Raygrid Calderon is not your average web developer. She is a woman determined to break down the walls of the tech industry.
This self-taught tech geek is one of very few Latinas and females, overall, to develop and market their own app.
Dreem Kacher, an application currently available via iOS, provides more opportunity for entrepreneurs on the rise to seek business placement.
Here’s what Raygrid had to say about how she got started, the application and what’s in store.
Cotten Kandi: Tell us a little about yourself and your technical background.
Raygrid Calderon: I have so many layers but what’s unique about my entering into tech is that I don’t have a traditional start. I didn’t attend a school or take courses at first. It was my passion for creating and my interest in being the actual one to bring things into fruition. I started creating websites and programs when I got my first computer in 1998 and as technology grew, I grew with it.
CK: How did you learn to code?
RC: The first few apps I created was with help of free app templates online so coding was very minimal to none but the options were limited in creativity so I went to Barnes & Noble bought a few books and watched countless YouTube videos until I became comfortable enough to finally take courses.
CK: Do you feel pressure as a woman in the tech industry and as a Latina to be successful?
RC: I don’t feel pressure per se from my community or groups. They’re extremely supportive but rather I feel pressure from an audience I have yet to even meet. The fact that I am a Hispanic woman in a male dominated industry I feel as if my efforts and accomplishments are overlooked by the mass due to the fact that the “popular” companies are ran by men.
CK: Where did the idea come about to create this app?
RC: I saw the need for talent and entrepreneurs with unconventional services. There wasn’t a platform for the truly talented and skilled to showcase their actual work conveniently at the palm of ones hand. Most platforms are either web based or social media accounts turned business but a lot people are overlooked because they lack “popularity”, followers, friends etc.
CK: What were you doing (or your profession by day) before launching this app?
RC: Great question because this links to why I actually executed my idea. I was unemployed at the time. A little over a year trying to find where I fit in and can be happy. I was submitting resumes online everywhere but was either told I was overqualified or inexperienced. Doesn’t make any sense right? But I think this was because resume forms online do not ask for the right information. I think education and job experience should fall under demographics and not so much ones capability.
CK: Why do you want to help entrepreneurs in the entertainment space as oppose to any other industry?
RC: The app caters to many industries. Entertainment was the main industry we focused on when we first released because I wanted to test ways to enhance the app and what better way than to promote an industry that would utilize all the portfolio sections and now that we’ve targeted those issues we cater to many different industries including culinary and lifestyle.
CK: Would you consider opening up the app to professionals in other industries?
RC: Yes. I’m working on version 3 already with those intentions but not in the way you might think. Let’s just say its innovative.
CK: Is this a solo venture? If so, how do you plan to market or intrigue potential investors?
RC: I am self funded and up to date it has been a solo venture for my partner and I. We’re in the works for expansion in marketing. Initially we only promoted via social media but I have many ideas on how to help the users on the app make the appropriate connections.
CK: Where do you want to take the app, a year from now and beyond?
RC: A year from now what I hope to have crossed off is moving into the droid market and having a firm active user base that aids in connecting dreemers to kachers successfully.
CK: How will you measure its success and what will that look like for you?
RC: It’s difficult to measure the success of the app with an ultimate definitive answer. When I began my journey I simply just wanted to help connect people to others who helped them with growth and increasing income but in-between that time we’ve help start over a dozen start ups, we’ve inspired and motivated entrepreneurs and have been recognized by big outside companies. I never imagined it would be what it is today but I’m aware of all those alignments being a part of the apps success.
RC: Anything else you want to reveal about the app and this project?
RC: Aside from the relaunch of the brand new app, we are also making changes to our company to better serve college students and have them benefit from our services along with the application.
Where to find out more about Raygrid and the Dreem Kacher app:
Twitter: @DreemKacher
Instagram: @DreemKacher
Facebook Page: Dreem Kacher
