The entrepreneur Michael Mercado has been working on the launch of his app “HappyMem” for several years. A video editing app for friends or the public, the 28-year-old from Nice works tirelessly on the development of his project.
NP: Was HappyMem created out of passion?
MM: Ever since I was in middle school, I’ve been jotting down app ideas. Some people had the same ideas as I did and launched their own apps. I was too young to start my own project back then.
I am 100% passionate. I have been working on my app for quite some time. I can spend hours on it without realizing.
NP: When was the app created?
Mickaël Mercado: In 2016, I made a birthday video for my grandmother and realized there were some difficulties I could simplify. After my studies in 2017, I started reaching out to people to launch the project. So the company started existing in 2019, but it was only in October 2021 that version 1.0 went live.
NP: What is your academic background?
MM : I did a DUT in computer statistics, then to base my knowledge in finance, I spent 3 years at IAE in management and finance. Today, I wear two hats: I am both an employee and an entrepreneur.
During my breaks or weekends, I am fully focused on the app. It’s a very demanding project. I wanted to try this before turning 30 and engage in other life ventures. It’s a wonderful experience.
NP: How did you develop the app?
MM: I was fortunate to have studied management. The first step is finding out how to protect the app idea’s concept. I found that initial protections like the Soleau envelope can include my ideas, which I then sent to a bailiff. The latter confirms legally that I had such an idea on such a date. If later someone has the same idea as mine, thanks to the Soleau envelope, I would have precedence over the project.
Then I began looking for providers. Initially, I worked with students from Sophia Antipolis. The first version wasn’t well finished, and the result seemed a bit “childish” as it lacked professional experience. I then renewed my search to find another provider.
I contacted a marketing agency in Monaco to help develop my app. The person I spoke to said they didn’t work in this field but had worked with a French expatriate who handles French projects from Ukraine. They highlighted me, even though I am a young professional without seeking subsidies or anything. It was very advantageous as the cost is different in Ukraine than in France.
We did a redesign of HappyMem, a first quote, and today the app is available on iPhone. We are now working on version 1.5.
NP: Did you take the initiative to create the app alone or did you team up with friends?
MM: The idea was my own. It was a bit complicated at first because a project is a combination of technical and financial resources, good timing (being the first to have the idea), and the idea itself.
For financial resources, everything comes out of my pocket, and I didn’t have the technical means. So, I studied management and finance. Today, I work as an employee in a financial IT firm, and I am self-employed.
NP: What sets HappyMem apart from other video editing apps?
MM: The app’s concept is participatory video editing. It is perfect for creating a surprise birthday video, for a wedding, or another type of event. This sets HappyMem apart from other apps of its kind. The app allows creating original content where the final result will be a compilation of each participant’s creativity.
What is original and new in this concept is bringing together, via a participatory video, people sharing the same project or passion.
Humbly, my goal is not to compete with Facebook or Instagram, for example, but to add value to these social networks in terms of creative and original video content while being the French touch of mobile applications in the field of social networks and video editing.
When I got the idea, I first searched if the concept already existed on the Apple store and Google store. I tried to see if there were any articles… to no avail. The timing was perfect. When someone has an app idea, at least 8 other people worldwide are likely to have the same idea.
By the way, another person had the same idea as I did, and, unfortunately, he is also in France. We share the same goal but do things differently, and it makes for good competition. We are both trying to grow.
NP: Have you received feedback on the app?
MM: I have an Instagram page where I post videos, but also a tutorial on how to use the app. I’ve published examples of weddings, birthdays, and a professional event in collaboration with the Asics brand. We ran, and everyone showed their favorite running event. Everyone shared, and we made a video of it. People re-posted the videos, so far it’s a good sign.
I have between 200 and 300 users but it’s just the beginning.
NP: HappyMem is a Nice-based app; has it received support from the city and its people?
MM: At first, I worked with a service provider from Nice, a Junior Enterprise based at the University of Computer Science and Polytechnics of Nice Sophia-Antipolis. The company brings together the best students from the university who work on professional projects besides their studies to gain first experience for their resumes. Unfortunately, the collaboration did not succeed because there was a lack of experience. I then decided to change the service provider.
I am also followed by a Niçoise association called Couveuse 06. It allows me to structure myself and to check in with them every month. They connect me with other people/entrepreneurs. But for now, I don’t have financial support.
My former colleague was ready to invest in Happy Mem. I refused because for now, I am not looking to have a collaborator.
NP: Is Happy Mem free?
MM: It is 100% free. However, there is a paid subscription for those who want it. For now, the idea is not to make money but to build a community. Once we have a large community, we should be able to monetize the app by charging for ad-free use, for example.
NP: Why is the app in English?
MM: At first, I wanted it to be in multiple languages, but for budget reasons, I decided to make it only in English for the time being. Moreover, this language is used in most countries.
NP: Do your family/friends use HappyMem?
MM: Yes, of course. Since I do everything myself and I am trying to manage the budget, I created a Facebook group with my friends to replace beta testers. Then I asked them to test the app as objectively as possible.
The first video on my app was a birthday video for my girlfriend, with her friends from Canada, Portugal, England…
The problem is that HappyMem is an app used for events. So users download it for an event and then don’t use it anymore.
