Meet The Founder: iknowa -Proprietary Tech Powering Higher Renovation Initiatives

Renovating a property could be extraordinarily tense. From beginning a undertaking, to sourcing the appropriate development groups, to assessing the standard of the job, the journey is disjointed, and leaves all stakeholders underserved. 

iknowa is bringing know-how to an area that’s been traditionally sluggish to undertake in, and within the course of, they’re making funding, constructing and  managing renovation initiatives simpler for everybody concerned.

We sat down with founders Allar Ahtmann and Keano Chang to seek out out extra in regards to the firm that’s upgrading an age-old, underrepresented market, and bringing advantages to householders, property builders, and tradespeople alike.

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What’s iknowa’s imaginative and prescient?

We began iknowa  to remodel the way forward for the constructing and enhance the development sector by empowering tradespeople and property house owners to create, collaborate and handle constructing and renovation initiatives.

iknowa is leveraging cognitive applied sciences to handle inefficiencies whereas reworking the way in which constructing and renovation initiatives are procured and carried out by way of a simple to make use of cell and web-based platform. We’re attempting to use proprietary AI to help householders, property builders and tradespeople in analysing undertaking high quality and efficiency to proactively tackle points earlier than they come up. 

Our platform reduces money and time spent on administrative duties, whereas enhancing the posting, quoting and administration, for all person teams.

What gave you the inspiration to begin constructing the corporate?

The  concept first got here to us once we seen all of the inefficiencies and issues related to the constructing and development trade. As an entire, the trade was lagging behind in regard to tech adoption. That’s once we determined to create iknowa, to enhance the effectivity, transparency and simplify undertaking processes.

What does the aggressive panorama appear like and the way is iknowa disrupting it?

Constructing and development is the least digitised trade. What iknowa does is equip householders and tradespeople by way of revolutionary, clear and cost-effective instruments, releasing customers from repetitive and time-consuming duties in order that they will spend extra time on what they do finest and what they love.

iknowa is well-positioned to carry a easy, user-centric expertise to the house development and renovation trade with a platform that gives a greater instruments, expertise and security to everybody concerned.

What has development seemed prefer to date?

Our development has been sturdy throughout three key areas; R&D, Finance and Partnerships. Up to now we’ve labored with a prime authorized agency to finalise three software program patents to cowl our proprietary system and methodology, with an additional two within the pipeline ready to be filed.

Regardless of the challenges seen throughout 2020 we’ve got been capable of efficiently elevate over £300,000, attracting notable buyers and advisors to affix our board.

iknowa was additionally lately featured in numerous press releases as trade publications have been eager to know how iknowa solves present issues, current inside the homebuilding sector. Protection has included Showhouse (the main publication for big UK homebuilders), London-Loves-Property, Enterprise Cash, Medium and extra.

What would be the biggest problem going ahead?

As a market inside the constructing and renovations sector (with an FCA authorized, neobank at our core) we’re devoted in serving our group to make sure each undertaking no matter measurement is a hit. We haven’t made it straightforward for ourselves, as this trade suffers from a lot of challenges and disputes, however we’ll proceed to construct out a scalable resolution which seamlessly handles this with none human interplay required.

What provides your crew the experience to reach this house?

Not solely will we all imagine within the product we’re constructing, however each member of our crew is an knowledgeable of their subject. This experience, inside the crew and on the advisory board, has enabled us to realize some superb issues and allowed us to give attention to creating advocates of the product.

The eagerness for the undertaking mixed with trade expertise permits us to at all times attempt for the best high quality consequence, and  keep a profitable and enjoyable working atmosphere.

What has been probably the most thrilling success up to now?

All our most fun success pertains to the present experience of the crew, our positioning available in the market and the expansion seen so far.

Up to now, we’ve:

• Secured three software program patents to cowl our proprietary system and strategies
• Raised over £300,000
• Launched new proprietary options not at present accessible within the constructing and renovation house

We even have numerous initiatives and product improvement upcoming, together with growing banking infrastructure, crew optimisation options and undertaking stacking and collaboration instruments for our customers.

We’re an infrastructure first firm that’s targeted on constructing out a secure and totally scalable ecosystem. 

What do you concentrate on when hiring new individuals in your crew? 

Our tradition is artistic, collaborative, supportive and enjoyable. We’ve adopted the identical coverage round transparency that’s been embedded throughout our platform. 

Due to this we don’t allow siloed work, as every crew member is anticipated to leverage their experience and the experiences of others, to strain check new theories and ideas while being open to study new issues. This identical methodology is utilized when hiring new crew members.

Why did you select crowdfunding?

For 2 principal causes. Firstly, crowdfunding, was an effective way to speak {that a} service like iknowa lastly exists. Secondly we discovered it to be the one manner that merely unified the chance for on a regular basis buyers to affix on this journey with bigger subtle buyers. 

This spherical with Seedrs permits us to carry on board each sort of investor, we’re trying ahead to constructing an engaged investor group that’s as invested within the improvement of our product, and the betterment of the trade as we’re.

What’s the primary renovation you’d undertake in your personal residence?

Allar: “Vitality effectivity – Insulating the house in addition to altering home windows and doorways. This helps to extend total vitality effectivity and cut back vitality consumption. It’s all about making a constructive affect, therefore why we’ve got created iknowa.”

Keano: “Kitchen renovation -The kitchen is a coronary heart of each residence, and who doesn’t love scrumptious meals, cooked in a newly renovated good kitchen?”

What are you doing while you’re not working?

Allar: “Love spending time with my associate and with the iknowa crew exterior the workplace, studying books, listening to podcasts, understanding, contributing to others and attempting out new adventurous issues (In different phrases Rising and Giving whereas feeding the thoughts and physique).”

Keano: “Once I’m not within the workplace, you’ll in all probability see me beating Dan (Head of Advertising and marketing) on the tennis courts, spending time with family and friends or attending a tremendous health club session led by Allar (Chairman and CEO). If I’m at residence, I’ll be studying or breaking out the whiteboard to study one thing new. 

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To search out out extra about iknowa, go to the pitch now.