How Bridgit founding and launch team was formed

Founders often struggle to build their founding team. I just formed one for Bridgit: Your social life,settled. How? Well, I realized I have it already.

In my book, The Backstage, I explain that it's often easier to start a venture when you're already know the industry well. This time, I did something different. A few years ago, while on a long-haul flight, I messaged Valdis Krumins that I don't have anyone in my row to speak with. I added that airlines should consider implementing a plugin that would match & seat passengers based on their characteristics and interests. Then, one night, while walking through Venice in LA, I noticed people in cafe windows sitting alone. And then others mingle with their peers and enjoy the company. I messaged Valdis again, suggesting that the airline idea could be extended to more casual situations. In the coming months, I sent more use cases to Valdis as I became more excited about such a solution. When we sat at a cafe last summer, I said we should build something we'd enjoy working on. There weren't many options to review, and the rest is history.

Valdis built the MVP, including the front & back ends with the AI matching engine and the initial features. He's also a professional photographer and videographer. Our CTO can build a platform and create quality content. I couldn't find a better fit for the early stage.

Elizabete Lībiete lived in Barcelona before heading to Australia. She knows what is feels like to look for your people in a new place. When she applied for another role within Y·US Ventures after working for us for years,  I told her it's not a good idea and introduced her to Bridgit. She was in after 24 hours. Three weeks later, she is in California, working on Bridgit's launch with me, Valdis, and our newly welcomed LA Launch Partner, Mari Davtyan. We will soon have our San Francisco Launch Partner, too.

What connects us all are our European roots, the challenge of shifting from many years of B2B to B2C & B2B2C, and the new environment for my cofounders. We are not guessing about finding a buddy among busy achievers or those who are new to town. We've sat in those cafe windows alone, too, and we are the users we're building for.

Additionally, we are now receiving tens of applications for the Operational Cofounder role. I can't stop my surprise at how many people applied and shared their alignment with our mission.

I'd love to learn your thoughts after you try out settledbybridgit.com. Bridgit is arriving in LA this week and in SF starting May. We are looking forward to Startup Grind, where Bridgit was selected as one of the most promising startups. Bridgit will be raising this fall.