ClockPad

Project Description

ClockPad: Online Scheduling SaaS for Financial Advisors

Project Overview

ClockPad was an entrepreneurial venture aimed at solving the scheduling challenges faced by financial advisors. As a solo founder, I identified a gap in the market for specialized online scheduling tools and set out to create a solution that would serve as an “online receptionist” for financial professionals.

Role

Founder, Product Manager, and Developer

The Problem

As a former financial advisor, I experienced firsthand the inefficiencies of scheduling client meetings:

• Excessive time spent on phone tag and email exchanges
• Missed calls leading to lost opportunities
• Difficulty accommodating diverse client schedules
• Lack of specialized scheduling tools for the financial advisory sector

The Solution: ClockPad

ClockPad was conceived as an online receptionist service tailored for financial advisors, featuring:

• Easy online scheduling for clients
• Integration with advisors’ calendars
• Automated reminders and follow-ups
• Industry-specific features for financial consultations

Development Journey

1. Initial Concept and Research
   • Conducted market research and competitor analysis
   • Interviewed financial advisors to understand pain points
   • Drafted initial product plans and features
2. Early Development
   • Started with PHP, MySQL, and basic HTML/CSS/JavaScript
   • Quickly realized the need for additional expertise
3. Team Expansion
   • Hired developers through oDesk (now Upwork)
   • Architected a more robust system using CodeIgniter framework
4. Funding and Growth
   • Developed a Proof of Concept (POC)
   • Successfully pitched to angel investors and secured initial funding
5. Technical Challenges
   • Faced setbacks as CodeIgniter development stalled
   • Struggled with manually filling gaps in the framework
   • Missed the transition to more modern frameworks like Laravel

Challenges Faced

• Limited initial technical expertise in building complex SaaS applications
• Managing remote development team and coordinating efforts
• Balancing product development with business operations and fundraising
• Technical debt accumulation due to framework limitations
• Insufficient funding to pivot to a new technical stack

Key Learnings

1. The importance of choosing a sustainable and actively maintained technical stack
2. The value of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies
3. The challenges of solo entrepreneurship in a competitive SaaS landscape
4. The critical nature of proper funding for long-term project viability
5. The need for balance between product development and business operations

Skills Developed

• Product conceptualization and market analysis
• Full-stack web development (PHP, MySQL, JavaScript)
• Project management and remote team coordination
• Investor pitching and fundraising
• Agile development methodologies
• Business strategy and financial planning

Conclusion

While ClockPad ultimately didn’t achieve long-term success, the project provided invaluable experience in product development, team management, and the challenges of bringing a SaaS product to market. The lessons learned have been instrumental in shaping my approach to subsequent projects and my overall career in tech entrepreneurship.