How can you, your business or organisation benefit from AI?

In March 2023 I helped cofound the new agency xHumanLabs that will help organisations leverage AI for app development including concept, design, development and testing. Our mission is to help everyone leverage AI and make it a force for good. As part of this we also run workshops to help companies and other organisations to jump start their efforts. For more information contact michael@xhumanlabs.com More about this later.

2021 and the journey continues

2020-2021 was a tough year for many startups. Logistical issues around the world, venture capital dried out for many kinds of startups and for companies manufacturing in China it was especially challenge. 

I'm happy to say that we survived and we are now stronger than ever. 

Read more about the top 5 best faucet water filters on Bloglovin. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

For my French audience check out the recommendation by the French consumer organisation OFFEC. 

Tips for working from home during the Coronavirus outbreak

Working from home is hard for most people. Distractions include food, Coronavirus news, social media, flat mates, family. To help a little bit I put together this guide based on my 10+ years of working remotely around the world.

1. Set overall objectives for the week
Agree the goals with your manager with measurable objectives so that you know if you’ve been successful at the end of the week.

2. Plan the entire week on Monday morning including taks, scheduled meetings, email and breaks
This is one of the efficient ways to make sure you are in control of your time and plan ahead. I use Evernote to make an hour by hour schedule from Monday to Sunday but the tool doesn’t matter as long as it works for you. Take breaks every 2 hours away from the screen.

Every morning during the week I review my plan again and make adjustments as priorities change.

3. Buffer time
Things change. A colleague needs help, an urgent email, phone call, new tasks from a meeting. Set aside at least 1 hour per day as buffer time. Some people need two.

4. Set an alarm and give yourself rewards 
If you have a task that needs to be completed in 45 min then set the alarm countdown for 45 min. Work focused without distractions (turn off all notifications).
Give yourself a reward when you are done. For example 10 min of latest Coronovirus news.  Using the smartphone for the alarm also reminds you to not use it for other distractions.

5. Set aside time for catch up calls with colleagues
We are social beings and in the office this comes naturally. We drink coffee, tea, chat between desks and so on. This helps to motivate, sort things in the brain, etc.

Schedule your coffee break fo catch up with the team or a colleague over a video call for 10-15 min for example.

Still find it difficult? 
Need feedback on what works for you? Talk to your manager or colleague about it or feel free to reach out to me. We are better together!

Example of weekly objectives and plan

Here’s an example of a weekly plan for next week for my work at Tapp Water:

Objectives

• Finalise the technical update of the Water Quality Database by Wednesday and test with water quality reports by Thursday to ensure we can scale.
• Start the design work for the Water Quality Database by Wednesday due to be finalised within a week thereafter.
• Finalise Mexico Grant financial calculator with Gustavo by Tuesday 
• Finalise 2019 Financial Report for external purposes with Gustavo by Tuesday
• Launch the updated TAPP App on the Apple appstore and Google store by Thursday
• Close distributor agreements with Poland, Kazakhstan and UK by Friday including at least one signed order.
• Productive Friday investor call

Weekly plan

Monday:
9-9.30
Create weekly plan (this one)

9.30-11
Meeting: Coronavirus contingency planning

11-12
Review latest updates of the Water Quality Database and give feedback to developers
10 min break for coffee / catch-up with Alex

12-13
Buffer for e-mail and other urgent tasks

13-14
Lunch + 15 min exercise

14.30-15.00
Send agreements for signature by UK and Poland

14.30-15.00
Prep for call with Gustavo on External Reporting, Mexico grant and Friday Investor call

15.00-15.30 All Team Weekly Meeting

15.30-16.00
Brief designer on the Water Quality Database Design

16.30-17.00 DV investor call

17.00-18.00
Buffer for e-mail and other urgent tasks

18.00-19.00
Review latest app update on iPhone and Android

Close computer!

...and so on for the rest of the week.


Check out what we do at Tapp Water on https://tappwater.com

Why you should be drinking tap water

I’m on a mission and this time it’s not about mobile apps or technology. My mission is to half the consumption of bottled water waste in the home in 10 years. This means a reduction of over 4 billion plastic bottle waste per year and about €1.2Bn in money saved in Spain alone. 

Every mission has a story and mine begins in beautiful Barcelona where I moved 10 years ago. A couple of years ago I started questioning why I and so many people buy bottled water in Spain and other Mediterranean countries. I’m from Sweden where we are used to drinking tap water and I was tired of carrying home the bottles and seeing the plastic waste build up every day. I had tried out the Brita carafe but didn’t think the taste was good enough and thought the filtering process took too long. There must be a better solution. As an entrepreneur I see opportunities with every problem and here was a huge problem to solve.

So I started researching and realised three important things:
1. The tap water in Spain is generally of very high quality but simply just tastes bad due to chlorine
2. There is great existing technology in the form of granular activated carbon to filter out chlorine from tap water
3. Plastic bottles are a huge burden on the environment and completely unnecessary for most homes

So why should you switch to tap water?

It’s healthier for you
Don’t take my word for this. The World Health Organization, water institutes around the world and doctors frequently publish reports stating that tap water is safer or as safe as bottled water for your health. Read more about the facts of tap water in my next blog..

Better for the environment
It takes about 2-3 liters of water to produce every liter of bottled water. Although PET is an improvement from previous plastics, most bottles never get recycled and end up in landfills or the oceans. Add to that transportation and it gets even worse.

Taste
Yes, the tap water in large parts of Spain and other Mediterranean countries tastes bad. However, the bad taste can easily be removed through several methods including filters, tablets and adding citrus fruits. According to several blind tests 9 out of 10 people cannot taste the difference between filtered and bottled water. And if you prefer sparkling water just buy a soda streamer or similar product.

Convenience
Unlimited fresh water from the tap whenever you need it for drinking, cooking, coffee, tea or watering of sensitive plants. With Tapp Water you get reminded whenever you need to replace the filter. And just buy a nice refillable bottle and you will have tap water with you anywhere.

Save money
The cost of tap water is usually less than 1/300 of bottled water. The cost of filtered water when taking into account the cost of the filter and replacements throughout the year is less than 1/20 of bottled water depending on the volume of consumption.

What kind of filter should I get?

The Brita carafe is the most popular water filter in Spain followed by reverse osmosis filters installed under the sink. We wanted to see if there was a simpler alternative though and after 4 years of testing and product development we launched TAPP 2 in the fall of 2018 as the first home filter focused on taste and convenience. It’s not the only product on the market but we think it’s one of the best based on cost and water quality. The filter uses the latest activated carbon block technology, works on at least 90% of all faucets and is replaced every 2-3 months. Find out more and buy from http://tappwater.co

Now the next big challenge is convincing other people to shift from bottles to tap water. This won't be easy but few missions are. I need your help. Whether you use TAPP or another filter, help reduce plastic waste and save money.

Fore more facts about drinking water see Facts and insights about tap water.

Job Opening: Online Marketing, Tapp Water

Tapp Water Job Opening, 2016-12-28, Barcelona, Spain

Role: Online Marketing Assistant

Description
We are looking for a Marketing Assistant for our start-up in stealth mode, located in Barcelona. We are developing and selling tap water filters that save money, offer convenience and have a big positive impact on the environment. The company has been founded by two successful international entrepreneurs.

Come and join us and create something big from day 1.


Main responsibilities
You will be part of the marketing team responsible for driving online sales through advertising, social, eCommerce partners (e.g. Amazon) and supporting direct retail sales through markets, retail stores, hairdressers, beauty stores, pop-up stores and other partners.

• Create content for the website, newsletters, social media and campaigns
• Be the expert of our customers. Learn and spread the knowledge about tap water and water filters.
• Provide feedback to the product team about the products and marketing material

Requirements
We’re looking for a person that loves marketing, creating content and constantly optimising the content based on results and data. As with any start-up we all do a bit of everything and we learn along the way but you need to know the basic which means:

• Experience of selling products and marketing of consumer products online
• Writing professional website content, newsletters and blogs
• Creating adverts and campaigns
• Basic knowledge of design tools
• Knowledge of marketing through Facebook, Google, Instagram and other online channels
• Ability to quickly learn about new products and services and find the best way of selling them online
• Culture fit: fast paced, good communicator, problem solver, self-starter, analytical
• Native/Fluent Spanish. Advanced English

It is a plus, if you bring the following

• Experience of sales through amazon
• Optimisation of ecommerce websites
• Video content creation

Benefits

Beside of basic salary, we offer

• Be part of something that will make the world a better place
• A real impact on company performance and growth
• Great and friendly start-up culture and work environment
• Possibility to work remotely from time to time

Location
Barcelona

About Tapp Water

TAPP Water is a company proving solutions to make tap water clean, tasty and good for your thirst, skin and hair. Our goal is to provide customers with clean and safe water. The filters remove about 99% of bacterial contaminants and gradients from tap water, providing fresh, clean and pure water. They also provide better tasting and better smelling water. The company based in Barcelona, Spain was started September 2015 and launched the first product in June 2016.

Contact: info@tappwater.co

Job Opening - Market & Retail Sales, Tapp Water

Tapp Water Job Opening, 2016-12-28, Barcelona, Spain

Role: Direct Sales

Description
We are looking for a sales person to join our start-up in stealth mode, located in Barcelona. Tapp Water develops and sells tap water filters that save money, offer convenience and have a big positive impact on the environment. The company has been founded by two successful international entrepreneurs.

Come and join us and create something big from day 1.

Main responsibilities

You will be responsible for sales through markets, retail stores, hairdressers, beauty stores, pop-up stores and other partners. Basically face-to-face sales.

• Create, plan and manage direct sales in Spain and potentially later for other European markets
• Spend at least 3-4 days per week with face to face sales in markets, retail stores, pop-up stores, finding retail partners and other direct sales activities
• Be the expert of our customers. Learn and spread the knowledge about tap water and water filters.
• Provide feedback to the product team about the products and marketing material

Requirements
We’re looking for a person that loves selling, talking to people and closing deals. As with any start-up we all do a bit of everything and we learn along the way but you need to know the basic which means:

• Experience of selling consumer products in markets, street sales, retail stores, pop-up stores and more
• Ability to quickly learn about new products and services and find the best way of selling them face to face
• Culture fit: fast paced, good communicator, problem solver, self-starter, analytical
• Native/Fluent Spanish. Basic English

It is a plus, if you bring the following

• Planning and setting up market stands
• Channel sales
• Water knowledge product and experience

Benefits

Beside of basic salary and sales commission, we offer

• Be part of something that will make the world a better place
• A real impact on company performance and growth
• Great and friendly start-up culture and work environment
• Possibility to work remotely from time to time

Location
Barcelona, Spain

About Tapp Water

TAPP Water is a company proving solutions to make tap water clean, tasty and good for your thirst, skin and hair. Our goal is to provide customers with clean and safe water. The filters remove about 99% of bacterial contaminants and gradients from tap water, providing fresh, clean and pure water. They also provide better tasting and better smelling water. The company based in Barcelona, Spain was started September 2015 and launched the first product in June 2016.

Contact: Info@tappwater.co

The sharepreneur

Over the past 18 years I've been fortunate enough to be part of starting at least 8 companies whereof some pretty successful. I've also published well over 200 articles and blogs on behalf of myself, Golden Gekko and DMI sharing insights and learnings during this time.

This blog is my attempt to give back, share thoughts and ideas for feedback and to present some of my latest ventures. I've republished some of my older blogs and topics here as well.

Enjoy and please give me feedback.