Interview with Cheri Ruane, the CEO of Bl@ckbook [2023]

Thanks for having me! Bl@ckbook is a personal contact management system designed to help you keep track of your most important people. The idea for the app was born out of my own experience being an active online dater. It was a lot of information to keep track of and frankly it was starting to feel like a part-time job. I was writing down important details about my most interesting matches in a notebook to avoid making embarrassing mistakes about people’s information. 

If you have an idea you think is worth pursuing, my advice is to read The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick (book) and really do the research up front to make sure you’re on the right track. That is the first step in any entrepreneurial pursuit. 

So far people have been responding well. For really active daters, it’s been “just what they’re looking for”. I’ve also gotten a lot of feedback on new functionality, which is great. 

A core value that helped shape the app would be “relationships require care and attention.” People find different ways of making the most of their important relationships but it can be hard when you’re just meeting people for the first time. Bl@ckbook is there to assist.

Actually engage with matches! Don’t just mindlessly swipe and flirt. Actually pay attention to what people are saying, engage authentically, and see where things go. Pay Attention. Get Attention.

Definitely easier because you meet so many people so quickly. You’re just not going to have as many potential matches at a bar. It can be overwhelming, but if you have a good system, the juice is worth the squeeze. 

The “system” I refer to above can be well supported by Bl@ckbook. Make quick notes in people’s profile, save photos you’ve exchanged so you have a better representation of what they really look like, and be able to engage on a deeper level. 

It’s not easy, but when you believe in what you’re doing, you find the time and the energy to get it all done. 

I’m a big believer in not making a “work/life” equation. It’s all just life. Some days I’m parenting, some days I’m designing parks, and some days I’m working on the app. You make the best decisions you can with the time and energy you have.

While it’s certainly hard to predict what’s next, I’d love to see Bl@ckbook become a helpful productivity tool for all different parts of people’s lives. We’re working on a Chrome plug-in for LinkedIn that helps keep track of personal notes about your business contacts.

Head on over to https://blckbkapp.com where you’ll find links to iOS and Android app stores.