HueHello, Let there be SmartLight

In 2017, I discovered the emerging world of the Internet of Things (IoT), and it quickly piqued my interest. After some research, I embarked on a journey to create a white-label software solution for smart lights. My hypothesis was simple: hardware companies excel at building devices, but their software often lags behind. Could I bridge that gap? With this question in mind, I started a project fueled by big ambitions. While it didn’t become the massive success I envisioned, it turned out to be a small yet meaningful win.

What was HueHello

In the SmartLight ecosystem, Philips Hue stands as a big name. Their hardware is robust, and they offered an SDK for developers to build on top of their platform. My hypothesis was to start by working with Philips Hue, then gradually expand to support other hardware companies, or to eventually develop a white-label solution to sell to a hardware manufacturer. While the grand vision didn’t fully materialize, it still resulted in a meaningful win.

Story

I envisioned a simple mobile app with a powerful UX, putting everyday operations front and center on the home screen, while leveraging mobile OS features for quick access. The app also included advanced features like syncing lights with music, IFTTT integration for smart lights, smart notification and scheduled tasks.

In the winter of 2018, I released the app and introduced it to the Reddit community of Philips Hue users. Little did I know that winter—especially the Christmas season—was the perfect time to launch, as people were eager to buy smart lights and apps to enhance them.

The app, with in-app purchases, launched on both Android and iOS platforms. Shortly after release, a user purchased the app but couldn’t unlock the pro features. They emailed me, and I resolved the issue. In return, they left a 5-star review. It was an indescribable feeling.

For the next year, I became deeply involved in the Philips Hue ecosystem, refining the app based on user feedback and consistently maintaining a high rating on the app stores.

Outcome

The apps were acquired by Setona LLC, a US app holding company.

Highlights

• Bootstrapped, with a lean team of freelancers.
• Mastered the art of managing a remote team, an essential skill in today’s work environment.
• With passion and solid hypothesis, built the product with users.
• Adopted A/B testing and data driven decisions.
• Successfully launched the apps on the App Store—Mission Accomplished.

Learnings

• Have a clear understanding of the problem statement you are addressing.
• It’s okay to develop your idea without extensive research if you have a solid hypothesis.
• Niche products can do wonders if you provide value.
• You can build a small to medium business with a loyal set of super users who love your product.
• Timing is crucial—sometimes you get lucky. If I hadn’t launched the app during Christmas, I might have lost motivation without early signals. Understand your customer behavior.
• Do more of what works, I launched a few plugins for HueHello, and they were well received.
• Find the community around your problem statement, or build one.
• Product quality is King; customer service is Queen.
• Users are happy to share feedback if you listen and resolve their issues. A lot of 5 star reviews were result of customer facing issues and I solving them timely.
• Have a clear monetization strategy in mobile apps. It’s very difficult to build a profitable business in the B2C segment.
• Keep your eyes open for current trends.
• Learn negotiation & sales. I could do better.

Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.

Arnold H. Glasow