Many non-technical aspiring entrepreneurs are held back from launching tech companies for fear of not knowing how to code. Tye & Courtney Caldwell had big dreams matched by the drive to manifest their vision for keeping salon chairs filled and beauticians/barbers earning money. Strapped with expertise in the beauty salon industry, this dynamic duo made relationships the gasoline that powered their knack for getting answers to their most pressing questions at the right time.
Founder Bio:
Dr. Tye Caldwell:
Dr. Tye Caldwell is the Cofounder & CEO of ShearShare, the first on-demand salon and barbershop space rental app. A 26-year industry veteran, master barber-stylist, and salon and barbershop owner, Dr. Tye is recognized as a tech visionary and industry pioneer. His mission is to help beauty and barbering professionals around the world maximize their earnings potential.
Mrs. Courtney Caldwell:
Courtney Caldwell is the Cofounder & COO of beauty-tech startup, ShearShare, the first mobile app that lets stylists quickly find affordable salon and barbershop space to lease near them. Named an Inc. magazine 2019 Female Founders 100 and the 2017 L’Oreal Women in Digital NEXT Generation Award winner, Courtney’s mission is to empower industry professionals and help keep our small businesses open.
Joint Bio:
Dr. Tye and Courtney Caldwell are the cofounders of ShearShare, the first on-demand salon and barbershop space rental app. Recognized as tech visionaries and industry pioneers, the Caldwells’ mission is to help fellow beauty and barbering professionals around the world maximize their earnings potential.
ShearShare is the first Texas startup to win Google Demo Day, L’Oreal’s Women in Digital NEXT Generation Award, and Tech. Co’s Startup of the Year. The Caldwells’ work has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Fast Company, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Modern Salon, and Salon Today. They are alums of YC Fellowship and 500 Startups, two world-renowned programs for creating top-end entrepreneurs.
The Caldwells live in McKinney, Texas, and are proud parents to son Trey, a second-year cadet and football player at the United States Air Force Academy.
1:56 Why don’t more couples start companies together?
2:43 Making the entrepreneurial leap | The origin of ShearShare
5:50 Listen to your customers problems. They will give you product ideas
8:22 How services businesses can be a great precursor to a highly scalable tech company
11:28 Participating in the Google for Startups Accelerator for black founders
14:39 Preparing ShearShare for an AI future and creating hyper-personalization for barbers and stylists
19:42 Getting to an MVP | Building a tech platform/app as non-technical founders
22:59 Identifying and acquiring technical talent to build the first version of the application
24:49 “You’re saying we should drain the what? The 401k”… Betting on yourself as a founder
27:20 Moving from contractors to full-time engineers
29:50 Learning lessons building a marketplace | Solving the chicken and egg problem
34:00 Establishing a pricing model
35:34 Building traction via word-of-mouth
38:24 The entrepreneurial mindset | Confidence, risk, generational wealth, betting on yourself
44:36 May 2021 – Exciting news coming from ShearShare
