Innovator of the Week
Lori Tiernan
Founder of Bhive
30-second pitch about your company.
Bhive is an online trade platform where local businesses exchange goods and services. Our goal is to help small businesses to conserve funds while building their business pipeline.
Who or what was your best resource for starting your company?
When I first moved to the Seacoast, I found it difficult to connect with other local owners (I own a marketing consulting firm) and entrepreneurs so I started the Seacoast Business Owners group. The group is now over 700 local owners and was the inspiration for Bhive. We are currently beta-testing the product with the SBO group before launching in Boston and NYC in the Fall. Their feedback has been incredibly valuable to our development.
Around New Hampshire, there are a ton of resources for startup owners. Alpha Loft, Entrepreneurs Fund of New Hampshire (EFNH), Live Free and Start!, and Manchester Young Professionals Network (MYPN) are some that I’ve utilized. Bhive recently competed in the semi-finals of the MYPN New Hampshire Startup Challenge. Check us out pitching!
What was your biggest obstacle in starting your company and how did you overcome it?
TIME! My husband and I built the online platform while managing full-time jobs and a new baby. We launched the beta test when our daughter was 3 weeks old. As an entrepreneur, you need to be comfortable working around the clock. Weekends don’t exist in the traditional sense and we love it.
What’s the best advice you have received?
Don’t doubt yourself. All too often (especially with female founders) self-doubt leads to failure. Going into my second startup venture, I’ve learned if you don’t believe in your own vision and your ability to achieve it, others won’t either.
What about the NH lifestyle appeals to you?
My husband Deaglan (a Portsmouth native) and I moved from NYC, looking for more of a small town feel to raise a family. We ended up in Portsmouth, which was an easy transition with the abundance of restaurants, culture and nightlife while also offering the type of community we were hoping for.
What does the future look like for your company?
We are currently completing a beta test on the Seacoast. We will be fundraising this summer with plans to launch in Boston in the early Fall and NYC by the end of the year.
Connect with Lori on LinkedIn, or Twitter. Connect with Bhive on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.