Startup Corner: Luke and Dayna Rogers, Ultimate Bubble Sports LLC

Minimally viable product …
We offer inflatable bubble suits to get into and play fun but competitive sports, such as bubble soccer. These suits are available for rent for parties or events.
 
Problem solving …
Sometimes pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey birthday parties or youth lock-ins or even corporate team-building dinners need a boost. We offer fun and pep to the “already done that” types of events.
 
Seed money …
It took us around $5,000 to start, and we’ve had to very carefully manage the upkeep and repairs of the ever-bouncing bubbles.

Hurdles overcome …
We are still learning the dynamics of a husband-and-wife team running a business. Although there have been challenges, working together has been a great blessing. Keeping family time as truly family time and not Ultimate Bubble Sports time is very important to us, and we are trying hard to keep those worlds a bit separate.
 
Next phase …
More than just Bubble Soccer. We would love to add new games and different ways to play this fun sport.

Pivot …
We have specific roles that each of us stepped into. It works a lot better than both of us trying to perform at all things. My wife manages accounting, paperwork and scheduling events, and I manage marketing, social media and sales. At first, we were just all tangled together and communication was jumbled, so we switched that up.
 
Biggest mistake …
Not looking at the reality that the little mistakes are OK because it takes you down a different path, and all those paths have actually turned out for good.
 
Best advice …
Money is just a tool. It’s easy when you start out to just look at the green stuff and think it’s the only thing that stamps success or failure. While money, and the management of it, is extremely important and necessary, the pressure it can put on you can take a toll. Money is just a building block on your path. Being faithful and wise with it is a must, but it can’t control or there is only misery.
 
Greatest need …
Prayer. We can do nothing without the Lord Jesus living in us and through us. We are not perfect and he is, so our greatest need is prayers that we would stay close to the Lord as he guides this business and that we would give all glory to him, for he is the one who is due it.