• About
  • Article PDF
  • White Papers
  • Listening Tours​
  • Contact
  • Support Us
  • Advertising & Sponsorships
Thursday, January 26, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Times Of Entrepreneurship
Growth and Equity for a Changing World
Times Of Entrepreneurship
No Result
View All Result

Out Of Rural SW Virginia, A Founder Bootstraps An Ad Analytics Firm

CrowdIq shows the importance of patent research as early as possible in a startup’s trajectory.

by Shirly Piperno
January 6, 2021
in New Builders, Rest of US
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

For our Startup Spotlights, Times of Entrepreneurship scouted startups that spun out of top university competitions and programs. The impact of such awards can be many years in the making, especially in the DeepTech space.

Startup: CrowdIq

True audience engagement analytics.

Wise, Virginia

Interviewee: Founder Hunter Hess, who was the first person in the history of UVA-Wise to represent the school at the American Evolution Innovator’s Cup. He taught himself the code powering his startup.

G2K Game Innovation Competition at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise

Hess won the competition in 2019. Additionally, the company was a semifinalist in the American Evolution Innovator’s Cup at the Tom Tom Festival in 2019. 

What is your elevator pitch?

CrowdIQ creates solutions that assist companies in determining the effectiveness of their advertisements by providing digital analytics for traditional advertising. Initially, CrowdIQ developed a device that utilized facial recognition technology to track the number of views that a physical advertisement, such as a sign or banner, would receive and provide detailed analytics to stakeholders. Since the concept phase, the company has expanded to develop solutions to provide engagement metrics for other marketing pieces as well, such as business cards, mailers, and flyers.

What should we know about you?

I have been involved in startups and business consulting for a number of years, and those experiences have shaped me to become a more effective founder. I started my first business, Hunter Hess Promotions, while I was in the eighth grade, and operated the company as a business promotion firm that created websites and marketing materials for small businesses in my area. This was the inspiration for CrowdIQ, as I believed that businesses and marketing agencies could benefit by receiving digital analytics from traditional advertisements.

What are you looking for?

Currently, CrowdIQ is a single-person startup that is pre-revenue and pre-investment, with the exception of some competition funding. While the business is currently in the development stage, the most helpful resources would be connections in the areas of intellectual property/patent research, connections to those with expertise in the marketing industry, and potential involvement with startup accelerators to help grow the business.

Why should someone invest in you?

I believe that CrowdIQ presents a great business opportunity, as the company seeks to transform the marketing research industry by providing digital analytics from traditional advertising. While there have been a number of adversities faced since the company’s founding, I have used the resources and connections available thus far to continue building the company and pivot the business strategy when necessary.

Clear evidence of success you would like to share? 

Since the concept stage, the company has been approached by many potential clients and investors who have been interested in the opportunity to do business with the company. The level of interest has represented validation of the concept, thus leading the company to proceed with product development.

What has surprised you the most after winning/ about starting this?

The most surprising element of starting the business has definitely been the high level of interest and connections received from those who have heard the elevator pitch. From the start, there have been a number of individuals interested in providing advice and mentoring to assist the business in moving forward, and this has been a very humbling experience for me personally. From university resources to business owners in the region, a number of individuals have reached out to connect, and I hope that this enables the business to grow strongly and responsibly over the next phase of the startup.

More info on the G2K Game Innovation Competition at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise

Specialty: Across categories 

Prize: $10,000 

To reach Hunter Hess, email: [email protected]. If you have a Startup Spotlight to suggest, please contact Shirly Piperno, [email protected]



This story and others on Times of E are made possible by a sponsorship from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Kansas City, Mo.-based foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect with www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.

Shirly Piperno

Shirly Piperno

Related Posts

Modern Mexican Food Brands Give Old El Paso The Boot

Modern Mexican Food Brands Give Old El Paso The Boot

by Nina Roberts
January 25, 2023
0

Regina Trillo is the founder of Nemi Cactus Sticks, made with Mexican nopal. Photos: Nelipot Project, collage: Nina Roberts. Authentic...

TK

With A New Way to Make Furniture, Locally, Baru Has Nearly $1M In Revenue After Two Years

by Nina Roberts
December 23, 2022
0

Tino Go is the founder of Baru. Could “decentralized manufacturing” be the next industrial revolution? Tino Go, the founder of...

Vermont Farmer Creates A New Drink Category With Roots In The Past

Vermont Farmer Creates A New Drink Category With Roots In The Past

by Nina Roberts
November 23, 2022
0

Matt Sayre is the founder of Shrubbly, a sparkling shrub drink made with aronia berries. Photo collage: Nina Roberts The...

The Passion of The Christian Hip Hop Entrepreneur James Rosseau

The Passion of The Christian Hip Hop Entrepreneur: James Rosseau

by Lori Ioannou
November 10, 2022
0

James Rosseau of Holy Culture Radio, bringing Christian hop hop to the forefront. Since its beginnings in the 1980s, Christian...

a red triangle with the words System Hacked on it

Cybersecurity Best Practices for Small Businesses

by Elizabeth Macbride
October 20, 2022
0

There's a new and booming market for cyber protection and cyber insurance services for small businesses.  The market started to...

More Americans Are Embracing Entrepreneurship

More Americans Are Embracing Entrepreneurship

by Elizabeth Macbride
October 6, 2022
0

Evidence continues to build that Americans are re-embracing the idea of entrepreneurship as a career, path to wealth and a...

Subscribe to Times of E’s Free Weekly Newsletter

Learn about the emerging ecosystem of diverse founders

Popular

  • Trailblazer: An Audacious Denver Entrepreneur Recruited An Xbox Creator To Develop Her Gaming Vision

    Trailblazer: An Audacious Denver Entrepreneur Recruited An Xbox Creator To Develop Her Gaming Vision

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Modern Mexican Food Brands Give Old El Paso The Boot

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 20 U.S. University Entrepreneurship Competitions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Venture Capital Returns Are More Skewed Than People Realize

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • With A New Way to Make Furniture, Locally, Baru Has Nearly $1M In Revenue After Two Years

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent

Venture Spotlight: Realist Ventures In Connecticut Focuses on Biotech, Healthcare

January 26, 2023
Modern Mexican Food Brands Give Old El Paso The Boot

Modern Mexican Food Brands Give Old El Paso The Boot

January 25, 2023
Editor’s Note: We Are All Jacinda Now

Editor’s Note: Burnout World; Dark Web’s Criminal Minds; Small Biz Gets Stuck w George Santos

January 23, 2023

Recommended

  • Health
  • Climate
  • Deep Tech
  • Finance
  • Education
  • Women Entrepreneurs
  • Mentorship
Returning Land to First Peoples may Speed Restoration

Returning Land to First Peoples may Speed Restoration

1 year ago
Woman looking quizzically at the camera

How An 11-Person Lifestyle Brand Made The Inc. 5000

2 years ago
  • About
  • Partner
  • Bespoke Research
  • Listening Tours​
  • Contact
  • Support Us
  • Privacy Policy

(703-966-7357)

© 2020 Mondial Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
No Result
View All Result
  • Research
  • Finance
  • Women Entrepreneurs
  • New Builders
  • Ecosystem
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Editor’s Note

© 2022 Mondial Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Support Times of E

Times of E covers the emerging ecosystem of diverse founders.

With your support of our journalism, you will receive our weekly newsletter and one of these resources for free: 

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?