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[jrose2260]

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[nytech]

NYTM Alumni Interview feat: Tim Novikoff

Photo courtesy of QoolFoto

Every month at NY Tech Meetup, we showcase companies and individuals that are creating amazing technology. For those that are not familiar, we ask our presenters to do a LIVE demo of their project or product focusing on the tech and not the business model in front of an audience of 850 people. We also make them fit the demo into either a 3 or 5 minutes demo slot. After sifting through tons of applications, referrals, and in person pitches, we select about 10 companies to share their amazingness with our community.

Each month we stand backstage watching the demos from the wings and wait for the audience to tell us if they saw the magic. The reaction comes in a very audible form of audible gasps, cheers and “Wow”s. Even though we hope this happens during every demo, it takes a certain combination of demo preparedness, great technology, and showmanship to make that audience connection. When it does happens, we definitely know it. You can actually feel it in the air. It’s always extra special when the full lineup succeeds. 

In October, we had a great lineup of demoers and they all seemed to do an amazing job, each making that magic happen. Then BOOM, Tim Novikoff, Founder and CEO of Fly Labs took the stage and really killed it. It’s always special to have a demoer return to our stage a couple of years after their first appearance and just make it happen again. 

Tim definitely had the advantage of having been on the NYTM stage 2 years prior, but it didn’t stop him from being bit nervous. In fact, just prior to the event, he was still unsure of demoing a piece of technology that I knew would blow the socks off the audience. He ultimately made the final decision to share it and it definitely enhanced the success of the demo.

Not only is Tim a successful entrepreneur, he’s also an all around great guy and his sincerity, passion and community oriented spirit is infectious. I wanted to get his insight into what it was like to not only demo at NYTM, but to also find out how it has helped him. Immediately following the event, Tim asked if there was anything he could do to help us and I immediately decided Tim would be our first attempt at a follow up interview so here it is.

  Photo courtesy of QoolFoto

NYTM: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and your company?

Tim: I grew up in NYC. I was an actor as a child, doing voices on Daria on MTV, and went on to major in theater at the Tisch School of the Arts. I double majored in math, and ended up teaching math at Stuyvesant High School after college. After four happy years teaching, I decided to go back to school to get a PhD in applied math. While I was in grad school, I taught myself iOS development. 

I started Fly Labs when I was still a grad student in Ithaca, but I moved the company to NYC very early on. Fly Labs creates apps for video creativity on iOS. Our first app is Fly, which got to 1,000,000 downloads in four months. To celebrate this milestone we released Crop on the Fly, which addresses the affliction known as “vertical video syndrome”. It’s free, with no advertisements, and no in-app purchases.

If you want to get into iPhone video, please download Fly and Crop on the Fly. Both are free. :-)

NYTM: How did you first hear about NY Tech Meetup?

Tim: Everybody has heard of NY Tech Meetup! I had heard that it was a good place to get press, meet engineers, and possibly meet investors.

Can you tell us about your two experiences demoing at NY Tech Meetup?

Tim: The first time we demo’d at NYTM I was scared. All we had was a prototype that barely worked. In retrospect I actually had nothing to lose at that point, but still I was nervous. The demo went well, and I actually made a connection in the after-party that would eventually lead me to the angel investor who ended up leading our seed round. So I’m glad I demo’d when I did!

The second time we went it was as an “alum”, on the two-year anniversary of the first demo. At this point Fly worked, it was live in the App Store, and it had about 800,000 downloads. Even though by this time the tech worked reliably, and in fact Fly was already the leading video editor for iOS, it had been 2 years since I had last demo’d anything anywhere, so I was out of practice. I was actually more scared the second time around! I wanted my demo to live up to the hard work that the team had put into the app over the last 2 years.

Photo courtesy of QoolFoto

NYTM: What surprised you most about your experience?

Tim: At the second demo, I was surprised by how many people had seen the first demo 2 years prior. At each NYTM, the organizers always poll the audience to see how many people are there for the first time, and a lot of people always raise their hands. This emphasizes how the community is growing quickly. But a lot of people actually don’t raise their hands – it’s not their first NYTM – and in fact a lot of the attendees are regulars. There are people who go almost every month.

A whole bunch of people came up to me after the second demo to tell me that they had seen first demo too. That was surprising, and kind of cool.

NYTM: What advice do you have for those considering applying to demo?

Tim: Don’t delay applying. Just apply. One of the best bits of advice I got was from my friend Peter Sullivan, another entrepreneur. Back before the first demo, I asked him if he thought I should wait until after we launch to demo at NYTM. He said no, just do it, you never know what will come of it. Indeed, I made a connection at the first demo that led to the funding that ultimately allowed us to launch a way better product. I was extremely happy that I demo’d pre-launch. 

So if you’re considering applying and not sure if it’s too early, just apply. It’s not too early so long as you have something nifty to show.

Photo courtesy of QoolFoto

NYTM: What is your best tip for getting the most out of the opportunity to present at NYTM?

Tim: You’ll be swamped afterward, so bring business cards. You won’t have enough time to talk with everybody. Also, practice your pitch and get it as concise as possible.

NYTM: Thank you for taking time to demo at the meetup and sharing your product with the community, now let our community know how they can help you!

Tim: Please spread the word about Fly Labs and our video apps for iOS. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If you make any great videos with the apps, please let us know about it!

We are hiring engineers and graphic designers, so world-class engineers and graphic designers should contact me now. We may raise a Series A in 2015, so interested VCs should contact me now as well.

 Thanks Tim!

If you want to apply to demo at a future NY Tech Meetup, learn more and submit your application at nytm.org/present.

Follow Tim on twitter:

@timnovikoff

@editonthefly

Interested VCs can reach Tim directly at [email protected]