Afiliadu
Driving success in LATAM through SaaS referral opportunities.
Startup Snapshot
Startup name: Afiliadu
Industry: Sales Tech
Business Model: SaaS Marketplace
Founder: Eugenio Bremer
Location: Mexico
Founded: 2023
Stage: MVP
Website: www.afiliadu.com
What does your startup do?
Afiliadu connects companies with a referral model with individuals who want to generate additional income through other schemes.
What's your backstory?
Eugenio has a degree in financial administration from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and a master's in business & technology from Collective Academy. Before starting Afiliadu, he worked in Monex, BanRegio, co-founded a healthy fast-casual restaurant called SNABS, was COO at TipiTop, and Head of Marketing and Innovation at Laben Food Service.
How did you come up with the idea?
After leaving Laben, Eugenio found himself unemployed and faced the daunting task of searching for a new job. As he embarked on this challenging journey, he soon realized that the job market was highly competitive and might take him at least six months to find the ideal position he desired.
Throughout his job search, Eugenio spoke with various consultants who advised him on the lengthy process of finding the right job. However, he felt there had to be a better way to utilize his skills and expertise.
While networking with friends involved in startups and businesses, Eugenio discovered a common pain point they faced. Although they excelled at closing deals, they struggled to access new leads and expand their customer base. Their sales teams had already exhausted their existing networks, and hiring new salespeople was not a cost-effective solution.
Eugenio stepped in to help by providing leads, opening doors for these businesses, and even consulting on implementing referral programs. A lightbulb went off in his mind as he assisted multiple clients simultaneously. He realized he could turn this into a scalable business idea by connecting those needing leads with those who could generate them.
Recognizing the growing demand for additional income opportunities among people who had lost their jobs or sought supplementary income streams, Eugenio saw the potential to bridge the gap between these two groups. And that's how Afiliadu was born – a platform that connects companies with referral programs to individuals eager to generate extra income through various schemes.
When did you realize you should work on Afiliadu full-time?
Bremer created a website using an AI tool, Looka.com, in just one day. He launched it and started engaging on social media, primarily on LinkedIn. Soon, he noticed there was genuine interest in his project. He began receiving messages from founders and salespeople eager to get involved, which drove him to commit to this endeavor fully.
What's your motivation?
Much of Eugenio's motivation for Afiliadu stems from recognizing a significant problem in the world, particularly affecting millennials and Gen Z. Wages have remained stagnant for the past 50 years while inflation continues to rise, so these generations are used to looking for a second or even third income stream.
Salaries are not keeping up with the cost of living, and a single income stream is not sufficient and risky for many high-skill working families. Latin Americans are not afraid to work, and result-based commissions could be the answer for many of them.
Source: Wage Stagnation in Nine Charts | Economic Policy Institute (epi.org)
Through extensive research, Eugenio has found that low-skilled workers are already shifting towards more modern, on-demand jobs like DiDi, Uber, and Rappi, and he believes this trend is beginning to impact higher education professionals.
On the other hand, companies are leveraging technology to improve their results without increasing their payroll. Eugenio identified this as an opportunity to address these challenges by connecting individuals seeking extra income through referrals with businesses needing leads, thus creating a mutually beneficial solution.
What's next for your startup?
Looking for a CTO co-founder as we enter our MVP/beta stage. Afiliadu currently has around 30 affiliated companies and a comparable number of affiliates.
Afiliadu aims to connect and manage the relationship between startups and referrals. Including onboarding, training, performance, and even compensation inside the same platform. Instead of companies having to pay each affiliate individually and manage relationships separately, everything is streamlined through a single secure portal, providing convenience and safety for everyone involved.
Tips for other founders?
Book: "Who, Not How." How to leverage the network of others for anything.
When you encounter a complex problem, never try to solve it yourself. Instead, think about who can solve it or who can connect you with the person who can. Skip the arduous process and value your time. Remember that you don't have to learn everything. Many times, it's better to delegate or bring in experts who can help you reach point B from point A in less time. It will yield better results and be more cost-effective.
Special offer for our readers🚀
Free referral program design consultation (30 mins).
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