Coworking Spotlight: Brivvio

We spoke with Adrian King, Founder of Brivvio – an app that helps businesses create professional branded videos, instantly. Adrian resides in the coworking space at the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN), has participated in the GRIFFIN Accelerator and has successfully launched his App earlier this year.

Tell us about a bit about yourself

I’ve had an interest in design and technology since I was a child, first learning to code animated computer games on a Sinclair ZX spectrum and BBC Acorn Master in the 80s as a teen. But my first business was a design, animation and video production business. In some ways I feel like Brivvio is taking me back to those tech roots.

What’s the origin of Brivvio? How did you get to where you are now?

The idea for Brivvio originated when a client of my existing animation business (Redboat) asked me to top and tail thirty short single shot videos every week, with their graphics, logo, video title, watermark and call to action. I thought this would be a great cash-cow. Naturally, I looked for a way to automate this, but couldn’t find anything that wasn’t complicated, expensive or slow. That got me wondering if I built a platform to do this, might there be other people who would use it? Getting into the Griffin Accelerator and CBRIN team really helped me validate the idea and build the confidence to pursue it further. After over a year of development and beta testing, we successfully launched the Brivvio app earlier this year.

Tell us about what you are working on.

Right now, we’re about to release v1.1 of the Brivvio mobile app in the AppStore. It’s an important update and I’m quite excited about it because it means our customers will get the fastest and most accurate  automatic captions service available.

What’s on your daily to-do list?

So much. My daily to do list is about a week long 🙂

What does ‘community’ mean to you, and how has being surrounded by CBRIN’s community been beneficial to you?

Community means connected people who care about the needs, concerns and aspirations of each other enough to go a little out of their way and take actions that help each other. It doesn’t take much. A few words or an introduction at the right time and place can be all that’s needed to make a huge difference. The net result is that everyone wins in the long run. I think trust is one of the important parts of building community – trust in self and others. And fun.

What’s your favourite thing about being part of CBRIN’s coworking space?

I like the spaciousness, atmosphere, and the friendly, helpful culture. The facilities are great and I’m a sucker for the blazing fast internet. But the connections that have come from being part of the CBRIN network are the best part. Attending their events, virtual and physical, introductions to mentors and experienced investors all make being part of the space very worthwhile.

What would you say to an entrepreneur or startup who is thinking about CBRIN coworking?

Try it out. See if it works for you. I’ve worked from many co-working spaces over the years and while CBRIN is the best one I’ve found, one thing I’ve learned is that each coworking space works well for different people. The most important piece of advice I’d give is to connect with the CBRIN team and other entrepreneurs in the space. Working in isolation is tough, so those occasional water-cooler chats with like-minded people who might just have an answer to something or inspire an idea in you  that you don’t expect – that’s valuable.

Who should connect with you?

Anyone who has a network of people or businesses that want to create professional videos regularly, quickly and easily. Brivvio can help them achieve this. Also, anyone who has a complex subject or important message that they need explained in animated form. My other business Redboat can help with that. But I’m also quite open to having a 5 minute conversation with anyone else who reaches out. You never know what might come of it.

What quote/ philosophy do you stand by?

Nothing is true. Everything is permitted. Believe nothing. Entertain everything. Eat less carbs.

What would you say to 15 year old Adrian when he  was starting up?

You know that stuff that other people said you can’t do? But that you thought really would be cool, exciting and fun? Don’t believe them. Go do it!

What’s been a silver lining for you from COVID?

Hmmm. I spent less money. Off the top of my head, that’s about it really. Perhaps there’ll be something else.

What are your goals for the year ahead?

Improved fitness and health. Grow Brivvio to an international market. See more of my friends and family. Finally put up that artwork on the wall at home.

Who inspires you and why?

You’re probably expecting me to say some famous business person or entrepreneur or businessman, but really the people who inspire me are; great thinkers, people with deep understanding of human nature, people who excel in physical fitness and endurance, and people who devote themselves to big causes that take years of hard work to achieve against uncertain odds. Truth be told, my #1 hero is actually my mum. She’s amazing.

What are you watching on Netflix at the moment?

Battlestar Galactica on Stan – revisiting a reboot of a childhood fave. I like how it’s a bit gritty for a sci-fi series, and the tech is a blend of old-school low-fi and high-tech. It’s all about humans facing difficult and often unpopular decisions, dealing with their vulnerability and emotions, all while having no home planet. Throw in some evangelically religious and murderous rebel androids with existential issues, and you’ve got a hit series. I’m a bit of a sucker for the sci-fi genre too.

If you would like to utilise the coworking space at the Canberra Innovation Network email enquiries@cbrin.com.au