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