Tech innovation in beauty, wellness and fitness with Fred Helou

Discover how a passion for technology turns into a groundbreaking solution that helps businesses thrive. Fred Helou, Founder and CEO of Vagaro, shares his journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the US. With a background in engineering and a love for tech, Fred discusses the challenges and successes he faced while building Vagaro, a platform that provides scheduling and business management solutions for the beauty, wellness and fitness industries. Key Takeaways:(01:52) Fred’s journey from Lebanon to the US and his early tech interests.(07:00) The tough start of Vagaro and why persistence matters.(09:54) How Vagaro helps businesses run smoothly.(12:27) Embedded finance products and their impact.(14:58) The effects of COVID-19 on the beauty and wellness industry.(18:08) Adapting to change and staying innovative.(21:14) The role of AI in customer communication.(25:23) Payroll integration and its benefits.(28:29) The evolution of customer needs and platform expansion.(31:42) Fred’s vision for Vagaro’s future.Resources Mentioned:Fred Helou - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredhelou/Vagaro | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/vagaro/Vagaro | Website - https://www.vagaro.com/Any specific guest you’d like to hear on the show? Leave your suggestions at https://www.smbtechinnovators.com/.Thanks for listening to SMB Tech Innovators, powered by Gusto | Embedded Finance, Vertical SaaS, Payroll API. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show.#SMB #Fintech #Innovation #Saas #HR #Payroll #SmallBusiness