E839: Allie Janoch Mapistry: SaaS for env. regs, real-time data, incentivizes managers to compliance | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Map Astray helps manufacturing and industrial companies comply with environmental regulations by providing software that automates processes, tracks compliance, and identifies issues in real time.

Key Insights

• 👣 Map Astray simplifies environmental compliance by providing software that automates processes, tracks compliance, and identifies issues in real time.
• 😫 The company focuses on helping manufacturing and industrial companies comply with regulations set by the EPA and state organizations.
• 🖐️ Content marketing, such as blogging and webinars, plays a significant role in acquiring customers and educating them about the benefits of the software.
• 💗 Map Astray is tapping into the growing market of environmental compliance as more companies recognize the importance of sustainability and avoiding legal issues.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How does Map Astray help companies with environmental compliance?

Map Astray provides software that tracks and automates compliance with rules and regulations set by the EPA and state organizations. It simplifies the process of inspections, sampling, and reporting, ensuring that companies follow environmental rules and avoid pollution.

Q: How does Map Astray address the challenges faced by manufacturing and industrial companies?

Map Astray's software eliminates the need for manual paperwork and tracking, making compliance easier and more efficient. It provides real-time data on inspections, samples, and tasks, helping companies stay on top of compliance requirements and address any issues promptly.

Q: Why is environmental compliance important for manufacturing and industrial companies?

Environmental compliance is crucial for protecting the environment and preventing pollution. Failure to comply with regulations can result in fines and lawsuits. By ensuring compliance, companies can avoid legal issues, protect their reputation, and contribute to a cleaner and safer environment.

Q: How does Map Astray acquire customers and educate them about their software?

Map Astray engages in content marketing, such as blogging and webinars, to educate potential customers about environmental compliance and the benefits of their software. They also collaborate with government agencies to access data on companies that have been fined or sued for non-compliance, targeting them as potential leads.

Summary:

In this video, Allie Janek, CEO and founder of Mapistry, discusses her journey as a founder and the challenges she faced in raising funding for her environmental compliance software. She explains the importance of effectively communicating the value of her product to investors and shares her experience of starting a company with her husband. Allie also provides a demo of Mapistry's software and discusses their customer acquisition strategy.

Questions & Answers:

Q: How did Allie Janek raise funding for Mapistry?

It took Allie Janek several years to raise funding for Mapistry. She faced challenges in communicating the value of her product to investors and finding product-market fit. Ultimately, she was able to raise funding by showcasing real revenue, impressive logos, and proof of product-market fit.

Q: How did Allie Janek find out about the niche problem she is solving?

Allie Janek's background is in software and her co-founder's background is in environmental civil engineering. They identified the problem of environmental compliance in manufacturing and industrial companies by combining their skill sets and addressing the manual and cumbersome processes involved.

Q: What problem does Mapistry solve?

Mapistry helps manufacturing and industrial companies comply with environmental regulations set by the EPA and state organizations. The software automates compliance processes, such as regular inspections and water sampling, and provides real-time insights to prevent pollution and ensure adherence to regulations.

Q: How does Mapistry use mapping in its software?

Mapistry makes mapping easy for its customers. The software provides a visual representation of sites, including evacuation routes, flow directions, spill response kits, site boundaries, and satellite accumulation areas. This allows companies to easily navigate and manage their compliance processes.

Q: How does Mapistry acquire new customers?

Mapistry acquires new customers through content marketing. They create informative blog posts and webinars that address common challenges in environmental compliance. By providing valuable content, they attract potential customers who become aware of Mapistry and eventually engage with their software.

Q: How does Mapistry help companies mitigate the risk of non-compliance?

Mapistry's software enables companies to easily track and manage their compliance processes. By providing real-time insights, companies can identify and address environmental issues before they become major problems or subject to costly lawsuits. Mapistry helps companies minimize the risk of non-compliance and pollution incidents.

Q: Does Mapistry use sensors in their software?

While Mapistry plans to incorporate sensors in their future products, their current focus is on areas like stormwater compliance where sensor technology is not necessary. Their software simplifies tasks like inspections and sampling, making it more efficient than traditional manual methods.

Q: How does Mapistry assist companies with self-reporting and prevent fraud?

Mapistry provides a platform for companies to manage their compliance data, including inspections and sampling results. While some self-reporting is involved, there are industry regulations and certifications in place to ensure accurate reporting. Additionally, the risk of getting sued by third parties serves as a deterrent for fraudulent practices.

Q: How does Mapistry cater to companies with multiple facilities?

Mapistry's software is designed to meet the needs of companies with multiple facilities. They provide a comprehensive metrics dashboard that allows corporate-level personnel to easily monitor compliance across all locations. This helps companies identify areas for improvement and prioritize efforts accordingly.

Q: What role does Jason Lemkin play in Mapistry's fundraising?

Jason Lemkin, a well-known software-as-a-service investor, provided funding for Mapistry through his investment firm, SaaStr. He was able to understand the nuances of Mapistry's business and overcame initial objections that other investors had. His familiarity with environmental compliance played a role in establishing trust and securing funding.

Takeaways:

Mapistry's CEO, Allie Janek, faced challenges in raising funding for her environmental compliance software. Through effective communication of the product's value, showcasing real revenue and proof of product-market fit, she was able to secure funding. Mapistry's software automates compliance processes, provides real-time insights, and helps companies avoid pollution incidents and costly lawsuits. The company acquires customers through content marketing, offering valuable content to attract potential customers. Mapistry's focus is on simplifying compliance processes and providing companies with the tools to prevent environmental issues.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Map Astray is a software company that focuses on environmental compliance for manufacturing and industrial companies.

• The software helps companies comply with rules and regulations related to environmental protection, such as stormwater regulations.

• By automating processes and providing real-time tracking of compliance, Map Astray helps companies avoid pollution and potential lawsuits.