It's official: an app created by local entrepreneur and former Fast Track winner David Hill and business partner Jared Montoya, associate provost of Our Lady of the Lake University, is newly available in the Apple Store.
The app, called "WeGood?" is designed to increase employee retention rates and curb absenteeism through a weekly feedback checklist sent from supervisor to employee, after which employees can respond and request a meeting or further explanation.
An alpha version of the app went live on Apple's App Store late last week and Hill said he expects the Android version of the app to be available from Google Play by next week.
Hill said the app is going through phase one alpha testing, and that phase two beta testing will be with the same customers, but they will pay a usage fee per person as the company continues to improve and update the app based on feedback.
The final version of the app is poised to be rolled out sometime in the fourth quarter, Hill said.
While the design and programming of the app took approximately six months, Hill said the process of getting the new app on the App Store only took a few weeks.
"The process was fairly easy, working with the Apple app team," he said. "(We had) to develop privacy and terms and support background and a separate website, WeGood.io."
But after waiting on review and approval — and receiving it — Hill said it seemed like a positive sign from Apple on the app's viability.
Montoya and Hill first partnered in 2019 to work on a new company, High Quality Leadership, formally launched in 2020.
While the app is a major project of the company, the company's four departments — talent, engagement, leadership and organization — offer other resources like leadership training seminars and executive searches.
In January, High Quality Leadership raised $100,000 in capital for their first SAFE, or simple agreement for future equity, round of funding.
In May, the company began a second capital raise, setting a goal of raising $300,000 by the end of the third quarter. After that, they will move to a priced round of $1 million late this year or in early 2023, where they will begin talks with angel groups and venture capital groups.
Hill said the company's motto is "Engage them, retain them" — and his intent with the app is to help companies retain employees by improving manager and employee relationships, which he believes will have a net positive effect on quality, productivity, cost control and other factors.
The company is also in the early stages of planning a Spanish version and a Portuguese version of the app to be used in Central America and South America.
