Juuice Battery Sharing Platform
Built and launched a peer-to-peer battery sharing platform that achieved 1,968 sign-ups and 1,749 transactions at the Phoenix Open golf tournament.
Project Snapshot
Juuice (via Philosophie)
Consumer Tech & Sharing Economy
October 2018 - January 2019
Product Strategist & Engagement Lead
React Native, Node.js, Braintree Payments, QR Code Systems, Mobile Development
Product Strategy, Mobile App Development, Market Validation, Live Event Testing
Cross-functional team of 6: Product Strategist (myself), Product Designer, Lead Software Engineer, Software Engineer, plus 2 Juuice team members
What It Was
A mobile platform designed to solve phone battery anxiety through peer-to-peer battery sharing. Users could rent portable batteries from kiosks or other users, with the vision of creating a wireless power grid for on-the-go charging. The platform included iOS and Android apps with QR code scanning, payment processing, and location-based discovery of available batteries.
What I Did
- Led product strategy and managed client relationships throughout the 12-week development cycle from concept to live launch
- Coordinated cross-functional team of designers and engineers to build React Native apps with Node.js backend and Braintree payments
- Designed and executed live market test at the Phoenix Open golf tournament with 5 kiosks, 12,000 batteries, and brand ambassadors
- Managed aggressive timeline to launch at major sporting event with 800,000 attendees over 7 days
- Conducted user research and analyzed conversion data to understand customer behavior and pricing sensitivity
- Provided strategic recommendations based on real-world usage data and user feedback from live experiment
Mobile app interface for finding and renting portable batteries
What Came Out of It
- Successfully launched on schedule at the Phoenix Open achieving 1,968 app sign-ups and 1,749 successful transactions
- Validated core problem of charge anxiety with users getting batteries before critically needing them
- Identified key conversion barriers including app download reluctance and credit card input friction
- Discovered mixed interest in peer-to-peer sharing with 281 users marking batteries as available but concerns about verification process
- Generated actionable insights about pricing ($20 perceived as cheap), trust building needs, and payment method preferences
- Delivered comprehensive post-launch analysis with specific product recommendations for future iterations
5 Juuice charging kiosks across the golf course
Client, lead dev, and me at the #16 stadium hole
Charging kiosk operations during the event
Another angle of the kiosk setup
What I Learned
This project highlighted the tension between consultant and client interests when foundational assumptions aren't validated. Discovery research showed weak signals for the concept, but as a consulting agency with employees to keep busy, there's pressure to proceed regardless. This creates conflicts of interest where agencies need billable hours but startups need honest feedback about viability. The experience reinforced the importance of addressing these dynamics upfront and finding ways to align consultant incentives with client success rather than just project duration.
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