Technology startups are changing the way consumers are living life, solving everyday issues and altering the way we interact with our daily technology. These rising tech companies are disrupting the innovation economy, one app, hardware item and software service at a time. The innovators behind these tech tools, products or organizations have followed through with their concepts and established noteworthy startups. BlackEnterprise.com is recognizing these pioneering startups in its Tech Startup of the Week series.
Founder: James Oliver
Website: WeMontage.com
Social Media: @WeMontage; Facebook.com/WeMontageLLC; Pinterest.com/WeMontage
HGTV has taken even the most non-outdoorsy, home-improvement types and turned them into aspiring designers. Whether it’s small DIY projects or large landscaping ventures, the cable network has outfitted its viewers with the tools to try their hand at nearly any project they desire. While watching one of the network’s shows, James Oliver, Jr. was inspired to create software that allows users to design removable wallpaper with their photos.
“My wife was watching an episode of ‘Home by Novogratz’ on HGTV. They were in his [Robert Novogratz] family’s basement covering this wall with these really big black and white collages, and, of course, they make it sound like it’s so easy,†says Oliver. “I stayed up all night long to figure out how they did that and there was no easy way to do it. I wanted to create something like that for my own home and my own photos, so I got the idea to create WeMontage.â€
Oliver invested $40,000 of his own money to launch WeMontage in 2011. Nearly a year later, the Morehouse graduate was strapped for cash, working a seasonal job at Banana Republic for additional support. Â However, the savvy entrepreneur was determined to resuscitate WeMontage, landing a spot in front of a crowd of investors at a pitch contest a few short months later which led Oliver’s startup to become enrolled in gener8tor, a Wisconsin-based, 12-week accelerator program that provides startups with capital, office space and mentorship, among other resources. WeMontage has risen above its hardships to secure a sizable amount of funding and a team, which now includes his technical co-founder, Chris Schmitz.
Not to mention, Oliver will have a story of passion and perseverance to share with his bundles of joy, which were born the day before his departure for gener8tor. The New York native caught up with BlackEnterprise.com to talk about WeMontage, the rocky road of entrepreneurship and how persistence led to newfound opportunities.How WeMontage Works: WeMontage uses an interface that allows users to upload pictures from their computer, Dropbox, Facebook, Picassa, Evernote, Flickr and Instagram, among other platforms. They can then select the size, background color and border width of their wallpaper and WeMontage’s software will optimize the creation, configuring the best resolution for the wallpaper.
“We turned an algorithm into code to optimally arrange photos all with respect to the size of the canvas, the number of pictures and the overall resolution quality of those images,†says Oliver, who received his
MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “We’ve built in kind of a pixilation protector so our software gives you a bunch of different options.†Priced at $10 a square foot, WeMontage lets users go big with their wallpaper creations (as long as it’s square or rectangular in shape). WeMontage offers quick turnaround, free FedEx ground shipping and a money back guarantee.Persistence Is Key: Oliver tracked down the number for Zach Brandon, president at Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, and finally got him on the phone. Brandon told Oliver about an upcoming pitch competition, which gave the entrepreneur’s venture added exposure and the opportunity to participate in an accelerator program. Oliver hates being told “no†and credits that with his make-a-way-out-of-no-way mentality. “The one thing I’m really best at is not quitting.â€
Strong Support System: “I couldn’t have done it without my wife,†reflects Oliver. “She’s the one that A) helped to inspire the idea and B) told me I had to go.
She was like, ‘Get you’re a** down to Madison and rock out that accelerator!’†Despite being two hours away from his wife and premature twins, Oliver completed the gener8tor program and continues to expand his startup. Oliver is thankful his wife encouraged him to move forward with his dream. “If I didn’t leave, WeMontage would be dead,†admits Oliver.Next Up: Based on customer feedback, WeMontage is working on giving customers more options. The startup is also exploring options license its software and possibly go global.
Want to create your very own WeMontage? Visit the website and enter promotional code “BE†for a $50 discount. Offer ends August 26, 2013.
Check back next week to see what rising company becomes Tech Startup of the Week.