So, I started a company again: Matepo Research AB. My services on offer right now are a mix between what I’ve done with Hintlab — i.e. foresight and design fiction workshops — and what I learned during my two years at ITHS, i.e. UX and accessibility.
As per the name, I’m more into the “research” bit than I am into the UI bit when it comes to design, and I’m extending my ambitions to encompass service design as well as usability. As far as I’m concerned they’re similar enough in method — albeit different in scope — that I feel confident that I can do that as well.
I have a six months long runway to start making money, after which my funds will have run dry. I’m looking to supplement the consulting work with other breadwinning work, and expect that I’ll have to do that for a while.
I’m having a heck of a time trying to find clients though: I’ve never been a good salesperson, so I have a blockage when it comes to selling a value proposition regardless of how good a fit I believe it might be. My thinking has always been that I’d rather work than sell the work, but the point is of course that selling is part of the work and I just have to get with it.
I’m torn between sending emails cold to companies and agencies (I know times are lean and everyone is scrounging for work, so what’s the point in makework by adding to the noise) and on the other hand coming up with a more gimmicky campaign (perhaps similar to the newspaper portfolio I did a while back) to stand out from the crowd. The benefit of a gimmick is that it’s fun to do and might give some leads, the drawback is that it might just be procrastination on my part, will cost money and will eat up what little runway I have left to make a go at this.
To sum up, althought I’m excited about the possibilities in running my own company (again) and I’ve received a lot of moral support from some nice senior people in the buisiness, I’m somewhat nervous about the “business” aspect of running a business.
So let’s see how this goes…