May 1, 2017

Meet Minah Oh of HelloTech in West Los Angeles

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Minah Oh.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Minah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my career at a small graphic design firm in New York City specializing in branding and corporate identity. Working with some big brands such as the Nasdaq Stock Market as clients, I learned how important branding is as well as my passion in what was called “new media” in those days. I’ve always been into tech and gadgets, so when the Internet started gaining momentum, I moved to LA to join the newly formed Disney Online team as Creative Director. We actually created Disney’s very first web sites! That’s also where I met my two co-founders. The three of us moved on to another start-up where I then took on product management. At this point, I felt I had a well-rounded set of skills so I went out on my own to form a small boutique UX and design consulting company. We had a great client list and new business that was exclusively by referral. I have to admit that while I loved the work, I missed actually building a product that I personally believed in. And then HelloTech came my way.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Actually, yes. Sure there were stressful times and hard work, but that’s just life. Any misstep was a learning opportunity and probably something that ultimately took me in a better direction. I try to make the best of every situation. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I consider myself very fortunate.

HelloTech – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We’ve all been there or know someone who has — being the go-to IT person in your family when someone needs help with their devices. The HelloTech idea was actually conceived on that notion over dinner with my co-founders, when discussing how we all, in one way or the other, had become the “go-to IT tech” for our parents or neighbors when solving tech issues. Between each of our own experiences, the proliferation of smart devices, and the decline of retail stores such as Circuit City and Radio Shack, we decided there was a market need for an “Uber of tech support” and in 2014, we launched HelloTech.

Our goal in launching HelloTech was to change the way people use technology and make the most out of their devices. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, provide us with more freedom and flexibility and bring excitement and enjoyment to our lives. But sometimes getting those devices setup and learning how to use them the right way can be very time consuming, frustrating and even scary. HelloTech goes beyond simply providing tech support to fulfill these promises technology makes. We offer support for almost any technology need and help users through every step of the way. We also provide training to equip users with the important knowledge and know-how to make them feel confident and empowered.

Our proudest moments are when our technicians work side-by-side with our customers to truly get them to that exciting “aha” moment!

We’ve quickly become a nationwide leader through some significant market distinctions. First, our service is on-demand, which means our technicians come straight to your door in less than 24 hours, which is quicker than Best Buy’s Geek Squad or your local neighborhood tech shop.

Our prices are also very competitive, with in-home offerings starting as low as only $29. Our brand is also highly trusted (and highly rated – check out our online reviews!), with technicians who are hand-selected, background checked, vetted and very friendly, to help with any need from mounting TVs to removing malware and viruses to upgrading Wi-Fi capabilities to fixing computer glitches and so much more. And if we can’t help, the customer does not pay, that’s the HelloTech way!

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Whether it’s technology, entertainment, fashion or finance, LA has it all and is definitely the place to be for anyone looking to start a new business. With entrepreneurs and innovators coming from all over the country and the world, LA has quickly grown to foster an incredible ecosystem of startups (especially in the tech sector) who are making it big. And business leaders aren’t the only ones flocking to the city. We’ve worked with a strong pool of local investors and have hired some top-notch local talent. Incubators, accelerators and cool coworking spaces are also popping up like crazy specifically designed to support early-stage startups. One of our co-founders and CEO Richard Wolpert actually helped launch Amplify LA!

Not only was LA the perfect place to start our business and grow it, but it’s also served as one of our strongest markets since launch. LA is a 10 million plus city with a lot of tech savvy people, so it’s only natural that a city this big is in need of expert tech support. We piloted our program in LA and after the tremendous success we saw here, quickly expanded to other markets including San Diego and Orange County, and now have a national footprint offering tech support in cities big and small across the nation.

Pricing:

One-time, in-home offerings start as low as $29.
Subscription packages start with the “Online” plan at $7 a month and include unlimited remote and phone support.
The next levels up are the “Basic” plans a $9 a month.
The “Premium” plan is $19 a month which encompass the “Online” offering as well as one and three in-home visits respectively and discounts on all on-site services.
HelloTech also offers business tech support and IT service plans starting at $39 a month.

Contact Info: