After 25 years in the wireless industry, Aroon Tungare spotted a “perfect storm” of market and regulatory changes that created a new opportunity in the broadband space. He set out to ride these waves while meeting the pressing need for better, more affordable broadband access across America, and NODABL Networks was born.  Read on to learn how Aroon and his experienced team plan to capitalize on this new opportunity while improving the lives of millions.

What inspired you to start this business?

Working in the wireless industry for 25+ years, I developed unique insights into the evolving technology and market dynamics in the industry that inspired me to found NODABL.

My co-founder, Steve Wilson, and I noted that there was a “perfect storm” created by three factors, namely, the advent of 5G technology, favorable regulatory changes in how the FCC licensed spectrum, and the urgent need for enterprises to leverage the power of data through analytics and artificial intelligence. This perfect storm created a new-to-the-industry, “Blue Ocean” opportunity for NODABL to offer private cellular networks to enterprises and local governments as an affordable service.

What’s your mission? 

Our altruistic mission for NODABL is to be the nation’s preferred provider of LTE and 5G networks and services that enable people, communities and businesses to flourish.

My personal mission is to guide NODABL from what started as a figment of our imagination to a profitable enterprise that delivers significant economic value to all stakeholders, namely, our customers, employees, partners and investors.

What’s your background? 

Interestingly, I am a chemical engineer by training with a PhD in that field. Through a series of fortuitous events, I spent most of my professional career in the wireless industry. I spent 20 years at Motorola mostly at the corporate R&D labs developing technologies for miniaturization of the cell phone to its current elegant form factor and for its eventual morphing into a smartphone. Along the way I secured 19 U.S. patents.

Motorola gave me career-building experiences in leading cross-disciplinary, cross-functional and geographically diverse teams. I also gained experience in building strategic partnerships with global supply chains and an astute understanding of Intellectual Property management and licensing.

Have you founded other companies? Any exits?

I’ve explored startup opportunities in disparate technologies and had the exhilarating experience of helping my previous employer IPO on the NASDAQ in 2019.

With NODABL, we’re planning for long-term value creation where we can make a significant impact in the LTE and 5G market and in people’s lives.

What experiences along your career path help you most in your current role?

Two specific experiences come to mind.

1. Having spent a good part of my career in research at a company that invented cellular telephony, I am trained to see over the horizon. My task leading research was not just to anticipate change, but to create change. That is one attitude I bring to my current role.
2. Having commercialized several technologies that started as a figment of imagination in the laboratory and ended up in hundreds of millions of cell phones, I learned the importance of partnering not just within your own company but also across the entire supply chain. We’re putting that learning into practice at NODABL with extensive partnerships.

If you have a co-founder, how did you meet? How did you come together to build this business?

 My co-founder, Steve Wilson, is a successful CEO of a company he founded 20 years ago operating in the deregulated electricity and natural gas markets. He is also a visionary.

We met serendipitously almost six years ago with the intention of commercializing a scientific breakthrough in wireless power transfer that Steve had supported through early stage development. That opportunity faced significant technical hurdles compounded by management team missteps.

Rather than wait for things to turn around on wireless power, we started exploring other opportunities which led to the birth of NODABL Networks three years ago.

The NODABL Networks team at the company's headquarters in Texas.

Tell us about the team you’ve built.

We have assembled a leadership team of veterans. I have spent 25 plus years in wireless and telecom. Co-founder Steve Wilson was a pioneer in the fiber optics industry in the late ‘80s. Tom Zurawski, our CTO, brings over 20 years of network design experience from wireless network operators, and Marc Metteauer, our director of marketing, has 35-year deep roots in marketing. As a NODABL team we have foresight derived from 75+ years of cumulative experience in wireless, fiber and cellular networks.

When I look at teams, I am not only focused on the internal team but the larger partner ecosystem we have created. We have established technology partnerships with world-class OEMs like Motorola Solutions, Nokia and Celona. We also have go-to-market partnerships with advisory groups that help us engage customers in our target verticals. Lastly, we have partnerships with specialty vendors to whom we outsource tasks like building communication towers and installing radio equipment on towers.

Describe your company culture.

 While we are headquartered in Waxahachie, TX, we are a geographically distributed organization. As such, trust between team members is an important element of our culture. As a company we believe not just in creating shareholder value but also in doing social good, which is ingrained in our mission statement.

What brings you the most joy on the job?

Patiently engaging with customers and “holding their hand” as they work through digesting the value proposition of our solution is very satisfying. We are focused on having a delighted customer when we complete the sale.

What are you most proud of?

At a personal level my wife and I are both proud of our two daughters who have followed in my engineering footsteps and are carving out successful careers in technology for themselves.

At NODABL, I am proud of the large number of customers we have engaged in a short period of time with a lean internal team and an extended partner team.

What are the top factors influencing your industry or company right now and how are you managing them?

Smart City Networks - The need for state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure is not just the talk of the town but is the talk of the nation. Congress and the federal government have allocated vast sums of money to cities and counties to build out the broadband infrastructure in their communities. NODABL has, therefore, prioritized local government as a target vertical and is offering state-of-the-art, custom-designed, rapidly deployable and affordable community broadband networks for small- to mid-sized communities as a managed service.

Distance Learning - The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the inequality that exists for broadband access in rural and unserved urban/suburban communities across the nation. When school districts were forced to close schools and implement distance learning, they realized that many students in poor communities did not have adequate broadband access in their homes. Schools looking to remedy the situation are turning to NODABL for private wireless 4G/LTE and 5G networks to extend the secure and excellent broadband access available at schools into the students’ homes.

Industry 4.0 - Enterprises today face indeterminate risks, uncontrolled costs, and unmanageable operational complexity because their broadband connectivity is a hodge-podge of cellular connectivity. Connections are often provided by nationwide wireless carriers, wired services provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), enterprise-owned wired and WiFi networks, wired IP security cameras, and walkie-talkie style two-way radio communications.

Enterprises that want to leverage the power of data through analytics and artificial intelligence look to NODABL for secure networks that provide mobility; real-time visibility to operational data; and the ability to instantly communicate with “man or machine” via voice, video and data.

The NODABL team plans network deployments.

 Why did you decide to raise capital through crowdfunding?

We did not want to go the VC route as we would have to give up too much equity and control. The VCs would then largely dictate our priorities with an eye towards a rapid exit.

The SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) instrument of Regulation Crowdfunding gives us the opportunity to raise the amount of money we need for our current growth without the time and expense of additional audits that VCs often require. The experts at Fundify were a great resource for NODABL every step of the way from planning and executing the Reg CF offering.

What are three adjectives you’d use to describe yourself?

1. Pragmatic
2. Innovative
3. Unflappable

What is the most important habit of a startup founder?

Perseverance. Believing that against all odds, in the end, you will find a path to success.

What do you enjoy in your spare time?

• Reading (particularly books by respected public figures)
• Golf (particularly with my daughter who beats me every single time) and
• Hiking (with my wife when at our winter home in Scottsdale, AZ)

If you were on stage in a spotlight before a packed audience, would you rather teach, sing, dance or accept an award? Tell us about that scene.

Teach, because I cannot sing or dance. Over my career I have been fortunate to have been invited to give keynote addresses at industry events in the United States and abroad. I prepare diligently for such speaking engagements because I recognize that my peers in the audience are either as smart as me or smarter than me. To have the privilege to speak to such an audience, you better have something new, useful or intelligent to say.

👉 Learn more about NODABL Networks and see how you can become an early investor here.

In this season of thankfulness, we asked Founders what they're especially thankful for this year. Read on to see what tops the grateful list for these Startup Founders.

Josh Chodniewicz CEO & Founder Fundify, Inc.

"I’ve worked with startups my entire adult life, as a founder, an investor and an advisor. I know how hard it is to build something from nothing, to grow it and to raise capital along the way. Now with Fundify, I get to work with incredible founders helping them as they work through regulatory steps, positioning, investor outreach and so much more. 

"I’m especially thankful that I have the opportunity to help startup founders with one of the most difficult aspects of building a startup -- raising capital. 

"I learned so much building Art.com from an idea in my parents' basement to a global, $3B success, and I've learned plenty as an angel investor and VC. I love getting to share my experiences with other founders."

Aroon V. Tungare, PhD CEO & President NODABL Networks

"Being able to get online is as critical today as having reliable access to water and electricity. The Covid-19 pandemic, besides wreaking havoc to human health around the world, unceremoniously revealed the digital inequities that exist in communities across the U.S. When schools across the country shut down and transitioned to distance learning, thousands of children were left without the ability to get online. Access to broadband determines who has access to information and who can participate in the modern economy.

"While personally I have many things to be thankful for despite the pandemic, professionally I am especially thankful for the opportunity to level the digital access playing field in underserved communities.

"NODABL Networks is helping local governments address the digital divide by building city owned LTE and 5G networks. Cities can use the networks to provide broadband access in underserved communities and leverage the same network for other Smart City uses. The capital raise through the Fundify platform gives investors an opportunity to participate in NODABL’s altruistic vision of enabling people, communities, and enterprises to flourish, while providing NODABL the financial runway it needs for profitable growth."

Learn more about NODABL Networks here.

Clint Davis CEO & Cofounder Capsll

"When you’re building a new company, it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the work and finances. But today, I find myself more grateful for and driven by our mission of valuing human life than ever before.

"My perspective shifted earlier this year when I faced a serious diagnosis that required surgery. There’s never a good time for that, but this was especially bad timing as I was starting a new company and working with a remote team during a pandemic. 

"Now on the other side of the health issues, I find myself especially thankful to be part of a company that recognizes the value of every person’s journey and creates a space where it can be shared and preserved. 

"That expression of life is what we’re building at Capsll. I’m so grateful to still be here and to be part of this mission."

Learn more about Capsll here.

John Murphy President & CEO ARC

At Digital ARC we are thankful for an awesome team, members and investors who have brought us this far in our product implementation.  

It is a honor and privilege to be part of a team that develops advanced technology to bring people together virtually with privacy as top priority. 

Thanksgiving season offers a special opportunity to reflect on our many blessings and favor we had in our launch and the amazing new relationship created along the way.  

At Digital ARC we look forward to the next phase of the product development as new investors join our journey!

We wish you all a wonderful thanksgiving celebration with your loved ones.

Learn more about ARC here.

Meet Clint Davis, Cofounder & CEO of Capsll, a startup that's creating digital time capsules and leveraging neuroscience to help users preserve their stories. Find out what led Clint to this point of aiming to drive a movement that values humanity while meeting a market need.

What inspired you to start this business?

The inspiration came from one of the greatest human values, which is to be known. We live in an age of connectedness but it’s not applied often in a way that lifts up people rather than making them feel inferior and lonely.

In exploring this need further, I also saw that we’re failing to curate our history. We used to do this well, but we’re losing human history at the moment. 

I think about my grandfather who was an orphan and became a powerful CEO. I’d love to hear his stories, especially now that I’m old enough to appreciate them. But they’re lost with his passing. 

I want to be able to share my life stories with my kids and show them what shaped me to be the person I am. I realize how difficult it is to share and preserve memories in an accessible way. We need a new platform focused on that purpose, and that’s why we’re building Capsll. 

What’s your mission? 

We’re on a mission to create a trusted place to save and share your life stories to pass on to future generations. In doing so, we want to restore the meaning behind digital content. We believe that your content is about more than getting the perfect lighting and perfect outfit to show a perfect life. We believe your content memorializes moments and shows connections with people you value.

The shift to valuing people by the number of followers, likes and comments came on quickly. But this doesn’t fuel our humanity. We can change it back to where we value people for who they are. It’s completely within our grasp, and the world will be a better place if we do this. Capsll is on the forefront of that movement.

The shift to valuing people by the number of followers, likes and comments came on quickly. But this doesn’t fuel our humanity. We can change it back to where we value people for who they are.

What’s your background? 

I’ve had many jobs -- from a picture framer, which was one of the most fulfilling, to standing in freezing cold refrigerators making beef jerky. I was also a high-performance driving instructor for more than a decade and hold a degree in theology. 

The role that defined me most was that of a commercial radio host in four different countries where my wife and I lived, including South Africa, Dubai, Australia and the U.S. More than 5 million listeners joined me in that journey and helped build my background of learning how to communicate in meaningful ways with people from different cultures with different worldviews. 

Have you founded other companies? Any exits?

I’m a serial entrepreneur and have had individual successes and failures throughout my career. 

But I’ve never worked with a team like the one we’ve built with Capsll where we have the chance to build something that can truly scale. We’re good friends who have come together as professionals with complementary skill sets, drawn to this business by our desire to change the world. 

What experiences along your career path help you most in your current role?

I’m a natural leader and have found myself in leadership positions even when I haven’t wanted them. The major driving force behind my current role is my experience with diverse cultures and world views and my ability to understand people, for good and bad. Working in radio opens so many doors in your career path and gives you such an appreciation for different people. Our entire team has experience with diverse cultures, having lived in different countries and developed a real understanding of the human spirit. 

Our backgrounds have prepared us well to build Capsll to honor people and enable them to preserve and share their stories.

How did you and your cofounders meet? How did you come together to build this business?

Anton, Sam and I have known each other for a collective of 39 years, and we’ve come together for Capsll because we see the potential to build something that can change the world. 

I met Anton while living in South Africa. We spent many Saturday evenings in karaoke bars, Sundays in church and other days doing life together. Anton is our Chief Product Officer and is so skilled in this space. 

I met Sam in Dubai and always enjoyed time with him. He’s an authentic, charismatic, salt-of-the-earth person who’s a natural business person. Sam has had a distinguished career in finance and is the ideal person to lead our financial and operations area. 

I’ve heard about startups that have struggled to build a cohesive founding team, but we’re fortunate in that we work together so well. 

We’re driven daily by the opportunity to build something that can leave a mark on humanity. Each of us has always had that desire.

Tell us about the team you’ve built.

In addition to our founding team, we have a solid group of advisors. They invest their time and financial resources in Capsll because they see the potential from a financial and humanitarian standpoint. 

We deliberately selected advisors who fill gaps in our current, lean staff. And we expand our capabilities with strategic partners who excel in their areas and also share our vision for what Capsll can become and the impact it can have in the world.  

For example, we have a great relationship with a widely respected legal firm called Pierce McCoy. It was important for us to set this up early in our company’s life so that we could protect our IP and set solid frameworks that will support our rapid growth. 

We also have secured a strategic partnership with Zilker Media, a top-notch marketing firm in Austin, Texas, and that enables us to bring high-caliber marketing professionals into our efforts at an early stage without paying exorbitant rates that could drain our resources early. 

Describe your company culture.

At Capsll, we value people over product. We demonstrate that with our employees and our end users. This is a highly relational company where we treat people with trust, honor and respect. 

We believe we have to earn the trust of our users. That trust has been broken by other platforms. We value each person and believe everyone has stories worth telling and preserving. 

Our founding team comes from different countries, and we all have diverse backgrounds. This gives us a heightened appreciation for different cultures, opinions, political stances and religious views. We’re creating a culture where all are welcome, and we hope to create a movement in our world where we can all value humanity. 

What brings you the most joy on the job?

That’s easy. When I describe the vision for Capsll to a potential investor or user, the first response I get is not about the product or revenue proposition that we’re sharing. It’s always about a loved one whose story the person would love to have access to right now. 

That sort of trust and recognition of the human element is extremely fulfilling and fuels us to keep going. 

When I describe the vision for Capsll to a potential investor or user, the first response I get is not about the product or revenue proposition that we’re sharing. It’s always about a loved one whose story the person would love to have access to right now. 

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of my marriage. The journey we’ve taken together sounds glamorous having lived in so many beautiful places, but in reality, it hasn’t been easy. The way we’ve navigated life’s challenges together is something that makes me proud. 

We’re super fortunate to be best friends and truly understand each other. 

For Capsll, I’m proud that we’re able to build this on the back of a pandemic and have success. I see this as a testament that as humans, we’re resilient. We can always get up, dust ourselves off and do something new. No matter how divided we feel, we can always change and find a way to value each other. 

What are the top factors influencing your industry or company right now and how are you managing them?

There’s massive mistrust in social media platforms where many of us have been saving remnants of our memories all these years. And there’s dissatisfaction with the way value is assigned based on the number of likes and comments. 

As humans, we’re not designed to be validated that way. You see the consequence of this in surging mental health struggles heightened by social media use and addiction.

We’re in a digital age so we can’t simply turn away from it. But we can choose to use it in better ways. Digital content can be a true driving force of human connection if done correctly. Capsll is at the forefront of that movement, creating an environment where you’re honored as a human and your stories are inherently valued. 

We demonstrate that honor by selling no ads, prohibiting data mining and recognizing that users own their content. Capsll is a safe, secure place where you can save all your stories and moments -- even if you decide to leave the app someday. That’s distinctly different from any other platform.

There’s massive mistrust in social media platforms where many of us have been saving remnants of our memories all these years. And there’s dissatisfaction with the way value is assigned based on the number of likes and comments. As humans, we're not designed to be validated that way.

Why did you decide to raise capital through crowdfunding?

We were drawn by the ability to keep building the product as we raise funds. We weren’t looking for the standard capital-raising process, which can often seem like you’re just checking boxes. We really like the idea of letting people get to know the mission of Capsll and giving them the chance to be part of this full experience with us as investors.

As a company, we’re focused on building and honoring relationships. We’re pretty particular about who we partner with, and we felt comfortable connecting with Fundify. We felt that the people here truly believed in us and were focused on our success as a company.

What are three adjectives you’d use to describe yourself?

1. Resilient -- There’s so much to our life stories, from losing siblings tragically, to moving to different countries with little-to-no money each time. The hard times and good days have both taught me to be resilient. 
2. Learner -- I enjoy learning; it energizes me. To relax, I watch documentaries. I always want to be learning new skills and having new experiences.
3. Unconventional -- I’m a little unconventional, a little eccentric. I enjoy challenging norms and established ideals. This trait has helped me learn to appreciate people from all walks of life and learn how to communicate with people across the globe.

What is the most important habit of a startup founder?

At this point, I believe it’s humility. 

Humility gives you the basis to recognize your faults and to be willing to fill the gaps to create the strongest company possible. It allows you to acknowledge when you’re wrong and change direction.

It also allows you to feel the burden of what you’re building. You’re the one who must prove the validity of what you’re building and lead the team to success.

What do you enjoy in your spare time?

Happy hour with my wife tops my list. I’m also into golf at the moment, and my wife will often join me for that.

Golf can teach you so many things -- like learning that things don’t always go well and you’ve got to adjust. That this quest for perfection doesn’t really exist. And that it’s about the journey, about being out there with my wife and friends, no matter if I’m doing well at the game or not.

If you were on stage in a spotlight before a packed audience, would you rather teach, sing, dance or accept an award? Tell us about that scene.

I would teach. I would love for people to learn more about the value of humanity and the value of each person’s story. I want people to understand that you have a purpose; there’s a plan for your life. You have affected lives in ways that you may not even know about. 

In life and with Capsll, my team and I hope to inspire a movement where people take responsibility for their digital content and use digital platforms to lift up others. We can be a driving force in a world where people know that each human life is inherently valuable.

Find out more about Capsll’s equity crowdfunding campaign here on Fundify.

What inspired you to start this business?

I grew up working odd jobs in construction and saw how this industry largely operates from word of mouth, which can be time consuming and limiting -- for both the workers and employees. I went on to get a degree in engineering and built a career in technology, but I’ve remained close to the construction industry through family and friends. I’ve frequently thought about how technology could make it easier and faster for people to find safe, reliable work.

A few years ago, a mutual friend introduced me to Rudy Rucoba who had an idea for a business that would connect construction workers and contractors with a customer-centric approach that leverages technology in a way that’s not being done today. I was drawn by the business opportunity and the chance to help people. 

What’s your mission?  To increase the efficiency of both hiring workers and being hired for short-term construction gigs. We want to connect the right people through technology and cut down on the time it takes someone to find work.

What’s your background? 

I was born into a blue collar family in Texas and grew up as an electrician’s helper; I was kind of a Jack of all trades at construction sites, constantly learning and pitching in where I could. I worked hard in school and was accepted at Stanford University where I earned a degree in electrical engineering and an MBA. 

Post graduation, I started working in marketing and worked my way up to executive roles, eventually running companies in the U.S. and internationally. Eventually I left public companies to work with startups and really found my calling. I love the startup environment, especially when you get to solve big problems with technology like we’re doing at Work4Workers.

I love the startup environment, especially when you get to solve big problems with technology like we’re doing at Work4Workers.

Have you founded other companies? Any exits?

Yes, I’ve founded multiple startups with several successful exits. The most challenging and the most rewarding exit was for a startup I helped found in the semiconductor industry around the year 2000. We were achieving good growth and had raised our seed funding and our series A funding from traditional venture capitalists. We were negotiating a strong series B funding round when 9/11 happened, changing the economy and investing landscape. All the term sheets were pulled, and we ran out of cash. 

We needed a buyer and found one in corporate giant AMD. This soft landing enabled us to take care of our investors and employees in a significant way. 

I’ve also been able to play a key role in several turnarounds where we’ve pivoted the business for a better outcome. I’ve managed acquisitions, such as that of Sigmatel being acquired by Freescale at a 69% premium to the previous trading price. 

What experiences along your career path help you most in your current role?

Being part of startups that have succeeded and those that have failed has taught me a lot about running and funding a business. It’s vital to have funding, of course, but it’s equally important to have the right funders for your business. Startups need funders who are eager to help them and then the funding needs to be structured in a fair and equitable basis across the board. That’s one of the things I appreciate about equity crowdfunding where we can offer the same terms to all levels of investors. 

The experience of leading companies in the private and public sectors has also taught me how important it is to take care of your employees and build a cohesive team. You’re going to have to deal with challenges; it’s how you deal with those challenges that makes the difference. And a cohesive team is much better positioned to work through the challenges.

You’re going to have to deal with challenges; it’s how you deal with those challenges that makes the difference.

How did you and your cofounder meet? How did you come together to build this business?

Rudy and I were introduced through a mutual friend, and we hit it off immediately. Rudy described his vision for Work4Workers, and it was a great fit for my operational and marketing background. We both know the construction market well and have a deep desire to help people. We know the limitations of the current approaches to finding short-term jobs and believe we can solve this long-standing problem with technology designed the way users need.

Tell us about the team you’ve built.

We’ve built a team with deep experience and strengths in complementary areas, with a focus on the core areas of our business -- construction, labor, recruiting and technology. We’re serial entrepreneurs who understand what it takes to move an idea from initial planning to market launch to growth. 

Our executive team is well connected in the construction and labor market, so we’ll be able to connect with our target users quicker. And three of us are graduates of the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative where we continue to mentor other entrepreneurs. 

We’re members of the Latino and Hispanic communities, we have an in-depth understanding of our audience and their pain points, and we’re eager to help them.

Describe your company culture.

Our culture is one where we encourage open communication and welcome feedback. We’ve built a solid plan that we’ll refine and iterate based on market feedback. Our team is focused on our mission of solving employment issues in the construction industry.

What brings you the most joy on the job?

For me, it’s hitting milestones. I like to set goals and then see us get to the next point. 

One of the big milestones we hit recently was finalizing all of our inputs to launch our funding campaign on Fundify. A lot of startups don’t have all the financial and structural information together in a way that’s required to launch an equity crowdfunding campaign.

Going through that process helped us mature further as a company. We’re excited about the early results we’re seeing and are eager to move to our next milestones.

What are you most proud of?

My family. The success that my wife and I and our children have been able to achieve is so much more than we ever imagined. It’s given us incredible opportunities and the ability to help others in meaningful ways. 

Because of my professional success, I’ve been able to participate with the Latino Business Action Network and the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative where we train and mentor business leaders. More than 800 people have completed the executive training program and have been responsible for creating 35,000+ jobs with $4 billion in revenue. These businesses are changing people’s lives and impacting communities in a positive way. 

Sometimes my wife and I think we should pinch ourselves. We’re so grateful for the opportunities we’ve had and wish our parents could see this. 

Phil enjoying beach time with his granddaughter.

What are the top factors influencing your industry or company right now and how are you managing them?

We’re at an unprecedented time where people are struggling to find work while construction companies are struggling to find qualified people to hire. For workers, the inability to find a job each day means they don’t earn money that day. For companies, the lack of enough skilled workers is a limiting factor in how many projects they can take on and complete.

The market was already in need of a tech-based tool to solve this problem, and Covid made it worse as it introduced more uncertainty to the market. 

We’ve all seen images of day laborer camps on the news. Those are not a good solution for workers or employers. It’s a difficult environment to navigate and can be dangerous for all parties if not managed by a local entity.

We need to launch our platform and get it into the hands of workers and employers so they’ll have a faster, safer, more efficient method to find and fill jobs. 

We’re at an unprecedented time where people are struggling to find work while construction companies are struggling to find qualified people to hire. ... The market was already in need of a tech-based tool to solve this problem, and Covid made it worse as it introduced more uncertainty to the market. 

Why did you decide to raise capital through crowdfunding?

As we’ve described Work4Workers to people, many have told us that they’d like to invest. They’re retail investors who are looking to invest a few hundred or few thousand dollars, unlike venture capitalists who invest larger amounts in later funding rounds. 

It can be difficult for a startup to accept more modest investment amounts due to the associated administrative expenses and management overhead.

The beauty of Fundify and crowdfunding is that it gives us a way to take all of those interested parties and let them invest whatever amount they’d like. Whether you invest $100 or $10,000, you’re treated the same and given access to the same information. I think it brings a lot of integrity to the process. 

What are three adjectives you’d use to describe yourself?

1. Hardworking 
2. Opportunistic
3. Appreciative

I consider myself lucky and blessed. Of course luck is what you make of it, but I’ve been lucky enough to have been given interesting opportunities. From there, I’ve worked hard enough to be able to take advantage of those opportunities. 

And I’ve been struck by the need to be mindful of these blessings and stop and say thank you. I’ve taken the time to go back to Stanford and knock on the doors of some of my former professors just to say thank you. There were days when I didn’t think I could finish certain courses, and my professors encouraged me along. I think it’s important to let people know you appreciate the role they played in your life, and I try to pass this on by mentoring other business builders. 

What is the most important habit of a startup founder?

Tenacity. If you really believe in your idea, keep charging forward. Know that it won’t be all roses, and some people will think your idea won’t work. That’s ok. You can listen to their concerns, adjust if needed and keep pushing forward. 

As I mentor entrepreneurs, I sometimes see ideas I don’t think will work. As I give feedback, I tell them -- “Take my advice or take this as an opportunity to prove me wrong.”

What do you enjoy in your spare time?

My wife and I enjoy traveling, and it gives us great joy to be part of our children’s and grandchildren’s lives. I also enjoy getting to mentor other entrepreneurs, helping them with lessons I’ve learned or providing contacts that will help them. 

If you were on stage in a spotlight before a packed audience, would you rather teach, sing, dance or accept an award? Tell us about that scene.

I would teach to a smaller audience so I could see the feedback from people and measure the results from the material I was teaching. In a different life, I would have loved being a teacher. I tutored in college and then after in underserved schools in San Antonio. I helped kids with calculus and physics, and it was extremely rewarding to see the light bulbs go off as they understood these subjects. 

Learn how you can invest in Work4Workers here.

This blog article is published by Fundify, Inc. The comments and opinions expressed within are those of the interviewee and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the website or Fundify, Inc.

What’s your background?
As an early sales leader at Vimeo, I experienced the power of social media to influence social movements. That gave me a deep desire to find a way to leverage that influence for good, and that laid the groundwork for Cluster. Our mission is to weaponize kindness, slow judgment and create micro-moments for people to connect around shared ideas and experiences that are larger than themselves.

Over the past 20 years, launching and ramping up startups has become part of my DNA. As part of the founding teams at Crisp and Speakr, I learned even more about branding, agencies and influencers. I also developed hands-on experience in launching and growing a SaaS company with cutting-edge technologies. I've advised a number of businesses with venture capital, social and influencer marketing, and entertainment. All this has led to my current role as Founder and CEO of Cluster. Let me tell you more about what we're doing.

What experiences along your career path help you most in your current role? 
Life has a way of placing us on the right path even if we’re not expecting it at first. Technology has always been something that I’ve had the fortune to be exposed to, starting at a young age. Working in and around startups in e-commerce, mobile, video, social media, influencer and now social impact. It’s been very much of a natural progression. I’ve always wanted to effect positive change, and Cluster provides us with the platform that can achieve this in a way that fits our natural digital behavior.

Tell us about the team you’ve built.
We're a small but extremely passionate team. Passionate about truly creating change in our own and all communities across the world and passionate about each other and the work we do. With a startup, everyone is required to wear many, many hats and have the extra initiative to jump in for all the work we do. 

We’ve quickly built a team that brings years of experience in their respective fields across product, UX/UI, marketing, sales and more. Our team brings experience ranging from leading entertainment brands such as Fox, CBS and Beats by Dre to top NGOs with Wetlands International and FUSE Corps to some of the top producers and directors across movies, TV, and music (Mulan, The Hangover, Heroes, JLo and many more). More importantly, we all have that next-level drive to achieve this massive goal of changing the world. 

What key ideals drive you?
My parents always said, “Patience is not a virtue; it’s a pillar for success.” That statement is a work in progress, because I’m sometimes a little extra. But I do patiently pursue five key ideals:

1. Empower those around you
2. Inclusion over avoidance
3. Seek the truth
4. Speak the truth
5. Compassion and kindness are the only weapons we need.

I’ve always been an observant person and I’m good at understanding what really motivates us and why. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity with Cluster to leverage that understanding to empower people to do more good.

Aside from financial growth, what’s your mission for your company?
As I mentioned earlier, my mission is to weaponize kindness, slow down judgement and create micro-moments for people to connect around ideas and experiences larger than themselves. If we do this, people will gain perspective on what matters from one another. From there, we can get the country back on track.  

Regarding social movements, all projects that inspire or move people to action will be supported by Cluster. We’re all about enabling people to do more good in their communities, whether that’s a geographical area or a community of like-minded people supporting a shared cause.

As our platform grows, we hope to allow people to use their social channels to earn incomes like influencers do today, at a local level and in a programmatic purchasing manner. 

What brings you the most joy?
The things that bring me the most joy are growth and learning, and I’ve put that to great use while developing Cluster. I have dreamed for over half a decade now of what it could look like for people to work together to better their communities and then the world through social impact. It’s been amazing to see brands, partners, talent and investors share my vision and want to be part of it.

What are you most proud of at work?
The work our team is doing everyday. It’s exciting to me to see our plans take shape and to see individuals begin to use Cluster to extend the impact of their volunteer efforts. It’s exciting to see brands buy into the way Cluster makes it so easy for them to get involved in social impact projects and meet their customers at a place of impact.

What are the top factors influencing your industry or company right now and how are you managing them?
The larger shift in focus on social impact from consumers and brands. There was already a shift of consumers holding brands, influencers, society and others more accountable for social actions. But then 2020 hit and all the issues that bubbled up from social justice, the economy, politics and more elevated the social impact space. Now, we’re seeing true action versus just talk of social impact. Talk about a good time for Cluster to launch!

Why did you decide to raise capital through crowdfunding?
I had begun raising money for Cluster before the pandemic, but as it took hold and our economy suffered, all of our investors stepped back from their plans with us. I remember sitting there at 3 a.m. as my pregnant wife slept beside me and thinking, “What are we going to do? What is the path forward to funding for this incredible platform?”

After a few months of nonstop virtual activity, we met some amazing people and a family office of investors who changed the game for us. And we were introduced to the idea of crowdfunding, which is a great fit for a business like ours that can reach and impact so many people.

Raising money, launching a business and having a baby is not something that usually happens all at once, but it allowed us to think quite dynamically and originally about how we wanted to go about affecting positive change and creating a community of inclusion through kindness. 

What is the most important habit of a startup founder?
Being tenacious while showing patience for yourself and your employees, family and business. 

What do you enjoy in your spare time?
Relaxing by spending time with my amazing wife and two beautiful daughters.

If you were on a stage in a spotlight before a packed audience, would you rather teach, sing, dance or accept an award? Tell us about that scene. 
Listen … then teach. We are in one of the most exciting times in our country’s history, a period of change and potential growth. Millennials and Gen Zers have a massive appetite for purpose and now make up almost half of the U.S. population. There are an estimated 70M+ volunteers composed mostly of Millennials and Gen Zers where 70% of Millennials and Gen Zers believe they can create change. I say potential growth because if we can complete the journey that Cluster has set out to do, we can ensure that communities across the country get the chance to work together to do more good and even enable individuals to build secondary income streams.

Learn how you can invest in Cluster here.

This blog article is published by Fundify, Inc. The comments and opinions expressed within are those of the interviewee and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the website or Fundify, Inc.

Meet Cara Armstrong, an ER nurse turned CEO who aims to shake up the infant nutrition market with Baby Barista.

What inspired you to start Baby Barista?

My daughter Mia is my inspiration and my “why.” Mia was born with Down Syndrome and -- characteristic of her condition -- was unable to breastfeed. Early on, my husband Jack and I were still in the phase of accepting that Mia would have a disability, I found myself struggling with even ordinary tasks, like making bottles. Traditional bottle making is time consuming, messy and aggravating. When I learned that parents had been preparing bottles by hand for more than 100 years, I said: "This needs to change, this can change and I am going to be the one to change it!” That was the genesis of the Baby Barista mission. 

What’s your mission? 

We want to remove all of the friction and pain points from infant formula feeding. We have created a complete ecosystem to totally reimagine an antiquated process. With an affordable Baby Barista counter-top machine caregivers can have premium organic baby formula conveniently delivered to their door by subscription. There’s even a connected app that allows caregivers to prepare a bottle from anywhere (even from bed, at 3 a.m.). The app allows parents to track their baby’s feeding and to manage their formula supply. The result is an end-to-end feeding system, unlike anything that has previously been available. Baby Barista is perfect for millennial and Gen Z parents who embrace technology to solve everyday problems and simplify their lives. 

What’s your background? 

I’m a registered nurse and worked for 12 years in a busy hospital emergency room in Los Angeles. In 2018, I traded in my nursing scrubs for my CEO seat. I have never been happier or more fulfilled in my career. I have such a passion for reinventing the infant formula feeding experience, that building Baby Barista alongside a world-class team doesn’t feel like work at all. I’m also an active, committed disability advocate. I believe in the value and dignity of every human life. Compassion for every parent’s feeding journey is at the heart of the Baby Barista brand. 

What experiences along your career path help you most in your current role?

There are so many transferable experiences from my days as an ER nurse that I carry into my life as a CEO. My time in the ER was especially helpful in learning how to triage a relentless flow of challenges!
(1) You must have the ability to pivot. In the ER, when a treatment plan isn’t working, the health care team has to be ready to pivot to ensure the best outcome for their patient. The same is true as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs have to be prepared and willing to recognize when plans aren’t working and to pivot to a better solution.
(2) You have to work as a team. No one saves a life alone, and no one runs a company alone. I’m surrounded by incredibly talented professionals who, as an added bonus, are kind, warm people who genuinely care about others.
(3) You have to be prepared for the unexpected. The ER is a never-ending stream of new challenges. You really have to stay on your toes because, at any moment, a patient could come through the door with an urgent, life-threatening emergency. In business, like the ER, change is a constant; you have to be prepared to keep your cool and press forward, particularly in the face of rapidly changing circumstances. 

Tell us about the team you’ve built.

We have a fantastic team and we’ve worked together for several years. Lisa Silverstein has been with me for seven years, keeping us organized and compliant. Jud Currie is our VP of sales and brings incredible experience in this market. Previously, Jud was responsible for bringing Canada’s number one and two baby food brands to market. Doug Levinson is our brilliant business strategist that has been a college professor and worked both in the public and private sector. We also have a varsity advisory board with two Harvard MBAs, a world-class infant nutrition expert and executives that have worked at Google, Facebook, Disney, Amgen and the 3 largest infant formula brands in the world. 

Cara Armstrong and Baby Barista team members

Describe your company culture.

Our culture is “baked into” everything we do, every decision we make. Family comes first … period. We’re all ready and willing to backstop each other, so that no one ever misses a once in a lifetime moment because of work. We also believe that everyone we encounter in our personal and professional lives is deserving of kindness and respect. Finally, operating with the highest possible ethical standards is a given for our team -- it’s who we are.

What brings you the most joy on the job?

Crafting a social mission into the DNA of Baby Barista that is centered around Down Syndrome Awareness and supporting the Down Syndrome community. People with Down Syndrome are still a marginalized people group. Anything I can do to proclaim their worth and to help the world appreciate their special value brings me tremendous joy. 

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my ability to persevere and build this company ... against all odds. Even in 2021, female founders are grossly underfunded compared to their male counterparts. Being able to accomplish so much with my team, while managing the demands of motherhood with the added complexity of having a daughter with additional needs isn’t easy ... but it’s deeply gratifying. 

What are the top factors influencing your industry or company right now and how are you managing them?

Baby Barista is a David vs.Goliath story. In this industry, 86.6 percent of the market is controlled by an oligopoly -- a few large companies that have dominated the infant formula market for years. These big players really only have to compete with each other. That has led them to become complacent; they’re making a ton of money and they have no incentive to shake up the market, let alone to innovate. But the tide is changing, thanks to scrapy, brave startups who are using technology and cutting-edge nutritional science to improve the lives of all babies. We’re at an inflection point and we are thrilled to be the vanguard of this exciting movement.

"But the tide is changing, thanks to scrapy, brave startups who are using technology and cutting-edge nutritional science to improve the lives of all babies." - Cara Armstrong, CEO & Founder, Baby Barista

Why did you decide to raise capital through crowdfunding?

I know the founders of Fundify and appreciate how their mission aligns well with ours. Part of our mission is to democratize the infant feeding ritual in the family so that everyone can help -- not just Mom or the primary caregiver. We’re making it so simple to make a safe, healthy bottle that everyone can be involved. 

Similarly, Fundify is on a mission to democratize startup funding and investing so that everyone has access to investing early in disruptive innovation. I trust the founders and believe in their ability to execute.

What are three adjectives you’d use to describe yourself?

• Courageous -- It takes great courage to put forth a company in an environment where only 2% of funding goes to female founders. It takes faith to step away from your career and go into a whole new area. This experience has forced me to face fears and insecurities and to overcome them.
• Sincere -- I genuinely believe in what we are doing. We’re tackling a very serious, important problem that so many parents and caregivers struggle with. This problem can be solved; the challenges of bottle-feeding can be nearly eliminated. Today's parents routinely turn to technology to help solve everyday challenges. Baby Barista is a shining example of how that can work. 
• Joyful -- I approach each day with heartfelt joy and gratitude for all that I have. Having worked as an ER nurse, I see life differently. I’ve seen how quickly everything can change and know that every day is a gift. I’m joyful for each day that God gives me. 

What is the most important habit of a startup founder?

I’d say self-care. When you’re focused on building a business and being on the battlefield, it’s easy to forget to take the time to care for yourself. But losing sight of self-care impacts not only us, but also our loved ones. It’s tough to balance motherhood, leading a company and being a vocal disability advocate. So, I think it’s really important to set aside time to take care of myself, too -- to honor myself physically and spiritually. I start each day with a hot yoga class to care for my body and mind. I strive to ground myself by prayerfully considering all the tasks put before me on any given day. As moms we have to remember that we don’t always come last -- we have to take care of ourselves, so that we can take care of others. Self-care isn't selfish. 

What do you enjoy in your spare time?

I also love spending time with my husband Jack and our kids and watching them grow into amazing loving, caring human beings. Our daughter Amber is about to complete college at UCSB. She is a wonderful young lady that we are confident will do great things. My daughter Mia and son Jack both surf and I love to watch. My son Jack enjoys water polo, boxing and is a gifted singer. Mia is a SAG-Aftra actress, voiceover artist and model who continues to break down stereotypes about intellectual disability. Having a front row seat to our children’s unique passions and activities makes my husband Jack and me very happy. I also enjoy gardening, long walks, hiking and learning all sorts of new things.

If you were on stage in a spotlight before a packed audience, would you rather teach, sing, dance or accept an award? Tell us about that scene.

I would teach. I’m passionate about helping people understand the importance of “person-first language,” especially as it relates to people with special needs. As the parent of a child with Down Syndrome, I often hear people refer to her as a “Downs kid” rather than a child “with Down Syndrome.” People need to realize that someone’s disability is simply one small component of who that person is. They’re lots of other things, too -- maybe an artist, actor, surfer, a math-whiz, a good cook, a singer or dancer. By leading with the diagnosis, you miss out on seeing the full person and you trivialize the complexity that makes us all human. No one would think of saying, “look at that cancer child.” So why lead with a label for people with disabilities? God loves everyone; we should, too. 

Learn how you can invest in Baby Barista, here. 

This blog article is published by Fundify, Inc. The comments and opinions expressed within are those of the interviewee and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the website or Fundify, Inc.