James Shrager is the founder of Qwwip, a digital startup that creates beautifully designed and technically brilliant web and mobile solutions. In the interview below, James shares with us insights about the company and what qualities he lookes for in a potential employee.
1. Can you describe Qwwip in one sentence?
Qwwip is an ideas-led digital development studio, creating beautifully designed and technically brilliant web and mobile solutions for ourselves and our clients.
2. Can you give us some information about your background? Did you start any other startups before Qwwip?
Qwwip is my first startup in the tech area. Previously ran a company in the solar industry and prior to that trained as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Although I’ve always been interested in tech and had previously done a bit of web design, in the past year I have learnt PHP, jQuery and iPhone and Android application development from scratch and built a number of apps and websites.
3. How many people are currently behind Qwwip and how do you plan to you expand the team in the future?
It’s currently just me, and am trying to recruit some staff to get ideas out of my head and into the marketplace quicker than I can do with just me. I also want resources to be able to pitch for client work to bring in revenue and help fund my own ideas whilst they are getting going.
4. What do you do for fun @Qwwip?
It’s just me at the moment but if I had a team I would envisage definitely going go-karting and paintballing during the year, team lunches on a Friday, and am keen for the idea ‘Hack Fridays’ – time on Friday afternoons to work on personal projects and ideas. If things go well, there might even be a company ski trip since I’m an avid skier.
5. Can you describe the ideal employee for Qwwip? What are the essential qualities that would make her blend in?
I am looking for someone young and ambitious who wants to work in a startup environment. A person that has the entrepreneurial drive and motivation and would treat this job and the projects they are working on as if they were their own endeavors. A hard worker who is not afraid of working startup hours.
6. What are your plans for the future? Where do you want Qwwip to be in a couple of years?
Plans are to build and release a couple of my ideas, which have the potential to be massive on their own. At the same time I want to grow the business building great apps for third parties to gain experience and bring in some revenue. I want Qwwip to become known in the industry for producing top quality, disruptive products both internally released and for others. Long, long term when I’ve sold one or more of the businesses I want to start a tech accelerator, investing in and supporting the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.
7. A message for the candidates.
If you’re hard working, skilled and have ace attention to detail and heaps of motivation and you want to work for a small tech startup with BIG ambitions then Qwwip could be for you. This is the chance to become one of the founding employees with real equity in the company and the opportunity to build some awesome products.
Qwwip is currently recruiting for the following positions: