How 2 Wake Forest Startups are Making a Global Impact

How 2 Wake Forest Startups are Making a Global Impact

by Latisha Catchatoorian

M

unicipalities are often encouraged to “think

connected device. Everybody told me to go to the

local” as the support of local businesses

Wireless Research Center in Wake Forest.”

and entrepreneurship is what makes

local economies thrive. Towns like Wake Forest, know

Revibe Technologies develops wearable technology

this.

that helps people with focus and learning challenges.

The Wake Forest Business and Industry Partnership is

create a product that helped students with attention

a 501(c)3 nonprofit that promotes the town as a

disorders like ADD and ADHD increase focus,

destination for business and industry through

productivity and on-task behavior.

economic development activities. Additionally, the Wireless Research Center, which is based in Wake Forest, has helped launch more than 20 local businesses and further facilitated the launch of 80

Brancaccio, a former school psychologist, wanted to

The research-based wrist wearable (a Fitbit-like device) helps users maintain focus and attention through vibration reminders. For example, “Homework Mode”

more across the region.

uses reminder vibrations to keep students working for

Both the WRC and the WFBIP are just two examples of

breaks in between.

what’s propelling the ninth fastest-growing

15-minute intervals, with five-minute, focus-boosting

municipality in North Carolina.

In 2017, Revibe received a grant

“While it’s important to look at growth and success

Education to fund its second

through a local lens, it’s also valuable to look at how

product, Revibe Connect, which

local businesses and enterprises are making an impact

now connects to a focus-tracking

on the world-at-large,” said Jason Cannon, president of

app.

WFBIP. “Here in town we have several businesses that

from the U.S. Department of

“The team at the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership have been great to work with as our business has grown”

call Wake Forest home who are doing just that.”

“It’s been a fun project. We did a pilot study on Revibe

Rich Brancaccio, CEO and founder of Revibe

in the summer of 2017, and we continued working on

Technologies, said the WRC has been “absolutely

the iteration of the product,” Brancaccio explained.

monumental” in Revibe’s trajectory. After outgrowing

“We partnered with one of the world leaders in critical

Durham’s N.C. IDEA Labs (formerly Groundwork Labs),

assessment, which is called Multi Health Systems. MHS

Brancaccio wanted to take his concept and plan for

is located up in Toronto, Canada. We partnered with

wearable technology and turn it into a business.

them, and we actually just finally launched the product

“We came to the Wireless Research Center in 2014,” he

Connect here in the Wake County Public School System

in December.”

said. “We had some prototypes but didn’t have a

It’s recognition from leading national organizations and

business yet. I wondered where we could go to

international partnerships that show the impact Revibe

cultivate a piece of hardware that ultimately could be a

Technologies is having beyond the Wake Forest

demographic. Brancaccio is proof that a good idea with

home voluntarily by their family due to poverty and

the right tools and the support of the local community

safety issues. The home provides food, shelter,

can make its mark.

healthcare and education in a safe environment.

“The easiest aspect of a successful business to overlook is the connections to people. The best place I know for hardware is here in Wake Forest because of the WRC,” Brancaccio opined. “I’ve made so many connections and bumped elbows with people coming through here — huge leaders for Fortune 500 companies. The town has been great too; it’s always trying to foster growth in its startups, particularly in its tech startups here.”

David McWilliams, CEO and founder of Wake Forestbased startup Sugar Maple Interactive, mentioned the support of the town in regard to his company and its initiative REACH. “Jason [Cannon] and the team at the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership have been great to work with as our business has grown,” he said. “They

When you pass Sugar Maple Interactive offices off South White Street in Wake Forest, keep in mind all the global good that’s happening from the unassuming brick building.

have been able to connect us with other growing

“When we started the company, we wanted to build a

businesses in the area and offer advice when

business culture where we could provide our

researching issues like adding office space or staffing.”

employees with the opportunity to stay with us long-

REACH uses a niche-interest software service that helps manage nonprofit donations and donors, child sponsorship, text-to-give campaigns and fundraising efforts. It has a diverse client base of more than 200 international organizations in more than 40 countries.

term, or could help train them and lead them to grow in their talents to serve where called,” McWilliams said.

“Having our offices located in a town like Wake Forest has added to that purpose because it is such a great place to live, receive an education and raise a family.”

There are more 75,000 sponsorships that provide

Brancaccio also mentioned the pool of talent in Wake

anything from education and medical care, to basic

Forest as a great reason for a local company looking to

needs such as food, clothing and hygiene products.

make a lasting impact to set down roots.

Some of the nonprofits using REACH include Sunica, a

“There are a ton of talented people who live here in

Raleigh-based organization that raises funds to provide

Wake Forest and [companies] see these people,” he

sponsorship to Nicaraguans to help them thrive

said. “We have the people here, we have the

through access to clean water, education and

infrastructure. Why not get more businesses here to

economic opportunities.

connect all the dots?”

Another, 2nd Milk, uses REACH to raise funds to provide formula and nutrition to malnourished and orphaned infants in Africa and around the world.

Agua Viva Children’s Home uses REACH to sponsor Guatemalan children who are usually placed in the

www.discoverwakeforest.org