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Startup Story: Darren Dwyer from Frigbot

Miles Burke
Miles Burke

I was lucky enough to speak to Darren Dwyer, the founder of an “Internet of Things” product, called Frigbot, which is just getting started on what I imagine will be quite a hockey stick curve. I asked Darren a couple of questions about what Frigbot is, and what he has learned along the way.

//SN: Hey Darren, tell me a little about what Frigbot is.
Our marketing person (me) would say “Frigbot is a cellular wireless configuration and monitoring system that plugs into the programming port found on modern commercial refrigeration equipment. Did you know that there is 1.6 million fridges in Australia that are frigbot ready?”

The unofficial line is that the Frigbot technology is an industry disruptor , Frigbot is a system of new more efficient business methods that really do create incredible value for all stakeholders.

Frigbot Hardware Device
Frigbot Hardware Device

//SN: So where did the idea for Frigbot come from?
I have a Commercial Refrigeration Service business in Osborne park. Over the last 10+ years I have noticed an incredible change in the way customers engage with my business. It used to be so easy a smile , a business card and a firm handshake was all it took and I had a customer for life. But customers are now more connected than ever; I have to complete for customer loyalty, I don’t get a chance shake hands and promote my business because everything I say is now on my landing page, and Google has become the new business card.

Frigbot is my digital solution to this googlized competitive environment, The fridge equipment is connected directly to me , I monitor it and I let the fridge owner know when he has an issue. Frigbot enables me to sell refrigeration repairs as a managed service <laugh> maybe even provide an SLA.

//SN: When did you start development?
We started frigbot about 2 years ago, but the first 12 months development was part time and on a shoestring budget. About 12 months ago we got Serious, (really serious) we borrowed some money from the bank then employed staff and the end result 12 months later is a MVP.

//SN: What lessons can you share with us in the process to date?
One of the biggest lessons I have learnt is that a startup is a small business (actually a pico business) the success or fail of your Startup is not how good your investor pitch is. It is how good your business is; you must have a product or service that solves a REAL problem, and you must be able to moneterise your solution. The quicker you can make real sales the less risk of your startup failing.

//SN: What stage are you at, and what’s your plans with Frigbot?
Frigbot has completed R+D and have a MVP , we are are now in commercial trials which involves testing our price point, and our value offering to our customers. Frigbot has a lazy eye on raising investment and we are talking with VC’s and other investors but our focus is on commercialisation and making those really valuable first sales.

//SN: How are you planning to measure success?
Frigbot is a simple concept, a plug and play solution which solves a real problem for our customers.

Frigbot solves this problem one fridge at a time and there are 1.6 million commercial fridges in Australia and about 400+ million commercial fridges globally. The simple measure of Frigbot success is how many devices we have deployed.

Frigbot Application
Frigbot Application

//SN: If you had to give one tip to fellow founders, what would it be?
‘Go hard or go home’ starting a small business is no kissing contest , it’s bloody hard work and the emotional and financial cost is very high.

Having a great idea or following a dream is not enough. YOU must be committed, engaged, and focused to succeed.

//SN: Thank you so much for your time, Darren, and I look forward to seeing your Internet of Fridges take off – a great hardware startup coming out of Perth is cool (see what I did there?).

Read more about some of Perth’s best founders and investors here

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Miles Burke

Miles Burke

Miles is the founder of employee survey start-up, 6Q, Founder & MD of an award-winning Perth digital marketing agency, and curates the Australian Software Guide.
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