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This feature originally appeared on Forbes.com.
“Fail fast, fix fast, learn fast.”
That’s Hutch CEO Beatrice Fischel-Bock’s mantra, and a quick tour through her history as an entrepreneur reveals she’s not kidding.
Since 2015 Hutch, an app that helps you redesign a room with the snap of a picture, has undergone a few makeovers itself. CEO and co-founder Beatrice Fischer-Bock’s first attempt, Zoom Interiors, featured on Shark Tank, and made enough of an impression that Barbara Corcoran bit (only to back out later).
Corcoran wasn’t the only person to take notice though. Tinder CEO Sean Rad offered to invest as an angel and make some introductions. Shortly thereafter, Zoom gave way to the chat-based Homee, which raised a $5 million series A and appeared to have some momentum on the user-acquisition side.
Yet Fischel-Bock wasn’t satisfied.
Both Zoom and Homee were essentially consultation services for millennials, and the gap between consultation and a finished makeover can be substantial. Plus, Homee only made money when people bought furniture through the app. So in a way, the chat service was only getting in the way of what both users and Fischel-Bock wanted; a quicker way to buy new, designer-approved looks for a home.
The future, Fischel-Bock believed, was in the more immediate payoff of visualizing how your new décor would play in the room. And then buying the items to pull it off.
That future is now. Recently, Fischel-Bock launched Hutch. Like she says: Fail fast. Fix fast. Learn fast.
1. When did you first know you were going to be an entrepreneur?
I didn’t know I was going to be an entrepreneur until my partners and I came up with our first business idea in college. We knew we were onto something but assumed someone else had already done it. As we dug deeper we realized no one had. This was a big learning moment in what entrepreneurship is. It’s realizing that there is still so much innovating to do and who’s to say you’re not the person who should be doing the innovating?
2. What inspires you to succeed?
Myself. Later, when I look back on my life, I want to know that I’ve left a mark in some way–either through the people I work with or the people who benefit from what I help create.
3. If you could hire your younger self, what job would it be for?
I pretty much am my younger self. If I were not CEO, I would be in a COO or Chief of Staff type of position. I enjoy bringing the right people together and making things happen. I have a mantra at the company that I instill: Fail Fast, Fix Fast, Learn Fast. I look for people who embody that way of thinking and working. Luckily, I think I have that personality type so I hope I’d hire me!
4. What’s the best part of coming to work every day?
Collaborating with the team and knowing every day that we will be innovating and iterating on something that we feel so passionate about. It’s easy to take for granted that every day is completely different in the startup world–we touch every part of the business. I try to remind myself as much as possible how lucky I am to be excited about going to work every day.
5. What is the ideal workspace for you, personally?
Open floor plan where I can shout out to someone from a different department. I love the energy of an office with lots of voices and open communication. Sometimes it’s business related, and other times it’s butting in on a conversation happening across the room.
6. What is the ideal form of relaxation for you?
Since moving to LA I’ve gotten into hiking. I find its the perfect mix of all things relaxing–nature, sunshine, music, exercise, and dogs! I either zone out and use the time to truly unplug or use the time to do some clear thinking.
7. What is your favorite feature of your current office?
Our views! We are on the top floor and have 360 views of Los Angeles. On one side we have the hills and can even spot the Hollywood sign. We got really lucky with our office after inheriting it from Tinder when they moved.
8. What do the words “company culture” make you think of?
Respect. Good culture to me is cultivating an environment where everyone respects each other and the work that they are doing. Perks are fun but they don’t build the fundamental foundation of a workplace. The people and the work they are producing is the foundation of a workplace.
9. When was the last time you laughed uncontrollably?
In a co-founder meeting earlier this week. We are very fortunate to enjoy each other not only as business partners, but as friends.
10. If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing instead?
People ask me this and I truly can’t imagine doing anything else. If it wasn’t Hutch, it would be a different idea. As they say, once you catch the entrepreneurial bug, you’re hooked!