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East Hartford-based SKYWIREme is one of many innovative startups in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator. The program is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

SKYWIREme Founder Jeremy Smith told Innovation Destination Hartford about what he hopes to gain from participating in the accelerator.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and why did you start your company?

JEREMY SMITH: While volunteering for a non-profit organization in Hartford I observed the challenges and inefficiencies of their communication methods. Talented and committed administrators were spending an inordinate amount of time trying to mobilize volunteers, members, and leadership teams through direct phone calls and email communications. The genesis of SKYWIREme was the desire to solve this problem. The company launched in June 2011.

IDH: How did you develop the business concept?

JEREMY: After completing some market research, I realized that existing services for optimized communications charged rates that made them infeasible for non-profit organizations with restrictive budgets. Some providers required software installation on specific computers owned by their customers. This limited the ability for a team of administrators to manage contact information, group configurations, and communication workload. I decided to design and develop services that supported mobility, ease of use, and effective communication mediums at fixed-price points for the customer.

IDH: Tell us about the services offered by SKYWIREme and what makes them innovative.

JEREMY: SKYWIREme provides easy-to-use group text messaging (open rate of 95% to 98%), voice messaging, and email services through our intuitive website. Customers are not restricted to the physical location of their organization since our service is accessible from a smartphone, tablet, PC, or Mac. We offer these services for a fixed monthly rate and provide unlimited usage for our customers. The services help them keep their audience informed and positively impacts organizational operations.

IDH: Why did you become involved in reSET Impact Accelerator?

JEREMY: I was born in Hartford and raised in Windsor, CT. My objective is to impact the Hartford region in a meaningful way through business growth. The reSET Impact Accelerator has a mission, set of objectives, and strategy that exudes excellence. Excellence is my objective.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

JEREMY: SKYWIREme caters to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and growing businesses. Our features and roadmap should always align with the communication/messaging needs of these organizations. I believe non-profits focusing on the education, health/wellness, and the development of communities are critical within a regional “nervous system.” In most systems, communication is paramount.

SKYWIREme Founder Jeremy Smith discusses career strategy and entrepreneurship to with class of 2017 graduating seniors at Mount Saint Mary College.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

JEREMY: Developing a marketing strategy has been the most challenging. Targeting specific digital and social platforms and producing the right content for the platform requires a great deal of testing. We’ve learned a lot over time and continue to improve.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

JEREMY: Networking and connecting with prospective clients and influencers who can refer our services is very high on the list. The disciplined entrepreneurship framework the Impact Accelerator adheres to should harden our strategic plans and operational practices.

IDH: What is the best advice you have given/received?

JEREMY: Given: Commit yourself to learning and, as you strive, maintain perspective.

Received: “Double down on your strengths!” Dr. Fay Cobb Payton, Program Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the Division of Computer and Network Systems.

Learn more about SKYWIREme:

WEBSITE: www.skywireme.com
FACEBOOK: /SKYWIREme
INSTAGRAM: skywireme
TWITTER: @SKYWIREme