Who says you have to be an A-lister to have a personal assistant? Thanks to an app called kuyam, you can have your very own “PA” in your pocket or purse. Best described as a mobile and online scheduling platform, kuyam is the brainchild of L.A. local Kourosh Gohar and partners Tony Rhoton and Todd Zebert .
It all started in 2011 with a haircut that never happened. “My schedule was crazy, and I couldn’t get hold of my hairdresser,” Gohar said. “I was frustrated and thought there has to be an easier way to book appointments.”
Gohar spoke with his wife about the need to be able to call and confirm appointments during his free time, which was often after hours or on Sundays.
He visualized going to a single online site and being able to book multiple appointments, “like a personal assistant, but for free,” Gohar said. A few weeks later, when Gohar’s wife was stuck in traffic, she called him and said, “I need this service now.”
Gohar, who had his own investment firm, Equitable Companies, realized he was onto something.
In Chumash, kuyam means “a meeting place where we can come together.” The app allows businesses that cater to kids activities, health and fitness and beauty to list and promote their services for free on the site. For consumers, it’s easy. You just go to the website or app, register and then request an appointment for a specific time.
A kuyam team member either confirms your appointment or helps you find another time that works for both parties. The entire process can be done on your cell phone. It’s so easy, you can do it while you’re waiting to pick up your kids at school or while you’re standing in line at Gelson’s or Ralphs.
How much will this handy service cost you? Not one cent. The kuyam app is free to download and so are the appointment-making services. Gohar’s company makes its money from the businesses where you make your appointments. For each appointment booked, kuyam receives $0.99 plus 5 percent of the cost of the service provided. If you book a $100 haircut, for example, you pay just that—$100, but the business receives only $94.01, and kuyam receives $5.99.
What happens if you want to make an appointment with a company that isn’t listed on the scheduling service? No problem. “We can get you any appointment. Just give us some information about the company and we’ll make it happen,” Gohar said. “We want to become a one-stop shop for the consumer.”
Stretching beyond its core scheduling services, kuyam has also introduced an informative blog on its site. You can check out posts from prominent bloggers on topics that sync with the services you’re scheduling, such as beauty, health, wellness, fitness and family. You’ll also find posts from local non-profits. Stay tuned for informational videos that will offer fun and easy-to-follow lifestyle tips.
Gohar’s path to success in the field of mobile apps wasn’t very direct. He spent his childhood in Iran, attended high school in Paris, and then graduated from USC with a degree in fine arts in 1995. While looking for acting jobs, Gohar worked in banking in different divisions at Bank of America from retail to business banking.
In 2003, he received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from USC. A couple years later, he launched an investment company that required so much of his time that he couldn’t find even a few minutes in his day for the most minor activities, such as making an appointment for a haircut.
Gohar first ventured into the online appointment-scheduling field with the website version, kuyam.com. When he unveiled the new service at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco last September, “people loved it,” he said. “But the general feedback was: we need it on mobile.” By March, his company was able to launch the new app, available for iPhones and Androids, at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York. “We had a ton of great feedback from people who wanted to know when it would be available in their area,” Gohar said. “To start, we focused on the Westside. It’s my backyard, and I know it well.”
For now, Gohar is maintaining that focus on the Westside. “We want to take our time and do it well before moving to another large market.”
Determined to give back to the community, Gohar and his founders also allow non-profits to list their organizations on kuyam.com and receive donations. To date, the Boys & Girls Club of America, Westside Food Bank, Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Diabetes Association and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® have been featured.
Visit: kuyam.com.
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