Some weeks ago I published Selected for a Startup School and now this program is about to finish. Time goes fast. This past month has been very intense, I’ve met a lot of new people, I’ve received severe critics, I’ve been told to have a very expensive hobby as a startup (several times) but I’ve laughed a lot, I’ve learnt even more and have never been happier. I remember my first pitch, I had 3 minutes and forgot my speech in second number two. It’s been quite tough to be in front of 50 engineers who don’t believe in “your opinion” but in data. However, I started convincing them with numbers and my opinion started to matter. And all of a sudden one of them told me that he would actually pay for my product. Shortly after my first customer arrived.
Something was starting to improve.
First of all, thank you to all of you who have done my survey I couldn’t have come up with all those great ideas or points of view. I had to create this wall to better visualize all the ideas.
Also, Jesus became my team member and took leadership in the technical part of the project. He is a iOS genius and even better person! We chose Julius as a name for our startup (but it’s not definitive!) and started to do the hard work.
Julius became an online tool that helps you to create architecture itineraries based on your personal preferences.
We did a prototype of the idea of which we had to cut some parts for the MVP which is going to be an iPad app. These are some possible screenshots of the app.
Which style do you like best?
1. Black and White– Image background
2. Grey Tones– Mostly solid color
So which style feels more appropriate for a traveling app? By the way, the logo is a “J” but mainly a compass. And the name “Julius” came from a book I read when I was a child that was about a kid who had his own particular way of seeing the world. We believe Julius is this cool guy who knows his city by heart and brings you to this amazing (and sometimes hidden) pieces of architecture. I’m quite in love with this name but as I’ve said before it is not definitive!
The Demo Day at Tetuan Valley is a public event so if you’re around Madrid this 4th of December you’re more than welcome to come 🙂
Virginia Duran 
IMO, I think the 1st one is appropriate with website while the 2nd one is suitable for an app as it focuses on the logo which I will remember as a represent for application.
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Thanks so much for your insight! The truth is that I like both and I am unable to choose so thanks for helping 🙂
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1 – desktop: has a certain feel of “more to it”
2 – app: simple, clean, neat, ready for quick check-ins
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This is the most rational answer I’ve got so far. I agree with the neatness and the more complete feeling. I think as we weren’t sure either to do it for tablet or for desktop each result represents one version. Thanks for your comments, really 🙂
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I’d go for the first option for both, web and app, but my opinion shouldn’t count since I’m colour blind. In any case, magnificent work I’ve to say. I’m quite impressed
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Manuel, thanks for your kind words 🙂 Number 1 is wining so far but even if it hadn’t thanks for voting and expressing your opinion!
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Go for the first one! It seems more serious (curated content). Not sure if many boys would be “early adopters” of the app with the second design… (BTW, I love it too!) Good luck on Wednesday! 🙂
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Bea, you made me smile. That is very true, even if our persona is a female traveler we shouldn’t focus on that for the MVP at least! Will keep you posted and thanks for stopping by 🙂
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I rather like the second version. It is friendly; as though I am taking a travelling companion with me on my journey. It will be exciting, and there will be discoveries but all the time I will be safe and well cared for because Julius is there. So that may mean that version has a feminine appeal????? Julius makes me think of Jules Verne. Congratulations on all your hard work and the development of your project.
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Good morning! After doing 54 interviews we’ve realized that our target were women… not that men weren’t interested but the female travelers would be our main customers. And the second version is more “vintage” feminin but I think we shouldn’t make something too male unfriendly haha. Also Julius is about Jules Verne, it was the last reference we needed to support this name haha. 3 days for getting this ready, can’t wait!
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Very exciting. You may be interested to know about another very famous Julius, who played a very important role in the understanding of our country. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_von_Haast Julius seems more and more like the correct name!
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Oh! Another important Julius that supports our choice! I am just in love with it right now haha. I didn’t know about him by the way, he was a very important part of Christchurch’s history. You’ll never go to bed without knowing something new 🙂
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You are on an amazing adventure. Living big, means there will be risks! I like the first one, too!!
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Rebecca, I am so happy this is working so well. Even if I still don’t believe it, this dream is getting built and I am going to present it this Wednesday. I am kind of scared of this demo day thing but I have to learn to speak in public and present my projects 🙂
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I know that you will be remarkable!!! My thoughts are with you – looking forward to hearing all about it…
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I love the first one!
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Hello Jayna, thanks for stopping by! I think number 1 is wining so far, will keep you updated 😉
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It definitely has to be number 1! Everyone at home thinks so! 😉
Can’t wait to see the final result!
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Guilleeee, thanks for voting! It looks like number 1 is going to win. Will post the screenshots when ready :))
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I like #2 best. It speaks more directly to “travel.” Though I am partial to anything with the Chicago skyline. 🙂
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Actually I did the one with the skyline afterwards just to try how it would look with a picture on the background and the design stopped there cause I fell in love haha. I know the suitcase implies traveling but the skyline looks more like “architecture”. Now I’m having trouble with the colors, this is the never ending detail fight 😀
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Yes, the image that best represents the app is a tough decision. Best of luck on the app and the design!
Maybe if you put an outline of a skyline behind the suitcases…
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Me quedo con el primero de los dos 🙂
Ánimo y suerte!!
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Muchas gracias Rafa! 1 día y estará listo qué ilusión.
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Muy buenas Vic!! Siento no haber hecho la encuesta. Me dije que la haría y al final falle, así que a esto no fallo. Me quedo con la 1ª. Sólo de ver ese fotón ya me da ganas de explorar en la app para ver qué mas puede esconder
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Deiviiiiid! Qué ilusión verte por aquí. No te preocupes y muchas gracias por aportar tu granito de arena, al final ha ganado la primera imagen. Te aviso cuando tengamos la app subida.
Un beso 🙂
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Me encanta este proyecto! Yo me quedo con la primera version, se ve muy clara y sencilla para el usuario. Los botones se ven mejor y te dan ganas de seguir navegando 🙂 Muchas suerte manana!
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Celia!! Nos hemos quedado con la primera al final, toda la pp son trozos de esa foto con diferentes edificios. Yo creo que ha sido una buena elección. Ya subiré todos los screenshots y un resumencillo de como ha ido hoy. Estoy de los nervios, sólo espero no quedarme en blanco hahaha! Gracias por pasarte y dejar un comentario :)))
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Congratulations Virginia! What a great accomplishment. As a traveler I’m always drawn to an app that has some color, so I’m voting for #2. ~Terri
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Hello Terri, thanks for your feedback! Unfortunately we chose the first one! Actually I am writing an article about the app and the graduation which took place yesterday! Will post it soon 🙂
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I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites
really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the
future. Many thanks
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Thanks for your kind words!
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Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!
Extremely helpful info specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such info much.
I was looking for this certain information for a long time.
Thank you and good luck.
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Thanks for your kind words, have you seen the free city guides? Here is the link http://duranvirginia.wordpress.com/architecture-guides/
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