While few and far between, some devices improve range or create mesh networks, but for everyone else they are typically left relying on their survival skills. Cairn, which shares a name with those random stacked rock piles you see while hiking, is an app that lets you take technology you already have, and helps hikers to find cell reception. Not only that, it also lets loved ones know where someone is while hiking, the last known area they were in, health stats, and develops a crowdsourced map of reception or dead spots in the wilderness. In Tech.Co’s ongoing series to highlight the similarities to entrepreneurs and athletes who push their limits, we spoke to the cofounder of Cairn, Ali Alami, about his motivation to create the app. With a pedigree of success and an assortment of experiences in startups, Alami turned towards what he was most passionate about.
Getting the Right Gear
Any good business is built on a foundation of goals, missions, prioritization, and maybe a few organizational values along the way. Before the journey can really start, entrepreneurs need to plan and gear up before jumping right in. For some that means taking an idea and going through an incubator or accelerator, others that is working it as a side project, but in most cases there are no true overnight successes in the startup world. As startups go, Cairn is still a seedling and focusing on building those roots while growing at the same time, but before the seed was planted, relationships were formed and experiences were created. Prior to startups, he was also a Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Instructor for the US Air Force for nearly a decade. The group still tries to get out and hike, but now with kids in the mix they’ve had to tone it down a bit. More specifically, Alami says perhaps a bit less dangerous stuff. It was on one of these backpacking trips nearly two years ago that the idea was born. Alami was planning to leave town on Friday, traffic was heavy, and he was planning to go to a lake. He already knew there would be little to no cell coverage there, but he wanted to meet up with the group. After some back and forth, the duo eventually decided to turn what would soon become Cairn into a passion project rather than a high-growth startup. Alami and Martin decided to build a lifestyle organization that is focused on something they are passionate about, that also meetings a specific need in the market. The market for outdoor and hiking related needs is also surprisingly large. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, the outdoor recreation market accounts for roughly 6.1 million jobs and $646 billion in consumer spending. Though passion was the focus, Alami and Martin knew that as entrepreneurs it would also be a challenge to still focus on the fitness side of what they love.
Board Meetings? More Like Hiking Meetings
Passion for the outdoors is more than just a guiding star for the Cairn team, it’s built into how they work as a company. As entrepreneurs, sleep can often feel like a luxury, but in a world where health and fitness takes priorities, getting in your eight hours really matters. Though Alami knows getting in sleep is not always possible, the team integrates a balance of work and life. But the organization is about more than just sustaining their lifestyle and fun. They’re also doing something good with their efforts. Typically when you think passion, most would assume there is a priority shift from work into play, or in this case hiking first, business second. As the team decided to focus on a work-life integration, passion drives both components, which is why Alami is not concerned if the app and business really take off. In addition to passion, the team has a mentality of less is more. By staying focused and prioritizing projects, you don’t have to go overboard on business hours. With fewer choices to make, time becomes more flexible and it’s easier to make the right decision while still growing.
Next on Cairn’s Journey: Growth
Growth for startups typically consists of users, engagement, and downloads, but that is not necessarily the same for a quality focused organization. Until now, Cairn’s development was focused on the mission of having a great app, which in turn would result in more users. As a result, word-of-mouth has helped the team grow to more than 12,000 downloads in the past few months, and has tracked more than two million points of cell coverage so far. Eventually though, they decided it was time to prepare for and embark on more challenging paths. To do this, they started by looking at weak areas such as user engagement, and began building out new features that would encourage people to interact with the app more.
Preparing Future Entrepreneurs For The Road Ahead
When asked how other entrepreneurs facing a dilemma between running a high-growth business or pursuing it with emphasis on passion, Alami says it’s all about the team and focus points. Read more about healthy entrepreneurs here on Tech.Co
