was previously President of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group, a large, global group with various marketing agencies and consultancies focussed on digital and data marketing.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

It was more of a push. My previous role was eliminated as part of large corporate merger. It was a shock and terrifying being a solo mom with bills to be paid. I had been advising my co-founder on this start-up and realized either I needed to be all in or walk away. You can't launch a company with 25% of your time, not with the skills that I bring to this party. It's either 200% or best for me to walk away. So I dove in. I knew that I would always regret not building something on my own. It started to feel like launching this company was the only option.

Do you have any recent wins?

Our Los Angeles launch! Download our app and try us. We are here for everyone who has ever wished your day could be more than 24 hours. We've got you covered.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

Wait4me (my app)! Because the more support that I get, the more I can focus on things that only I can do, and those are the ones that build my business or make space for me to be a great mom to my boy.

Who are your customers?

Our Clients are busy professionals who need a few extra hours every day to get everything done. Our Assistants are talented, enthusiastic local people who are looking for flexible work with a fair and transparent earning potential.

What's your top productivity tip?

Take care of your body. I'm a trail runner and sure it feels like I don't have the time to run every day, but I make the time. Schedule it like a meeting if you have to. You are far more productive when you take care of all aspects of yourself - mind, body, and spirit. You will have more energy. You will be more focussed. You will be more confident.

What's your favorite business tool?

Jira - in the world of app development where I have a never ending list of enhancements and fixes, working with an offshore development team, Jira helps me keep us all on the same priorities.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

Flex with it. There is no perfect balance. We willing to flex and flow depending on where you need to lean most. Some days, my son needs more of my time and attention, and some days work needs to be the priority. I don't feel guilty about either.

How do you avoid burn-out?

For me, running is the key, particularly trail running. It allows we to sort through my stress, worries, ideas, and feelings. I am always far clearer headed after running and can make the important decisions or priority calls that avoid burnout.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Be confident. If you don't know how to do something, ask for help. You'd be surprised at how many people are honored to help someone launching a business.

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