BASH is ambitious: billion-dollar bid from Facebook lurks someday

MASTERS puts startups on stage in The Only Way Is Up that are pitching an innovative idea and making life just a little bit more convenient. With events getting closer and closer, it's time to plan, and here comes party app BASH around the corner.Text: Patrick Stoffer
Image: BASHEThere is light at the end of the event tunnel again. Cautiously, we are allowed to plan parties and events again. Do you still use Facebook only to focus on events? Then put it in the trash right now. Joris Oudejans created the app BASH, where you can not only invite people, but also post messages and updates. MASTERS spoke to the founder of the party app founded in 2020 about its success and future.

Started from the bottom and now we're...

''Since we started last July, we have a live and well-working product, a team of eight with various qualities befitting a modern tech startup and an initial investment that should get us to a Series A round. We are eager to conquer the Netherlands this year and then immediately the rest of the world, as soon as the pandemic allows.''

Best tip you've had?

''Focus is everything. There is ultimately only a small subset of factors within your business that significantly affect the success rate. So make sure you put 80% of your time and resources into improving those factors.''

Why do you think BASH is so successful?

''The reason we have come so far is definitely the team. There was some turnover at the beginning, in a more uncertain phase, because ambitious and young people with scarce skills do get a lot of great offers. But we are now like a house, with all the necessary skills on board and with tremendous mutual trust.''

What company/service would you have liked to think of yourself?

''I think PayPal is one of the best examples of how you can completely turn around a stagnant market like payments on newly-created infrastructure (Internet/email). Thereby, the success of PayPal nicely shows how you can grow consumer products from the product itself.''

What would you do with 1 million?

''Everything to growth: €800,000 to digital marketing, the rest to offline actions.''

What bids have there been for your company?

''We have a lot of enthusiasm from parties who want to invest, but are now focusing on growing during the upcoming event boom. After that, we need to raise enough growth capital to become the biggest globally. In doing so, we expect any moment a billion-dollar offer from Facebook.''

Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

''Then we will be the market leader for organizing private events around the world. This will include the leading larger events such as festivals and concerts at BASH.''

THE ONLY WAY IS UP

THE ONLY WAY IS UP is a column by MASTERS in which the founders of successful startups* are put to the test about the success, mission and future. Each week a new startup is spotlighted, so be inspired! Wondering how startups Felyx, Somnox, BridgeFund, Neurolytics as well as FIGO Mobility, Finnik, Parfumado and Shypple manage to achieve their success? Then read these too.

Your startup also in the spotlight? Mail for the possibilities to Patrick Stoffer (patrick@mastershq.nl).

*Startup: a company no more than five years old focused on rapid growth with an innovative idea: young, ambitious and innovative.