My Secret Revealed: The Birth of Penfriend
Hello Penfriends
It’s me, Inge. The non-technical one.
I'm pulling back the curtain to share a story close to my heart – the birth of Penfriend and the incredible journey that led to the app’s creation. I want to share that story with you, along with my enduring belief in the power of content.
It’s a personal journey - my transformation from escaping the corporate grind to creating Penfriend.
Two Decades in the Corporate World: A Realization
I’ve been asked about my motivation behind developing this AI content creation tool. But to understand that, you need to understand some things about me first.
For two decades, I was entrenched in the corporate world. I was part of a system that valued output over aspirations. I was a machine. A “powerhouse” as they liked to call me (major eye roll). And while I’m grateful to my corporate career for teaching me many of the skills I needed to build Penfriend, I was deeply uninspired.
That realization led me to a critical decision: to break free and bet on myself.
A Journey of Self-Discovery
I started my first “real” business when I was 19 and used it as a launchpad for my career. I spent most of my career in leadership roles, but secretly yearned for entrepreneurship. I taught myself about investing and it became my ticket out. A few years of relentless learning, practicing, and iterating and I became quite good at it. Ultimately these experiences became about more than skill-building; they were about self-belief.
I wasn't a CFA, but I could make smart investing decisions. Even so, it took meeting Gary Vee irl in 2021 to push me into content creation in a real way. It was a turning point, pushing me (reluctantly) towards building my personal brand and diving into the world of content creation.
The Challenges Along the Way
It wasn't all smooth sailing. I battled fear, procrastination, and imposter syndrome. The physical and mental toll of years in the corporate world was real, but I bet on myself and came out stronger, realigning my life with my purpose.
I promised myself that working for Elon (of the Musk variety) would be my last job. And it was - I retired at 38, 2 years ahead of my goal. All thanks to the power of investing in compounding assets.
Living a Life Unrestricted
Today, I live an unrestricted life. A life of choice, engaged in projects that bring me joy. My time is spent in meaningful moments with my kid, not in endless meetings. I'm invested in building enriching relationships, creating value, opportunities for ownership, and democratizing wealth creation.
Why Penfriend? The Catalyst…
Frustration with AI in content creation was the catalyst for Penfriend. I shared our common problem of investing in content for organic traffic but grappling with the trade-off between quality and quantity. Penfriend was born from the need for high-quality, SEO-optimized content that’s easy to create and effective at engaging readers.
My Journey:
There was a time when I, like many others, was caught up in the AI wave. So much so that I created an entire business in Top Apps because of it (but that’s a wild story for another time).
Because of my investing background, I quickly realized that the best way to invest in building a business for long term success is to invest in content, much like investing in an asset. So I deployed my investing dollars into content with a high intrinsic value. The problem - good quality content is expensive, and I was burning cash, fast.
From Existential Puzzle to Purposeful Pursuit
Amidst building a content machine, I faced the universal business dilemma – the relentless need for high-quality content balanced against cost and creative exhaustion. The challenges were familiar: late nights, quality vs. quantity debates, and the looming threat of burnout.
The Turning Point
The idea was simple: leverage AI to write blogs quickly and efficiently. I needed to empower my writing team, but AI tools were a letdown. What should have been a streamlined process turned into a 5-hour+ ordeal, producing results that were maybe marginally better than what I could have achieved in probably under 2 hours myself.
The final output? It was unformatted, lacked relevant images, wasn’t SEO-optimized, and required juggling between multiple apps. It was the opposite of simple. It also raised questions for me about the risk of plagiarism, losing credibility, and the effectiveness of the content.
I was at a crossroads. Give up, or master the art of AI copywriting? I never back down, so I went for the latter, and the idea of Penfriend came to life. Born from frustration, designed for simplicity, and built for the non-technical creator in all of us..
A Secret in the Making
The story behind the story is really about partnerships, beginning with a pivotal meeting with my co-founder, Tim in February. And thanks to Tim, John came shortly after..
Tim Hanson: A Partnership Beyond Roles
When I was navigating the complexities of Top Apps, I hired Tim as my content strategist. He stepped in, not just filling a role but embodying the partnership I so desperately needed at the time (I was drowning). His approach was unique – intuitive understanding, masterfully skilled, with a clear, strategic roadmap.
John Harrison: The Voice of My Vision
Then came John,. I needed ad copy that resonated, that spoke to people. John was that voice. He is an expert copywriter and storyteller, writing persuasive copy that converts. His adaptability, artistry in crafting narratives, and enthusiasm matched my ambitions.
Penfriend: A Manifestation of Collaboration and Innovation
Collaborating with Tim and John, we shared a vision to reimagine content not just as an output but as an asset. We became co-founders, not just creating a tool but redefining content as a growing legacy. Our shared values, combined skills, and the joy of the creative process became the foundation for our partnership.
Penfriend is the culmination of this journey – an app that will not only mimic, but amplify your voice, harness your expertise, and eliminate the fragmentation of multiple apps and prompts. It will be simple and easy to use. And above all, it will give you your time back, because time is the most important asset of all. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.
That’s what we’re working towards.
Why I’m Sold on Content, and Why You Should Be Too
Content is more than just words on a screen; it's a powerful asset that can drive traffic, engage audiences, and build trust. As a business owner (and a content creator), I see content as a long-term investment that compounds over time. It's not just about filling a space on your website; it's about crafting a message that resonates, informs, and converts, with purpose. Penfriend was created to do exactly that - but more efficiently and effectively.
Content as an Asset
Online, content is an asset that appreciates in value, just like real estate. A well-crafted article can continue to drive traffic and generate leads long after it's been published. That's the beauty of evergreen content. With Penfriend, I wanted to give businesses and entrepreneurs the power to create such assets - content that's not only high-quality but also aligns with SEO best practices, straight from Tim’s content strategy brain,
Why Listen to Me?
My journey hasn’t been just about overcoming challenges; it’s been about understanding the essence of effective content marketing. Through Penfriend, we’ve channeled decades of experience and learning into a tool that addresses the real needs of businesses, marketers, and content creators.
I’ve been where you are, and I’ve felt the frustrations you’ve felt. I’m a business owner myself. This is why I believe Penfriend is not just a tool but a solution born out of genuine need and a deep understanding. I created it to solve my own, real-world problem. And I want to share it with you.
Your Backstage Pass to Our Journey
We’re building something extraordinary, transparently and defiantly, challenging norms and proving doubters wrong. This is not just our origin story; it's an invitation for you to join us as we build and grow together. Our MVP launches tomorrow. As an early adopter and supporter, you’ll get 30% off AND direct access to my co-founder and élite content strategist,Tim, with your annual subscription. But only if you pull the trigger on Friday because that offer expires at midnight.
The results you can expect:
Streamlined content creation
Enhanced content quality
Improved online presence
Empowered content team
We've built something that reflects our philosophy: "If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.". And we want to go together on this road trip with you, because a journey with friends just makes it so much more worthwhile. We’re here for the memories.
Thank you for being a partner too.
Your BPFF (Best Penfriend Forever),
Inge
P.S A funny side story - John initially turned me down for a different project I was working on - he “wasn’t taking on new clients” (side eye). But fate intervened, thanks to our mutual connection, Tim. The original version of Penfriend has evolved significantly from a small project to a grand vision. But it almost never happened.