The booking site Captain Experiences launched in March 2020 with the mission of quickly and easily connecting customers with fishing trips and other outdoor adventures. They’ve since booked more than 50,000 hours of fun, thanks in big part to their success finding unique solutions to their customers’ problems.

Founder Jonathan Newar didn’t know how to start a business before he launched Captain Experiences. He was inspired to start his business after struggling to book a fishing trip for his team at his previous job. After doing some research, he learned he wasn’t the only one eager for a better way to find guides and book outdoor experiences, and started Captain Experiences to fill that void in the market.

Starting any business can be a challenge, and especially so when you’re aiming to provide a new service. In this interview, Jonathan shares his early struggles with the business and how he overcame them. You’ll also hear his advice for how to grow a business as an online platform, including how they connect with guides and customers, how they manage their leads and workflow, and what keeps customers coming back to Captain Experiences trip after trip.

Resources:

Captain Experiences - Learn more about the company on their website
UpFlip HUB - Tools and advice to start and grow a business
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future - book by Peter Thiel about how to continue to drive innovation in the modern business landscape
Startup Success: Funding the Early Stages of Your Venture - book by Gordon Daugherty on how to secure funding for a startup business

Connect with UpFlip:

For more insights to start, build, or grow a business, check out the resources on UpFlip.com or head to the UpFlip YouTube channel to see more interviews with business owners and experts.

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77. How to Turn Everyday Ideas into a $1.2M Business

The UpFlip Podcast