Justin Vincent is building an AI receptionist SA businesses can set up themselves

Justin Vincent has spent the last 25 years working as a freelancer in the filming industry. At 54, and needing to find a way to bring in more income, he decided an AI agency would be the way to do it. A few months later he started building QuickBookedAI, a DIY platform for small businesses that need help with their front desk.

QuickBookedAI is an AI receptionist. It answers calls, qualifies leads and places bookings into a business's calendar. Justin describes the setup simply: "Using QuickBookedAI SA businesses can have their receptionists up and running within an hour following a simple 7 step process." For businesses that would rather not set it up themselves, he offers a done-for-you service as well.

From agency to platform

Justin noticed lots of agencies offering AI reception services, but no DIY platform. His first plan was to sell his own services building receptionists for clients. Then the idea changed. "One day It just came to me to try build something where a small business could set it up themselves without needing any tech know how," he says. The idea came to life slowly, and about eight months later QuickBookedAI was ready for its first client.

Asked why he was the one to build it, Justin says, "I guess I've always been on the lookout for new opportunities and I think the AI space is where a lot of those opportunities lie right now."

His first client was himself. He set up a receptionist for QuickBookedAI using QuickBookedAI, and she still answers his phone. "She works as my receptionist and it works as a great live demo number for clients to call." His first real client was Joburg Dentist.

Building without code

Justin is not trained in software development and can't code. "So learning curves have been steep and frustrations have been high at times," he says. Still, he believes the tools are there: "if you are South African with and idea for software all the tools are available for you to build your dream."

The hardest part since real businesses started using it has been making sure everything works as it should, and that clients get what they paid for and expected.

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"No matter how ready you think you are you are never really ready until your first client is happy."

Justin picked the Horizon ring, "I'm building to go far." For him that means building something durable for small business owners, contractors and service pros, for whom every missed call is money left on the table. "Ultimately, software should be built like a solid foundation: built tough, built with purpose, and built to last."

What he needs most is still help getting QuickBookedAI out there and seen by the people who need it. He is also open to a marketing or sales partnership of some sort. "The biggest problem for me as a solo founder is trying to fit all the hats on my head."