Kolonus
Where technology meets community for safer, smarter living.
Startup Snapshot
Startup name: Kolonus
Industry: Proptech & Fintech
Business Model: B2B & B2C
Founders: Francisco Macedo, Ángel Ortiz, Humberto de León
Operates in: Mexico, Honduras, Colombia & Ecuador
HQ Location: Monterrey, Mexico
Team Size: 31
Founded: 2015
Stage: Seed
Website: https://www.kolonus.com/
What does your startup do?
Kolonus simplifies the complexities of managing micro-governments within communities by providing the tools for community leaders to collaborate with their cabinet and their own community. This ensures smooth operations and maintenance, crucial for communities that depend on member contributions as they don’t generate revenues of their own.
Kolonus addresses the unique challenge of community management by facilitating democratic participation in decision-making and providing transparency to residents. This fosters a thriving environment conducive to family happiness and property value growth. The platform's transparency in financial matters and investment decisions promotes a strong sense of ownership and collective responsibility among residents.
By creating a seamless digital ecosystem that integrates all stakeholders, including security personnel, residents, and administrators, Kolonus is setting new standards for collaboration and efficient community management. This innovative approach is steering communities toward more cohesive, effectively managed, and value-driven living experiences, marking a significant advancement in how communities operate and thrive.
What's your backstory?
Kolonus was founded by Paco, Ángel, and Humberto, who crossed paths through various professional and academic experiences. Paco met Ángel in 2004 at NEORIS, the technology arm of CEMEX, where they worked together on software development and global cybersecurity. Later, Paco moved to Spain to work at CEMEX’s offices in Madrid; coincidentally, Humberto was studying finance in Spain and doing an internship at CEMEX and a mutual connection in Mexico introduced them. In 2008, Paco and Ángel launched Instituto Web, an ed-tech platform ahead of its time and ultimately failed but knew they had to build something together.
The team
Paco describes the Kolonus team as a perfect trifecta where you have:
The crazy one (AKA the dreamer): Humberto
The wise one (AKA the grounded one): Angel
The Organizer (AKA the orchestrator): Paco
Having a dreamer allows the team to dream big. Having the wise one allows the team to calibrate their goals to be both realistic and achievable. The organized one lands and orchestrates the team to take them toward the vision of the founders
How did you come up with the idea?
The idea for Kolonus sparked in 2013 when Paco attended a party with friends and the delivery was delayed due to security protocols. Paco ordered the tacos, but it wasn’t his house, so when the car arrived, security attempted to contact Paco’s friend and his wife, but they didn’t pick up the phone. so security turned the delivery car away. Paco had to call the restaurant and figure out the situation, talk to his friend, the host, and have him call security and authorize the delivery, and finally, the tacos arrived.
Paco knew there had to be a better way. He began imagining what an app that solved this problem would look like, and he asked his friend if there was an app where you could let the guards know you’re ordering food, having something delivered, and having friends over. Wouldn’t it be nice to do it with just a click?
He also asked his friend if he felt safe that the guards had his phone number, his wife’s number, their address, and their routine. What if an app could connect you with security and vice versa without compromising your private information?
To all of this, his friend simply said: It would be amazing if this existed, but it doesn’t.
By Monday, Paco, Ángel, and Humberto decided to tackle this issue, marking the birth of Kolonus.
How did you acquire your first clients?
Due to its ahead-of-time platform, Kolonus faced challenges acquiring its first clients from 2014 to 2015. They approached community managers and presented their app, which enabled pre-registering visitors with QR codes, enhancing security, digitizing entry logs, community voting, real-time maintenance reporting, resident contributions, and even spending transparency. However, the novelty of apps, subscription models, and even QR codes, led to skepticism among potential customers, who were unfamiliar with the technology and doubtful about its value and ROI.
When we founded Kolonus in 2015, proptech wasn’t even a thing. We had to educate our customers. It was challenging, but we believed in the vision, we believed in ourselves, and we knew this was the future of communities and micro-governments.
-Paco Macedo
From 2015 to 2016, Kolonus didn’t land a single deal, but they were sure there was something here. They simply had to find a way to gain their first customers. This was when they decided to provide Kolonus for free and introduced a coupon section to generate revenue. Although this allowed them to sign up three communities, few businesses were interested in marketing on Kolonus due to a lack of users, and there were also concerns from the communities that if the app was free, they were most surely selling their data.
By 2017, Kolonus had still not secured a single sale. All three founders had burned through their savings, and in June 2017, they decided to shut down since they only had two months of runway. During these two final months, they attempted one last hoorah; they figured that most people purchase a cup of coffee every day. So, if they’re willing to pay for coffee every day, they should agree to pay the equivalent of a cup for each property per month.
Immediately, their three ‘free’ customers became paying customers, and shortly after, more customers approached them, primarily through word of mouth, and Kolonus began growing. 2018 was all about growth, and by 2019, the company was profitable.
What's your motivation?
Paco, Ángel and Humberto are driven by the profound impact of their platform on improving communities. Hearing from users who have experienced positive changes through Kolonus energizes the team each day.
Additionally, representing Kolonus and being associated with such an innovative startup reinforces their commitment to the cause. This shared motivation among the founders serves as a driving force, pushing them to continually strive for excellence and push the boundaries of what is possible.
What's next for your startup?
Kolonus has set its short-term sights on capturing a larger share of the Mexican market. Considering there are an estimated 28 million properties within community regimes across the country, the growth potential is substantial.
Medium term, they plan on expanding the current operations in Honduras, Colombia, and Ecuador. But jump up to USA, Chile and Brasil.
Although they have clients in the United States and are prepared to serve more of them, the team aims to capitalize on their continued success in Mexico and LATAM before pushing further north.
Tips for other founders?
Conduct thorough research: Before diving into a venture, understand the market and its dynamics clearly.
Embrace the MVP approach: Start with a minimum viable product (MVP), but ensure it aligns with the current needs of your target market.
Have a safety net: If you're venturing into entrepreneurship while supporting a family, consider maintaining another source of income until you validate your idea and your venture gains momentum.
Be persistent: Success often requires relentless perseverance. Don't expect overnight success; focus on consistent efforts and improvements.
Seek advice but stay flexible: Listen to feedback from various sources, including family, friends, and mentors. However, don't rely solely on personal connections; be open to exploring opportunities beyond your immediate network.
Maintain discipline: Consistency and perseverance are key to overcoming challenges and achieving long-term success. Stay focused on your goals and remain resilient in the face of adversity.
Don't idealize personal connections: While leveraging relationships can be beneficial, don't assume that friends or acquaintances will automatically support or invest in your venture. Explore opportunities outside your immediate circle and be prepared to adapt your approach accordingly.
Book Recommendations: "Buy Back Your Time" and "Atomic Habits"
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