All Aboard for this week’s feature highlighting the entrepreneurs and innovators who drive The Platform at Greer. This week, we’re getting on board with Bootcamp grad Tom Ostrowski.
Tom has a lot of experience making things. He used to own a manufacturing company that designed and built automation systems. He’s also worked for a venture-backed startup as the vice-president of engineering responsible for developing the systems used to make new products. Most recently, Tom came up with an innovative solution for a problem that plagued him personally, and he’s now turning that solution into a business. He worked with two dedicated coaches on his latest venture during Bootcamp 15 earlier this month.
Tom says Tech Pet IQ was born out of a lot of stress and worry. He and his fiancé Maria went on a vacation and left their beloved pets, Pedro, Donkey, and Mochi, at home with a pet sitter. Tom says he and Maria worried so much that it took away from their vacation. Being an experienced problem solver/designer, Tom came up with Smart Bowl IQ, an AI-driven hardware and software product that collects data on an animal’s food and water intake and formulates real-time insights that could provide peace of mind for pet owners and improve the quality of their pet’s care. Tom plans to sell the smart bowls for food and water together as a system along with a monthly subscription for the technology part of his invention.
Tom is also a great example of the power of being part of a community. Dr. Christy Belcher read about Tom’s business in our Platform newsletter and came to the Bootcamp pitch event to learn more. Dr. Belcher is a veterinarian who founded Vet Chat, a mobile vet service. Dr. Belcher says having accurate data on her patients’ food and water intake can help her better treat them. For example, water intake is critical diagnostic information for treating animals who have diabetes. Dr. Belcher says having a product like the Smart Bowl IQ that accurately measures intake without having to rely on humans can help her adjust an animal’s medication. The pet benefits from more precise treatment, and the pet owner could save money by getting to the best treatment quicker.
After meeting at the Bootcamp pitch event, Tom and Christy set up a meeting. They are now talking about ways they can collaborate to both improve pets’ health and their businesses as well as save pet owners money and stress. We’ll keep you posted on what they do next.
Dr. Belcher told us presenting at IGNITE Greer and attending other Platform events helped her launch Vet Chat, and she’s excited to collaborate with another business in our entrepreneurship community. Another cool connection: Bootcamp grad Tara Massey of Dove Light Photography took some of the photos Dr. Belcher is now using in her marketing.
Speaking of IGNITE Greer, don’t miss Tom Ostrowski’s presentation on Tech Pet IQ. It’s Wednesday, November 20 from 8:30-9:30am on the second floor of Cartwright Food Hall. See you there!