This transcript is machine transcribed by Sonix
TRANSCRIPT
Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the beautiful legacy theater in Alpharetta, Georgia, for code launch Atlanta, 2021. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Now here’s your host.
Stone Payton: [00:00:23] And we are back broadcasting live here in total launch. Twenty twenty one Lee Kantor Stone Payton here with you. And the holes are absolutely teeming. We’ve got tables with food. We’ve got tables with Drake. People are starting to move to the to the hall to hear the presentations. And now it is my distinct pleasure to introduce to the program with Glendon Plaza, Miss Lily Hagan. How are you?
Lily Hagen: [00:00:49] Hi. I’m really well. Thank you so much for having me.
Lee Kantor: [00:00:52] Well, I’m excited to learn what you’re up to tell us about Linga Plaza, how you serve house.
Lily Hagen: [00:00:57] So Lango Plaza is a game inside and like language and cultural platform for kids, four to 12. So what we do is are what we call the kids are immersed in what we called the plaza experience for twenty five minutes. They’re exposed to this creative space and they get to learn a language. In this case, right now, we have Spanish through gamification, our characters, original audio content. But most importantly, they are have a one to one experience, whereas native speaker tutor.
Lee Kantor: [00:01:30] So what was the genesis of the idea?
Lily Hagen: [00:01:33] So I’m actually from Colombia. So English is my second language. I, I originally speak Spanish and I understand that benefit and also how overwhelming it can be to learn a second language, as well as I am also a mother and I’m raising two bicultural kids. And, you know, Spanish happens to be the Minori linguist. So I do understand the struggles and the lack of accessibility of language learning.
Lee Kantor: [00:02:02] So now what brings you to code launch?
Lily Hagen: [00:02:05] I was lucky enough to meet the founder of one of the startups workshops. That was part of a while back. And I was excited to be invited and just present and just bring Olingo Plaza to the world.
Lee Kantor: [00:02:19] So what was it like kind of having an idea then taking it, you know, and learning how to pitch and do all this stuff? You know, because that’s a different world for most people.
Lily Hagen: [00:02:27] One hundred percent. I mean, you’re talking about to someone who I consider myself a very creative person, and I’m a go getter. And I had the pain. I thought, you know what, this works. Why not? Let’s go for it. Obviously not knowing everything and the learning journey of, you know, of a start up in entrepreneurship. So it’s been a learning journey, but it’s a very exciting and it’s something that I’m able to provide to my audience as well. You know, that’s the biggest thing. People that have my pain are able to come back and say, oh, my gosh, I love what you doing, my kids love. So that’s the rewarding part of all this,
Lee Kantor: [00:03:06] Because I had to learn how to code. Like, where are you, ACOTA?
Lily Hagen: [00:03:09] I am not the technical founder. I would say I’m very tech savvy, but I am not a technical founder. I had some developers. I would say I bring the creative.
Stone Payton: [00:03:22] That’s a great line. I want to start stating that at work in our business. I am not a technical founder, so I don’t talk to someone else.
Lee Kantor: [00:03:29] So how did you find the technical founder to do kind of the way you envisioned?
Lily Hagen: [00:03:35] So that’s that’s a funny question, because that’s what I say. I’m a go getter, and I just happened to have an idea. And I knew people from Columbia and I look for Agencys the best of them, and they happen to, you know, grasp my idea from the name to branding to, you know, from the very beginning. And they just knew what I wanted.
Lee Kantor: [00:03:56] Wow. So, yeah, it’s pretty fortunate to be able to partner with something that early on in the idea process.
Lily Hagen: [00:04:02] Yes. One hundred percent. I am very lucky now that I understand all the Procyon, I, I do understand how lucky you get the stage and say you
Lee Kantor: [00:04:12] Have an agency to work with that’s taking your idea and bringing it to life. What stage are you at? Do you have a beta? Like, where are you at in the product development?
Lily Hagen: [00:04:23] So we launched our MVP in January and we had our first ping cohort for the last few months. Now we’re in the process of pretty much killing it and just targeting our audience after all the feedback that we got and, you know, being in constant communication with the audience that we already have.
Lee Kantor: [00:04:42] So what was it like the first time that some stranger came to the app and then signed on and started using it? You must want so excited.
Lily Hagen: [00:04:49] Oh, my gosh. Yes, it was really exciting. I had out actually an influencer who started following us, and that’s how we got our first customers. And I’m going to tell you that Stripp notification was the most exciting, intimidating institution I’ve ever had. So I still remember where I was at.
Lee Kantor: [00:05:11] Right. So you probably got like tears in goosebumps, right? That’s got me. Everything’s real
Lily Hagen: [00:05:15] Now. Yes, it becomes very real. It was exciting and nerve wracking at the same time, you know, having to. So last year, while you’ve been working on Harvard and this is it like this is what you know, it’s going to work or not, I guess.
Lee Kantor: [00:05:29] So then how did it how did you start kind of having conversations with investors and getting ready to, you know, do the work to scale it and get more funding and things like that?
Lily Hagen: [00:05:40] So we’re actually we have been bootstrapping at the moment and we’re getting ready to fundraise. We want to try it out first after we learned from our audience. But, you know, I’ve been networking for the longest time. Once I knew that was very vital. I started doing it and just started talking. Even this dog, even though I’m not fundraising at the moment. You know, it’s important to have those relationships, so to tell you, true clubhouse has been a big one for me. Really?
Lee Kantor: [00:06:07] Yes. So you’re really leveraging that platform to get in front of the right people to at least get them a chance to sample it and see it in action?
Lily Hagen: [00:06:15] One hundred percent, in fact, the workshop that I was part of, and that’s how I met Jason. I heard of it through Club House, and he was valved. He was one of the speakers. And, you know, now I’m here. So, yes, it definitely works.
Lee Kantor: [00:06:30] So now are you here from Atlanta or are you from somewhere else?
Lily Hagen: [00:06:33] I reside in Atlanta. Yes.
Lee Kantor: [00:06:36] So you’re from Atlanta. And then you found Jason just kind of randomly on the Internet and clubhouse, and then you decided to come to the event and you have a table. Are you one of the finalists?
Lily Hagen: [00:06:46] So, no, I’m not a fan of the finalists. So why would we actually find someone else is called Camp Vens? And then Jason was one of the speakers for that workshop for startups, and he was able to introduce, you know, this accelerate and, you know, the amazing event. So he they contacted me and, you know, they were going to be here. So I was last week, I was able to get the email and, you know, I’ll set mine up. I’m going to be there.
Lee Kantor: [00:07:11] So now what what are you looking to get out of cold launch here tonight? Well, my
Lily Hagen: [00:07:16] Biggest goal is to be able to network and network. And, you know, I’ve been able to get in contact with some schools, actually, one of the owners from one preschool here in Atlanta. So that was you know, that was amazing. And some people stop by by my birth and just ask questions. So, you know, the most the most exposure that you can get, the better at, especially at this stage
Lee Kantor: [00:07:36] Said now the events go to a good start if somebody wants to learn more about what you’re up to. What’s the website? What’s the best way to connect with you?
Lily Hagen: [00:07:44] One hundred percent. So my website Slingo Plaza dot com.
Lee Kantor: [00:07:49] Flinger Plaza dot com. And then is there an app available to the app store where like where are you from that standpoint?
Lily Hagen: [00:07:55] So we currently have a Web app. At the moment I’m looking into one chain between I say the next week or so. Ah. And just go live with our mobile and tablet app.
Lee Kantor: [00:08:07] And then so is the website the best way to connect or on other social platforms?
Lily Hagen: [00:08:12] Yes, but that is a website. You guys can find me on LinkedIn or Instagram. I’m on Twitter. I’m on clubhouse, pretty much every social media platform.
Stone Payton: [00:08:21] All right. We’re going to turn you loose. Let’s go hear some pitches. We’ll be back in a few with Kirtland’s atlatl. Twenty twenty one.
