Milo Felipe -- Thoughts from the Man Who Started a One-Man Software Company

Milo Felipe
Founder/Developer, milObjects Software




1. Based on your blog, The Art of the Start of Guy Kawasaki inspired you to start a company back in 2006, so what was the first thing you do when you start your company? Did you quit your job? Or, you started milObjects as a side project while you maintained a corporate job?

The first thing I did was file my resignation. Then during the 30 day notice period, I went through the process of registering my company. My last day was Oct 20, 2006. I didn’t have any idea what product to do when I started milObjects. I really just wanted to not be an employee. I was freelancing while I maintained a corporate job. I thought,”why not make freelancing my main job?” My goal then was to just earn the same income as my corporate job’s income. I was hoping of getting more consulting projects if I had a registered company, even if it’s a one-man sole proprietorship business.  

What was your family/friends reactions to your decision?

They we’re all supportive.

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2. SignAppNow (milObject's online sign-up sheet product) was launched in 2009, so what projects were you involved between 2006 and SignAppNow then also your Android applications?

I’ve been doing consulting work since I started and up to now. It is still my main (and only) source of income. SignApp Now and my android apps aren’t generating substantial revenues (yet). I do consulting to bootstrap development of SignApp Now and other product development efforts.

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3. About SignAppNow, of all possible applications you can develop, why online sign up sheets?

I was consulting for a company and I was given a company email address. I noticed HR sending emails to everyone asking them to sign up to something by replying to the email. Everyone was hitting “Reply to all” so everyone was receiving all the messages. The email thread became so long as people were appending there names to the thread. I got the idea for SignApp Now from this. I thought, “What if there was a simple way to get the names of people who’d like to sign up for something?” It had to be very simple. I got the idea for the no registration required from Posterous.com. I didn’t even bother to look at there were already existing sign up sheet apps until after I released (there were some existing sign up sheet apps already). I was also learning the Grails framework that time so I was quite determined to build the app. I release a very basic version and got some positive feedback. The current app is quite simple and people are requesting for some advanced features. So watch out for version 2. =)

SignApp Now won’t definitely be the last app from milObjects. =)

4. SignAppNow has a pretty web app interface, it looks neat, eye-candy but not cluttered. (Sorry for my non-techy terms.) Are you the only one behind the interface design?

I came up with the design idea and asked a friend, Irving DelaCruz, to implement it. He’s my partner for SignApp Now.

Are there other web apps you get inspiration from when you do your design?

I get inspiration from the apps of 37signals and all the other “simple” apps out there.

Do you have someone you look up to in terms of designing?

No specific person. I just try to learn from the design of all the other apps out there.

Any books you read and can recommend when it comes to designing web interfaces?

Don’t Make Me Think, Defensive Design for the Web, articles from the web.

Any secret weapon/tool you use for designing?

None

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4. How many are you in your team? What are the different roles you have to play?

milObjects is just me. I’m a one man company. For SignApp Now, it’s just me and Irving. Irving does everything involving graphics and images. I do everything else. I gave him 3% of SignApp Now.

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For more screenshots
of milObject's 3 Android
Apps, click here.

6. Just based on your SignAppNow, my impression is that you are an Apple fan (they’re usually so obsessed with interface design), so I’m wondering why you created android apps? Why not apps for iPhone?

I like Apple products, but I’m not a fan. I don’t buy every new Apple product that comes out. I don’t stay up late to watch Apple announcements. I had a MacBook before that lasted me for 3 years. I’m saving up for a new MacBook Pro, but I’m not in a hurry to get one. I can still work with my Asus laptop. I have a first gen iPod touch that I still use up to now (just for watching videos). I created android apps because I already know Java (android uses Java). iPhone uses Objective C and I just don’t have the time (or don’t want) to learn Objective C.

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7. As a start-up guy, what are the funny moments? Moments that inspire you to continue doing what you are doing?

I can’t think of any funny moments. I get inspired by other startup’s success stories that I read or get to know of.

Are there moments that you also feel giving it up? 

Yes, always. For example, when I think of an idea and try to do it and realize how big the scope is or how difficult it will be for a one-man team to pull off. Sometimes I think of just returning to being an employee or migrate to another country.

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8. What is your dream application to build?

I don’t have anything specific. My dream is to build something that will give me enough income to stop doing consulting work. =) It doesn’t have to be a multi-million dollar app. Just something small and easy for a 1-5 person team to maintain.