Genti Selenica is the founder and CEO of Baboon. He is the winner of the "Mobility of the Year" award at the Albania ICT Awards in 2016 with his Baboon application.
What is Baboon and how does it work?
Baboon is an online food ordering service on Mobile and Web.
The way it works is quite simple. Baboon can be downloaded for free from the AppStore and PlayStore. After opening the application you need to enter your address or connect it with GPS. Then all the restaurants close to the client's location appear.
You can select a restaurant, look at the menu, prices, etc. You can select the products and put details on them, for example, Pizza Margherita with some mozzarella, or soufflé without ice cream. After finishing the order, the restaurant accepts it in real-time and the customer receives feedback in less than 10 seconds via an in-app notification.
What is the meaning of the word Baboon?
It was the right thing at the right moment, some chances come once in a lifetime and if you understand them, you can do wonders.
We chose the name Baboon because we wanted to make it a brand and not directly related to food. Everyone after a few years when they think of eating will immediately remember Baboon. Baboon is the Baboon, the very clever ape, who constantly feeds like a human.
Looking at Baboon's performance, do you think Albanians are inclined to order online? What is the reason that pushes them to order? What do Albanians consume the most?
Yes, of course they are, although at the beginning it was pretty difficult to educate them. The reason that pushes them to order is the numerous and simple choice of restaurants and at the same time the convenience of ordering from the mobile app. The most ordered foods are salads and soups.
Who’s the team that is currently working on this app?
The team consists of several professionals: designer, marketer, account managers, project managers and developers, Mobile, Web, and Core API.
So far, how many businesses have you partnered with? Can you name some of them?
We currently have approximately 100 businesses. Their list appears in the application, based on the area where the client is located.
What do restaurants benefit from this collaboration? How do they become part of Baboon?
They gain new customers and the opportunity to receive orders simply and in record time. They can apply online through our official website or on Facebook. Our experts test the restaurant, food, area, service and later decide whether they become part of Baboon.
Are there other similar companies that operate in the same way as you?
At the moment no, there have been some similar ones, but I am not sure if they still work.
What advice can you give to young people who are as passionate about entrepreneurship as you are?
What I have come to realize is that there are no simple things and to do something great and socially impactful like Baboon, you need concentration, dedication, perseverance, confidence, and simplicity in everything you do.
To begin with, I would advise them to find out if they have an idea in their head, understand how it works, and then find the way to make it possible, with the right and trusted partners.
There is nothing that can not be done, and people should not be afraid to share their ideas with others from whom they can take valuable opinions.
The idea should be formulated and shown in figures, then it should be presented to someone to get investments. Most people fail to express simply and accurately what they think.
The most important advice I want to give is to keep your feet on the ground.
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