Randy Frisch, COO & Partner of Uberflip (INTERVIEW)

Uberflip is revolutionizing the way we consume information by allowing people to transform boring PDFs into interactive and customized web-apps. Great for use on tablets, mobile phones and laptops, Uberflip is making a name for itself and so is its COO, Randy Frisch.

As a partner in Uberflip, Frisch is a digital media expert who has an obsession with creating a great consumer experience. Holding an MBA from the Schulich School of Business as well as a Bachelor of Commerce, it’s obvious that Frisch sees where the future is headed (and it’s mobile).

Trend Hunter had a chance to ask him a few personal questions and get answers about Uberflip.


1 ) What is the best way to create an infectious idea, product or service?

Just watch what’s happening. Take for example my kids –- I watch how they interact with toys, media and the world. Their take on the world will create needs that never existed before. This is the same for us at our office -– we watch how people consume content and work to make it easier and more enjoyable.

2) How do you define a trend?

This should be an easy one as I work in an industry which is all about trends. We develop for tablet and mobile reading consumption, but as I look back on it I’m not sure when we woke up and said we are a mobile development company first and foremost. As I think about this I realize a trend just kinda happens. All of a sudden you realize you’re onto something when you talk about your strategy and it doesn’t feel like BS –- you’re working in line with the trend. Predicting a trend is near impossible, but when you realize you’ve hoped on one along the way, nothing is better.   

3) How do you define cool?

As I recently turned 33, I’ve realized that my four-year-old knows this better –- but the fact that I’ll adapt to what he thinks is cool should keep me hanging around.

4) What role does innovation play for you at Uberflip?

It’s everything. Our clients look to us to make them innovative. We were the first to have a content web app for the iPad and since then people look to us for to how to share content on mobile devices in innovative ways. The fact that we decided not to jump on the App bandwagon made us innovative. Luckily for me, our office is filled with very innovative people who will help us retain a position as trend setters.

5) What is the key to innovation?

Don’t wait. It’s only innovative if you get it to market. The best ideas are sadly sitting in someone’s head, or even worse being ‘perfected.’ Even the iPad wasn’t perfect when it came out (no camera). But the key is it came and changed so much. Once your product is out there the way you respond to feedback will determine if you remain innovative. Aha, [an] iPad 2 [with] a camera -– so innovative.

6) How do you reset to be creative?

Open up to ideas around you. Sometimes it’s just someone in the office who’s holding on to an idea to make things better. At Uberflip we have no walls or "offices" so we can easily listen to each other’s conversations, often guessing what people are saying on the other end of the call. We all just need a spark.

7) In the future, how important do you think reading virtually & virtual learning will be?

I think it’s really about reading anywhere and everywhere with content that intrigues me –- and I think that time has come. I can’t remember the last time I actually picked up a magazine at a doctor’s office or watched the boring ads before the trailers at a theatre. With my mobile devices I can choose what to read anytime I want. This speaks to what we do at Uberflip. Because our solution does not depend on an App, but a web App, we can integrate with Twitter, Facebook and the web. So, our clients content is accessible to people who want to read: when they want, on any device, anywhere.

8) Professionally, what do you think you’ll be doing in 10 years?

Not what I’m doing today. Doesn’t mean I won’t be working at Uberflip, but Uberflip will be different in far less time. I work in technology and ten years ago there were no tablets, no Facebook and most people used ICQ. Ten years from now I’m pretty sure I’ll have a different role –- would be great if it included a beach.

9) What are your most important hobbies?

I try and play hockey and ski but those things only happen if I’ve filled my daily quota for time spent with my wife and 3 kids –- nothing better than that.