Answered by Kimber Falkinburg, CEO and co-founder
SEQUENSE, founded by three travel agency owners, aims to supercharge how travel entrepreneurs and modern travel agents work. Frustrated by the antiquated systems travel advisors used, its founders built a platform to organize the daily operations of a travel business.
In its ideation phase, SEQUENSE generated pre-product revenue with prototypes, a testament to its early market validation. Its Minimum Viable Product, crafted with direct customer feedback, mitigated development risks. Regarding early traction, SEQUENSE captured market interest with a waitlist of over 1000 and Letters of Intent from B2B clients. This growing interest is further bolstered by a strategic partnership granting the startup access to 20,000 future users. Additionally, it has successfully onboarded two user cohorts for enterprise pilots, indicating strong early adoption.
On the capital and resources front, SEQUENSE's achievements are equally exciting. Completing the Techstars Austin Accelerator, the founders gained invaluable insights and networks. The company also onboarded six advisors focused on area-specific guidance. Its recent partnership with the Alabama Futures Fund as a lead investor marks a significant milestone, fueling growth as it prepares for commercial launch.
What is the most important thing your company accomplished in the past year?
SEQUENSE celebrated a landmark achievement in 2023 by securing Alabama Futures Fund as our lead investor, thanks to Birmingham Bound's introduction. This significant development in our pre-seed financing round sets the stage for further growth and innovation as we proudly establish our headquarters in Birmingham.
What is a short-term and long-term goal for the company in 2024?
Our most significant short-term goal for 2024 is the commercial launch of the SEQUENSE platform. We're thrilled to bring travel entrepreneurs a solution to improve efficiencies, increase revenue and provide exceptional service to their clients.
Our long-term focus for 2024 is understanding our customer acquisition costs and their ratio to our customer lifetime value. These metrics are vital to making informed marketing decisions, can demonstrate efficient use of capital and honor our commitment to caring for and retaining existing customers.
What makes Alabama unique when it comes to the startup ecosystem?
Moving our headquarters to Birmingham has been a pivotal and personal decision. Birmingham is not just a location; it’s a community rich in diversity and innovation where businesses and ideas can flourish. Here, we've found an incredible mix of supportive policies, affordable business costs, and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. The city's growing focus on tech and innovation aligns perfectly with our vision at SEQUENSE. I feel energized by the potential for collaborations and growth in this dynamic environment. Birmingham is more than our new home; it's a key partner in our journey.
