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. 

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Loraina London-Calderon has always been passionate about nutrition and wellness. Growing up, she noticed many nutritional disparities within her family that led to health issues, particularly with her grandmother, who needed regular dialysis treatment due to kidney failure. Determined to make a difference, she envisioned a tool that would help families understand their nutritional intake and prevent similar health problems.  This vision led to the creation of MyFitPlate.

A member of the inaugural New Jersey Innovation Fellows (NJIF) cohort, MyFitPlate is a cutting-edge health and wellness application that allows users to track their caloric intake and support each other in achieving fitness goals. The app’s standout feature is an AI camera designed to scan food and provide nutritional analysis, making it easier for users to manage their diets. Loraina shared, “I decided that if I could create a resource or a tool that could help the people in my family from going through something similar or just to like to help them understand how much they’re eating on a day to day that that would be a win for me and ultimately a win for everyone who is going through something similar.”

Co-founded by Loraina, Peter Andrews, and Rashmi Naik, MyFitPlate is in its early stages of development. The team is currently focused on customer discovery to validate their assumptions and refine the app’s features. Peter, who brings a wealth of experience in scientific development and a strong business acumen, elaborates on the AI camera’s functionality, stating, “Hopefully, the final iteration will be a camera that can just take a snapshot, identify the main components of your meal, and try to give you a good estimate of how much you’re actually eating and the breakdown of micro and macronutrients.”

The team has recently been accepted into the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) I-Corps program, which has provided rigorous customer discovery training and additional grants for development. This program has been crucial in helping the team understand the market and refine their business model. With the help of the program and customer feedback, they are continuously adapting their approach to ensure the app meets actual user needs.

Support from the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) through the NJIF program has been invaluable. Peter mentioned that the MyFitPlate team has learned a lot from the synchronous learning sessions (monthly classes focused on different topics geared toward startups) and found the connections with other startups extremely useful.

Looking back on their success with the programs and accelerators the team have partaken in, Loraina offers advice for new innovators: “Having a solid action plan before entering such programs is crucial. This includes customer discovery interviews and development plans.” The trio have come a long way from their initial idea and have pivoted their business model to reflect that. MyFitPlate is poised to make a significant impact on how people manage their nutrition. With a strong team, supportive community, and a clear vision, they are well on their way to revolutionizing health and wellness technology. By participating and collaborating with the NJIF program, NJII plays a significant role in the acceleration of startups and small businesses throughout New Jersey. Startups like MyFitPlate and AnataMed, another NJIF cohort discussed in a previous blog, showcase why it’s important to grant opportunities to first-time business owners and creative thinkers. If you want to learn more about how NJII assists in the development of emerging startups and projects, you can view our Entrepreneurship Division webpage

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