Preppr’s Log

Last week might just go down as one of the best weeks of my life.

After months (okay, years) of work, Preppr.ai officially launched to beta, and I’m finally coming up for a little oxygen and sunlight.Let’s talk highlights.

We Made History

A Cassandra Massano, MSEM, CEM®, for being the first of many to join Preppr’s journey. Cassandra, you’re officially part of our company’s history, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have you on board![Pictured above]

"As you can see, I was pumped to be the first to beta test Preppr.ai at last night’s event with Justin Snair and his amazing team. I played around with tabletop exercise design and applied a scenario that I’d typically see within the electric utility industry. Preppr caught on QUICK and talked the talk. 💡I can’t wait to see how this project develops and be able to apply it in the real world. 🌎" – Cassandra Massano, MSEM, CEM® 

Preppr Partied Too Hard

Here’s a laugh: the night of the launch, Preppr “blacked out.” It didn’t show up for demos the next day and wiped the data from the night before.Not so funny at 7 a.m. for me and lead dev Daniel Daugherty, but hilarious in hindsight. Thankfully, we got everything back on track, and Preppr is now sober and ready to work.

70 Beta Users Reserved

Another milestone: 70 beta users have already reserved their spots! These early adopters will enjoy exclusive, discounted access for three months and the opportunity to help shape Preppr into the best tool it can be.Like a newborn, Preppr needs a strong, supportive community to help it reach its full potential. If you’re on the fence about joining the beta, now’s the time—once we launch the beta in a few days, it’ll be 3–4 months before regular sign-ups open.Why Join the Beta?Get early access to Preppr.Enjoy discounted pricing for three months.Provide feedback to help make Preppr exactly what you need. Reserve your spot here.

We Messed Up a Bit: Payment System Woes

Let’s be honest: no launch goes perfectly, and ours had its hiccup.After all the excitement of welcoming our first beta users, we hit a snag—our payment system didn’t work, which meant we couldn’t officially onboard the first cohort.Talk about crisis management.The good news? We’ve identified the problem, are fixing it quickly, and will have everything running smoothly soon.To our early adopters: thank you for your patience. These bumps in the road are part of the journey, and we’re learning (quickly) from each one. Beta is about testing, improving, and evolving—and that starts with us.A Major Grant AwardThe morning after launch, we got even bigger news: Preppr was awarded a very large grant (more specifics to be shared when the ink is dry) to develop and independently evaluate the concept of swarm intelligent exercise design.This approach to collaborative exercise design could transform how we prepare for disasters. Learn more about it here.

Packed Demo Calendar

The launch has kicked off a wave of interest. My calendar is packed with demos—ranging from individual users to entire emergency management programs and even a large group from a not-to-be-named federal agency 😉.

Interest from Consulting Firms and Future Investors

Preppr’s vision is resonating beyond just users. Small and medium consulting firms are not only interested in using Preppr but also see the potential to become future investors.After gathering data during the beta period, we’ll be kicking off our first fundraising round to take Preppr to the next level.

Building an Advisory Group to Power Preppr’s Growth

One of the most exciting parts of Preppr’s journey has been assembling a talented and diverse advisory group. This group includes experts in public health, emergency management, technology, and business strategy. They bring decades of experience and a shared passion for innovation in disaster preparedness.These advisors aren’t just offering big-picture ideas—they’re helping shape Preppr’s strategy in real, tangible ways. Whether it’s brainstorming features or challenging me to think differently, their input has been invaluable.Preppr isn’t just a tool; it’s a movement toward better preparedness. This advisory group reflects the collaborative spirit driving everything we’re building.

The advisory group gets started in December and I can't wait to share more about the members.

Put Me In, Coach

Another exciting milestone: I officially started working with Eric Marcoullier as my startup coach.His Obvious Startup Advice is a perfect fit for me.

His main goal - help Preppr survive long enough to be successful. Eric’s resume speaks for itself—he’s been co-founding tech startups for over 25 years, with his winners combining for nearly a billion dollars in exits. Of course, as he’s quick to point out, his losers also wasted millions of dollars and a decade of his life. That blend of hard-won success and brutally honest lessons is exactly why I’m thrilled to have him in my corner.

Over the past year, Eric has been an informal resource, offering advice that’s shaped Preppr in significant ways. One of his first comments to me stuck: “Justin, you’re playing this game on hard mode.”

That perspective helped me focus. Instead of trying to fix everything all at once, I’ve started approaching Preppr incrementally. After all, before Amazon became the “everything store,” they just sold dusty used books.

One of Eric’s biggest lessons: be curious, say ‘I don’t know,’ and ask questions.It’s a simple but powerful mindset. Founders often feel pressure to have all the answers, but admitting you don’t know opens the door to real discovery and better decisions.Now that we’ve formalized our partnership, I’m more confident than ever about navigating the road ahead.If you’re a founder, take it from me: be curious, say ‘I don’t know,’ and ask questions. It’s a game-changer.

Alright, that's it for this update!