TL;DR:
- Verity Tuck, who sold her flower delivery business for $35 million, redirected 70% of her wealth into launching a new start-up.
- She co-founded Goldee, an AI assistant for parents that simplifies event organization through calendar invites.
- Goldee is set to launch on February 5, focusing on subscription-based revenue.
- Tuck’s previous venture, LVLY, yielded $20 million when it was sold.
- Goldee utilizes advanced language models to distill essential information from text.
- Development studio Shadowboxer, co-founded by Tuck’s husband, has taken an equity stake in Goldee.
- The couple relocated to Cabarita Beach, emphasizing a hands-on approach to app development.
Main AI News:
Verity Tuck, who sold her co-founded flower delivery business for a hefty $35 million in April 2022, found herself drawn back into the world of startups as she began hearing founders pitch their innovative ideas. Driven by the passion she witnessed, she decided to allocate 70 percent of her investment capital toward launching a brand-new venture of her own. Tuck shares, “Watching other entrepreneurs pitch their visions and witnessing their unwavering dedication, I yearned to be in their shoes, actively building something from the ground up once again. My entrepreneurial spirit remained ablaze.”
Together with her husband, Mike Fraser, Ms. Tuck founded Goldee, an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant tailored for parents. This remarkable tool simplifies the task of organizing emails, screenshots, and photos, automatically generating calendar invites for important family events. With Goldee, parents can effortlessly access a centralized hub, eliminating the need to sift through inboxes and message threads, ensuring they never miss out on crucial events like book week or birthday parties.
Scheduled to launch on February 5, Goldee aims to generate revenue through subscription-based models, offering a valuable solution for parents overwhelmed by digital communication.
Tuck’s journey began with her first startup, LVLY, a same-day flower delivery service, which she exited after its acquisition by Limitless Technology in South-East Asia, bringing her a substantial $20 million. During the negotiation process, Tuck found herself grappling with the demands of her daughter’s school newsletters and parent WhatsApp groups, alongside the intricacies of sale contracts. She explains, “I was astounded at the volume of school emails, birthday party invitations, and WhatsApp messages… The communication channels seemed endless and fragmented.”
In response to this challenge, Goldee has harnessed the capabilities of various cutting-edge language models from OpenAI and Anthropic. These models enable Goldee to comprehend text and distill essential information into convenient calendar invites, alleviating the burden on parents.
While Tuck remains tight-lipped about the exact investment figure for Goldee, she expresses confidence that the funds will sustain them until a capital raise planned for late 2024. Moreover, Development studio Shadowboxer, co-founded by Mr. Fraser, has secured an equity stake in Goldee, contributing to the app’s development. Shadowboxer specializes in supporting startups and collaborating with founders and venture capitalists to create technology products. They sometimes accept “sweat equity” in lieu of payment for their services, as seen in the case of Doshii, where their involvement led to a significant return when the hospitality technology startup was acquired by Commonwealth Bank.
Recently, the couple relocated to Cabarita Beach in northern New South Wales, capitalizing on the opportunity to work remotely while enjoying coastal living. Despite the scenic backdrop, Tuck remains deeply committed to her work. She emphasizes, “This will be a hands-on journey. I’m eager to personally connect with users of the app, understanding their preferences and usage patterns.” Her dedication to building a meaningful, user-centric product remains unwavering.
Conclusion:
Verity Tuck’s return to entrepreneurship with Goldee, an AI tool for parents, highlights the enduring appeal of start-up ventures. Her success in attracting funding and the support of the development studio Shadowboxer indicates a promising market for innovative solutions in family and organizational management. The willingness to engage directly with users suggests a strong commitment to user satisfaction and product refinement, positioning Goldee well for potential market growth.
