• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MESA

Inspiring Growth for Made in Minnesota Software

  • Who We Are
    • About MESA
    • Mentors
    • Partners
  • Who We Help
    • MESA Portfolio
    • Success Stories
    • Testimonials
  • How It Works
  • Resources
  • Get Involved

HabitAware

HabitAware Q&A

MESA sat down with Sameer Kumar, CEO of HabitAware, to ask him about his experience working with MESA.

Tell us a bit about your background, your career history, and your business. What prompted you to get involved with MESA?

 Though I have a technical undergraduate degree, my career was in management consulting and investment management prior to co-founding HabitAware. Starting HabitAware with co-founders with diversity of experience allowed us to cover most of the areas of expertise necessary to get the company off the ground. However, none of us had deep experience managing a technology company, and MESA’s mentors have that in spades.

What was your biggest business challenge before working with MESA? 

We were able to execute on our goals when the team was very small and the goals were obvious, but as the team and our ambitions grew, it became difficult to remain aligned.

Has MESA been able to help you work through it, and if not, what happened instead?

Our MESA mentors were able to articulate proven strategies that we implemented to improve internal alignment. Very quickly the team was more in sync as the new strategies allowed us to have a clear line of sight to where we needed to go.

What, specifically, is your favorite part about working with MESA, and why?

The best part about working with MESA was the preparation for and the conversation during our monthly meetings. It was a very helpful activity to take a breath and step out of the day to day, to reflect on what we had done well and what we needed to keep working on.

If you were going to recommend MESA to a colleague, what would you say?

MESA will help you with the most critical needs of the business without getting in your way. They will lend their considerable experience and open up their vast network.  It’s a no-brainer!

What three words would you use to describe your experience with MESA?

Objective Experienced Advice

Anything else you want us to know about your experience with MESA?

I can’t recommend the program enough and am so thankful to have developed relationships with our MESA mentors. Thank you all for paying it forward!

Primary Sidebar

Join MESA

Being mentored by MESABecoming a MESA mentorBecoming a resource partnerOther inquiry

Recent News

VidGrid, a MESA Group Graduate, Acquired by Paylocity

Paylocity (NASDAQ: PCTY), a leading provider of cloud-based HR and payroll software …

Continue Reading

Testimonials

  • The MESA mentors are one of the most trusted advisors a founder CEO can have. MESA brings both trust and clarity to help a founder address challenges and determine what actions are best.
    Chad HalvorsonCEO, When I Work
  • MESA provides a unique perspective that we don’t get elsewhere. We have experience doing product development but not in operating and running a business. Our MESA mentors provide us with the operational guidance we need.
    Matt RongeCEO, Astro HQ
  • Our MESA mentors were able to articulate proven strategies that we implemented to improve internal alignment. Very quickly the team was more in sync as the new strategies allowed us to have a clear line of sight to where we needed to go.
    Sameer KumarCEO, HabitAware

Recent Blog Posts

Sezzle, Inc. Graduates from the MESA Accelerator Program

Sezzle Inc., a Minneapolis-based fin-tech firm specializing in setting up installment …

Continue Reading

MESA Turns 10 Years Old Serving the Minnesota Startup Community Since 2009

Founder Jim Moar MESA, the Minnesota Emerging Software Association, is celebrating its …

Continue Reading

VidGrid, a MESA Group Graduate, Acquired by Paylocity

Paylocity (NASDAQ: PCTY), a leading provider of cloud-based HR and payroll software …

Continue Reading

BuildTools, a MESA Graduate, announces it will be acquired by ECI Software Solutions

In our current environment, it is especially exciting to hear stories of progress and …

Continue Reading

Footer

REQUEST MENTORSHIP

Being the CEO of an emerging software company can be incredibly challenging. MESA mentors have been there, and can offer you unbiased guidance to help your business flourish.

If you are interested in a mentorship with MESA, please contact us.

GET INVOLVED

There’s no substitute for experience. If you’re a seasoned software industry executive, local software companies could benefit from your knowledge and expertise.

If you are interested in becoming a MESA mentor or volunteer, please contact us.

STAY INFORMED

MESA is dedicated to the growth and vibrancy of the MN software community. For the latest information on MESA, our portfolio companies, and industry news, please join our email list.

  • ABOUT
  • PORTFOLIO
  • BLOG
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT

Minnesota Emerging Software Advisory, LLC