Launching a Tech Startup in Community
How EvenScore is creating a new platform with community building.
Today I want to share with you the story of a friend, Johnnie Turnage, the founder of EvenScore.
Johnnie is new to tech, but he’s not new to the problem he’s solving. After spending over a decade as a community organizer, he’s building a new platform to bring transparency to progressive fundraising.
Leaning Into Our Authentic Experiences
Johnnie never saw himself launching a tech startup, and I can relate. I never set out to be a business owner. Over time, I realized my background in startups and hospitality and re-connecting with my own diverse family, made me the person to build Bamboo.
This is something Johnnie and I talked about. That the more we bring with us our lived experiences, the more we can authentically build.
Often as a female founder or minority founder we feel we have to change who we are to be successful. We think we have to operate a certain way. We know the world was not designed inherently for us, and so we feel this tension, or rejection of the self, internally. It can distract us and get in the way. Johnnie told me, we must learn to value ourselves first.
He’s embracing his own experiences as an organizer to build a better product and build a community of support along the way.
Community-Focused Fundraising
The call to start his company began in 2020. At the height of the pandemic, Johnnie watched his friends protest the murder of George Floyd. For the first time, he couldn’t be there. He stayed home to protect himself and his family from catching covid.
He then watched as money poured into racial justice causes across America. In the end, Johnnie saw that the organizations on the ground doing the work did not often receive access to the funds raised. Small dollar donors in particular, the folks who donate $100 to a cause, were not able to see where their money actually went. There was no transparency.
How could he make donations more transparent and effective?
Johnnie decided to use his decade of experience organizing to design a better product that serves both donors and organizations.
“Initially, this was hard. Starting in 2022, I was remote,” he said. “I felt a little lost. Then I met you at Bamboo. I met other founders and our greater community, who believed in me. I had no idea where to start but quickly learned how rich our community is.”
Johnnie told me organizers are taught to conduct at least ten 1:1 conversations a week. So Johnnie went out and began having informal meetings with other founders and investors. This jumpstarted his journey. He received introductions. He received pitch deck help. He found his first mentors and supporters. He built a community.
A few from this community include: Michigan Founders Fund, Bamboo, Invest Detroit, Darren Riley, Justin Anderson, Dawn Batts who he describes as the shit, and Dug Song who he says has been a gem. He leaned into their support. He started asking for help.
“Make a list of what you don’t know and ask for help,” Johnnie said. “I have a huge fear of vulnerability but I had to lean into this.”
By taking this approach, he organically met and closed his first investors. Now he’s opening up his company to receive investment from a wider community base through the equity crowdfunding website WeFunder. He describes his community as his “friends and family” who are all invited to participate.
The campaign is officially live on WeFunder. It cites some of the great traction EvenScore has including a 3,000 person waitlist of customers ready to help disrupt a $500 Billion dollar donor market.
“I want this to be rooted in the community. My Detroit community. My founder community,” he said. “That’s why we’re launching this way. True community means our fates are intertwined. Your success is my success and my success is your success.”
Community Building Tips
Launching something new this year? Not sure how to tap into community?
Try Johnnie’s approach to frequent weekly 1:1’s. Reach out for coffee or virtual calls. Make a list of areas a mentor or peer can support you. Then be open and ask for help. Ask for intros. Be reciprocal and make introductions for others, too.
At Bamboo, we know that community can be built on something as simple as intro’s or like Johnnie’s organizer approach, frequent informal meetings.
Visit EvenScore.us to learn more and considering supporting their fundraise.
*Resources + Links
Support EvenScore: https://wefunder.com/evenscore
Connect with Johnnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnie-turnage-81520559/
Michigan Founders Fund: https://michiganfoundersfund.org/
Bamboo: https://www.bamboodetroit.com/
Mentors & friends mentioned above: Dug Song, Aditi & Tember Shea, Dawn Batts, Darren Riley & Justin Anderson.