Every month, I expect to receive a handful of survey requests via email. Invariably, the surveys take too long, are not very user friendly and the survey provider offers some sort of second-rate incentive (i.e. a chance to win an iPad). In fact, I just received one, moments ago, while writing this article. Osurv – a Los Angeles-based startup – is on a mission to provide smarter mobile-based surveys, superior user experience, real-time analytics, wide-ranging mobile phone compatibility and the highest survey completion rates.
I first met the two key principals at Osurv – CEO Jad Meouchy and COO Aaron Abram – through my work as a mentor at StartEngine, one of the big startup accelerators in Los Angeles. [Osurv graduated from StartEngine more than a year ago.] Meouchy has an engineering and mobile software background, while Abram is the company’s “closer” with a deep business development experience. There are five other full-timers on the Osurv team. Aside from some financing from StartEngine, Osurv has been self-funded and is currently running on cash flow.
Osurv has developed a new mobile research platform that allows companies to engage customers with their smartphones, often at a venue or in-store, getting feedback in real-time. Abram says the typical Osurv survey “takes 20-30 seconds for completion,” taking into account the short attention span of a mobile user. Meouchy says he believes that the “magic sauce” for mobile is providing the user with seven to ten questions and adds that a big differentiator for Osurv is that app downloads are not required. With no log-in or other barriers, Osurv serves up via the mobile Web what the company describes as easier, shorter and simpler surveys that generate important data for their clients. Competitors include SurveyMonkey, uSamp and SurveyGizmo, none of whom have Osurv’s mobile focus, according to Meouchy.
Osurv was founded in late 2011, focused on developing an image comparison game app, which Meouchy describes as “'Hot or Not' for ads.” Osurv pivoted after discovering a much larger opportunity around mobile surveys. The comparison game app remains a feature of Osurv’s research offerings, which include behavioral profiling and analysis of studies relating to loyalty, quality and service.
Live events have played a particularly important role in the company’s history, providing the impetus for Abram to join Meouchy on the Osurv team. Meouchy and Abram were both running technology-focused event groups when they met at a startup gathering. They immediately connected, realized they had a great deal in common (both had worked in the real estate foreclosure business) and began using mobile tools to survey attendees at events. According to Osurv, the results were impressive with the typical response rate at 75% of the crowds. In addition to live event-related customers, Osurv has landed clients in the hospitality, entertainment and restaurant categories.
I first met the two key principals at Osurv – CEO Jad Meouchy and COO Aaron Abram – through my work as a mentor at StartEngine, one of the big startup accelerators in Los Angeles. [Osurv graduated from StartEngine more than a year ago.] Meouchy has an engineering and mobile software background, while Abram is the company’s “closer” with a deep business development experience. There are five other full-timers on the Osurv team. Aside from some financing from StartEngine, Osurv has been self-funded and is currently running on cash flow.
Osurv has developed a new mobile research platform that allows companies to engage customers with their smartphones, often at a venue or in-store, getting feedback in real-time. Abram says the typical Osurv survey “takes 20-30 seconds for completion,” taking into account the short attention span of a mobile user. Meouchy says he believes that the “magic sauce” for mobile is providing the user with seven to ten questions and adds that a big differentiator for Osurv is that app downloads are not required. With no log-in or other barriers, Osurv serves up via the mobile Web what the company describes as easier, shorter and simpler surveys that generate important data for their clients. Competitors include SurveyMonkey, uSamp and SurveyGizmo, none of whom have Osurv’s mobile focus, according to Meouchy.
Osurv was founded in late 2011, focused on developing an image comparison game app, which Meouchy describes as “'Hot or Not' for ads.” Osurv pivoted after discovering a much larger opportunity around mobile surveys. The comparison game app remains a feature of Osurv’s research offerings, which include behavioral profiling and analysis of studies relating to loyalty, quality and service.
Live events have played a particularly important role in the company’s history, providing the impetus for Abram to join Meouchy on the Osurv team. Meouchy and Abram were both running technology-focused event groups when they met at a startup gathering. They immediately connected, realized they had a great deal in common (both had worked in the real estate foreclosure business) and began using mobile tools to survey attendees at events. According to Osurv, the results were impressive with the typical response rate at 75% of the crowds. In addition to live event-related customers, Osurv has landed clients in the hospitality, entertainment and restaurant categories.