Many small businesses today struggle to implement solutions to their operational challenges, lacking the knowledge to do so themselves or the resources to contract others. To solve these problems swiftly and cost effectively, one team of innovators, HelloBoss, has stepped up. Founded by Juhee Ko, the company aims to streamline outsourcing for business owners, providing a reliable platform for a variety of tasks. The HelloBoss team recently shared insights into their journey and the impact of participating in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) New Jersey Innovation Fellows (NJIF) program, an initiative with mentorship programming provided by the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), designed to empower entrepreneurs and their ideas through short-term income replacement
Juhee Ko, the CEO of HelloBoss, began her career as a freelance web designer and developer. Her experience as a freelancer during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a significant demand for remote work solutions among small business owners. “Many couldn’t manage design tasks even with tools like Photoshop. They needed reliable outsourcing,” she said. Recognizing the inefficiencies in traditional outsourcing, Juhee aimed to create a more automated and efficient communication flow. This realization led to the creation of HelloBoss, a platform designed to outsource tasks efficiently and quickly.
Alongside Juhee are two other experienced members: Mijin Kim and Lina Kim, both well versed in development and design principles. Mijin began her career as a developer with a background in web agency work, then joined HelloBoss to help create their Minimum Viable Product (MVP). “I was excited to join the team and contribute to the development of our outsourcing platform,” she shared. Lina, the third and newest member of the team, specializes in UX design, graphic design, and marketing. “I bring a diverse skill set to the team, focusing on user flows and interviews to enhance our service,” she noted. With a combination of the team’s skillsets and Juhee’s leadership, the trio is well suited to handle any challenge they are approached with.
Participating in the NJIF program has been pivotal for HelloBoss. Juhee and her teammates highlighted the program’s support, particularly in terms of income replacement and valuable learning sessions. “The grant and the educational aspects of the program have been incredibly beneficial. When I thought about the business model, most of our cost is labor fees, so the income replacement this is the best way for us to utilize the program,” she stated.
The NJIF program has also facilitated valuable networking opportunities. Lina highlighted the benefits of events like NJII’s Open Coffee Club, where they connect with other startups and gain insights into new technologies. “These interactions have been instrumental in our development,” she said. In addition to networking, the team has been successfully applying lessons from the NJIF workshops to their startup journey and has progressed a lot since their induction to the program.
Speaking about the NJIF program, Juhee shared a powerful message for fellow Asian women entrepreneurs. “Many Asian small business owners don’t consider government programs like this. I encourage them to utilize these opportunities, challenge themselves, and embrace new environments,” she urged.
HelloBoss is on a mission to revolutionize outsourcing for small businesses. With a dedicated team and the support of NJII and the NJIF program, they are poised to make a significant impact. Their journey underscores the importance of innovation, resilience, and community in the world of startups.
Other participants in the NJIF program include AnataMed, a medical device company out of East Orange, as well as MyFitPlate, a health and wellness application that allows users to track their caloric intake and share data socially. As New Jersey’s startup infrastructure continues to grow, NJII provides resources, grant opportunities, networking events, and more to help small business achieve their goals and turn innovative ideas into reality. You can learn more about NJII’s Entrepreneurship Division by visiting our homepage.