In 2016, a conversation in a café sparked an idea that would become BUFFL - a platform designed to help companies validate their ideas, products, and marketing strategies quickly and effectively. This is the story of how BUFFL came to be, through the lens of one of our co-founders, Dennis De Clercq.
With a background in product development, Dennis always sought to understand how things work. His passion for validation - ensuring a product or idea meets user needs before market launch - took root during his previous work experiences. Faced with the challenge of revamping outdated production techniques, Dennis realised the critical role validation plays in innovation.
BUFFL’s initial concept didn’t start with validation, though. Dennis' brother and friends had an idea for a platform where people could watch ads in exchange for lottery tickets. While the concept was intriguing, Dennis saw a fundamental flaw: the idea of using advertising as a means to an end didn't align with the purpose of advertising itself. However, he recognised the potential of engaging users to provide valuable feedback. Drawing on his experiences, Dennis proposed a shift: using the platform to gather insights and validate ideas.
With this new focus, BUFFL, as we know it today, was born: a platform to streamline validation for businesses iteratively. The early days were a whirlwind of activity, with the team focusing on building a minimum viable product (MVP) that could demonstrate the platform's potential. They quickly realised that the traditional approach to market research, which often relied on slow, expensive methods, was ready for disruption. BUFFL's vision was to create a faster, more agile process that could fit into the tight timelines of modern innovation cycles. This is the conception that drove Dennis De Clerck and Seppe Stroo, our two remaining co-founders, to push through.
The true turning point came when we began targeting corporate clients. These companies, in the early stages of exploring design thinking and innovation, needed practical solutions. We offered a structured validation process that turned vague ideas into actionable insights, marking a significant milestone in our growth.
Like any startup, we faced challenges as it scaled. Balancing the needs of our user community with those of corporate clients was a constant effort. Our team also refined our business model, moving away from selling credits to providing hands-on support, ensuring clients could fully benefit from our platform’s capabilities.
Innovation has always been a constant factor in our core. BUFFL has continuously evolved, not only in response to market demands but also by anticipating the future needs of our clients. This forward-thinking approach has allowed us to stay ahead of the curve, offering solutions that are both relevant and impactful.
One of the key innovations we introduced was the concept of integrating validation into the early stages of the innovation process. Traditionally, validation was something that happened towards the end of product development, often too late to make meaningful changes. BUFFL flipped this approach on its head. We advocate for validation at the very beginning of the process. This shift has helped companies avoid costly mistakes and ensure that they are developing products and services that truly meet the needs of their customers.
Looking ahead, we are focused on solidifying our methodology and scaling our impact. Our team recognizes that there’s a limit to how much we can grow on our own, which is why we’ve brought on investors to support our mission. BUFFL's future lies in refining what we do best: providing fast, reliable validation, and eliminating inefficiencies to deliver a robust, scalable solution. The ultimate goal is to create a framework that not only predicts innovation success but also helps companies make informed decisions that shape the future.
We are not just about making better products; it’s about transforming how businesses think about innovation. As we continue to evolve, BUFFL aims to become synonymous with first time-right decisions, ensuring that every step in the innovation process is backed by data and insight. By doing so, we will empower companies to navigate the complexities of the modern market with confidence and clarity.
And just in case you’re wondering, here’s how the name BUFFL came to be. After all, every great story needs a strong name and every strong name needs a great story.
The name BUFFL wasn’t chosen at random. It reflects the company’s approach to community-driven validation. Inspired by the behaviour of buffalos, the name symbolizes strength in numbers and collective decision-making. In the wild, buffalos make democratic decisions by collectively choosing the direction of where they’ll travel next. This mirrors how we, at BUFFL, aim to engage our community to gather diverse opinions and guide companies toward the best decisions.
Just as buffalos face storms head-on, BUFFL encourages businesses to confront challenges directly, using iterative validation to navigate the uncertainties of innovation.
