Our Story: From the Bar to the Code
Our Story: From the Bar to the Code
Phase 1: The Spark & The Struggle
Phase 1: The Spark & The Struggle
England to LA Our love for the industry started in England right after high school witnessing firsthand how a great cocktail brings people together. But trying to break into the LA bartending scene was a different reality. It was an exclusive club with lines wrapped around buildings just to get a gig. The passion was there, but the permanent path wasn't. We pivoted, went back to school for actuarial science, and entered Corporate America. But we never stopped pouring drinks on the side.
England to LA Our love for the industry started in England right after high school witnessing firsthand how a great cocktail brings people together. But trying to break into the LA bartending scene was a different reality. It was an exclusive club with lines wrapped around buildings just to get a gig. The passion was there, but the permanent path wasn't. We pivoted, went back to school for actuarial science, and entered Corporate America. But we never stopped pouring drinks on the side.
Phase 2: The "Aha" Moment
Phase 2: The "Aha" Moment
The Baby Shower & The Leftover Gin Fast forward to planning a child's first baby shower in the Bay Area. We tried to hire a mobile bartender and hit a wall of friction: confusing packages, waiting days for pricing, and worst of all, being handed a massive shopping list. We ended up with bottles of gin in a tiny SF apartment that no one ever drank. Living in the era of early tech startups, a lightbulb went off: If someone can make this as easy as booking an Uber, everyone would do it.
The Baby Shower & The Leftover Gin Fast forward to planning a child's first baby shower in the Bay Area. We tried to hire a mobile bartender and hit a wall of friction: confusing packages, waiting days for pricing, and worst of all, being handed a massive shopping list. We ended up with bottles of gin in a tiny SF apartment that no one ever drank. Living in the era of early tech startups, a lightbulb went off: If someone can make this as easy as booking an Uber, everyone would do it.
Phase 3: The Hustle
Phase 3: The Hustle
$135 Gigs & Instant Booking (2014 - 2016) We created our own mobile bartending company with one goal: make it instantly bookable without ever needing to speak to the client. We provided the bar, the bartender, the mixers, the ice—everything except the alcohol. We charged a crazy low $135 just to get reps in backyards and test the software. We lost money on those early events, but we proved the concept: seamless, instant booking worked.
$135 Gigs & Instant Booking (2014 - 2016) We created our own mobile bartending company with one goal: make it instantly bookable without ever needing to speak to the client. We provided the bar, the bartender, the mixers, the ice—everything except the alcohol. We charged a crazy low $135 just to get reps in backyards and test the software. We lost money on those early events, but we proved the concept: seamless, instant booking worked.
Phase 4: The Ultimate Risk
Phase 4: The Ultimate Risk
Solving the "Alcohol Piece" As we grew to corporate events, clients loved the service but hated buying the booze. We knew if we could legally provide the alcohol, the business would explode. So, we went all in. We sold our house, took out loans, left the corporate world, and opened our first wine and spirits shop in Corona. It was a massive risk, but it worked. 90% of our clients opted for the convenience of us bringing the alcohol. We scaled to over 300 events a year.
Solving the "Alcohol Piece" As we grew to corporate events, clients loved the service but hated buying the booze. We knew if we could legally provide the alcohol, the business would explode. So, we went all in. We sold our house, took out loans, left the corporate world, and opened our first wine and spirits shop in Corona. It was a massive risk, but it worked. 90% of our clients opted for the convenience of us bringing the alcohol. We scaled to over 300 events a year.
Phase 5: The Community Movement
Phase 5: The Community Movement
Building Happiest Ours (Present Day) As we looked at how to scale, we realized our true passion was helping the community. Instead of keeping our proprietary software and liquor license framework to ourselves, we packaged it. We got backed by TechStars and top angel investors to bring this technology to the masses. Today, Happiest Ours powers over 50 mobile bartending companies, giving them the exact tools we used to win.
Building Happiest Ours (Present Day) As we looked at how to scale, we realized our true passion was helping the community. Instead of keeping our proprietary software and liquor license framework to ourselves, we packaged it. We got backed by TechStars and top angel investors to bring this technology to the masses. Today, Happiest Ours powers over 50 mobile bartending companies, giving them the exact tools we used to win.
Phase 1: The Spark & The Struggle
England to LA Our love for the industry started in England right after high school witnessing firsthand how a great cocktail brings people together. But trying to break into the LA bartending scene was a different reality. It was an exclusive club with lines wrapped around buildings just to get a gig. The passion was there, but the permanent path wasn't. We pivoted, went back to school for actuarial science, and entered Corporate America. But we never stopped pouring drinks on the side.
Phase 2: The "Aha" Moment
The Baby Shower & The Leftover Gin Fast forward to planning a child's first baby shower in the Bay Area. We tried to hire a mobile bartender and hit a wall of friction: confusing packages, waiting days for pricing, and worst of all, being handed a massive shopping list. We ended up with bottles of gin in a tiny SF apartment that no one ever drank. Living in the era of early tech startups, a lightbulb went off: If someone can make this as easy as booking an Uber, everyone would do it.
Phase 3: The Hustle
$135 Gigs & Instant Booking (2014 - 2016) We created our own mobile bartending company with one goal: make it instantly bookable without ever needing to speak to the client. We provided the bar, the bartender, the mixers, the ice—everything except the alcohol. We charged a crazy low $135 just to get reps in backyards and test the software. We lost money on those early events, but we proved the concept: seamless, instant booking worked.
Phase 4: The Ultimate Risk
Solving the "Alcohol Piece" As we grew to corporate events, clients loved the service but hated buying the booze. We knew if we could legally provide the alcohol, the business would explode. So, we went all in. We sold our house, took out loans, left the corporate world, and opened our first wine and spirits shop in Corona. It was a massive risk, but it worked. 90% of our clients opted for the convenience of us bringing the alcohol. We scaled to over 300 events a year.
Phase 5: The Community Movement
Building Happiest Ours (Present Day) As we looked at how to scale, we realized our true passion was helping the community. Instead of keeping our proprietary software and liquor license framework to ourselves, we packaged it. We got backed by TechStars and top angel investors to bring this technology to the masses. Today, Happiest Ours powers over 50 mobile bartending companies, giving them the exact tools we used to win.
Our Story: From the Bar to the Code