CodeLaunch 2021 – Saurabh Vyas and Carl Hanna

Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the beautiful legacy theater in Alpharetta, Georgia, for code launch Atlanta, 2021. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Now here’s your host.

Stone Payton: [00:00:23] Welcome back to Code Launch Atlanta twenty twenty one we are broadcasting live from the beautiful legacy theater. And Lee, this is the one we’ve been waiting for, man. We’ve got the winners from the contest. Please join me in welcoming to the show with Eva helped Saurav this and Carl Hanna. Welcome to the show, guys.

Carl Hanna: [00:00:45] Thank you. Going to we’re so excited to be here. As excited to be holding a champions belt. That’s right.

Lee Kantor: [00:00:51] Hey, you said everybody’s a winner, but he isn’t the only one that gets to bring on the belt. So I think you’re the real winner. You got

Carl Hanna: [00:00:57] It. You know, I would tell that to the other folks.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:01] So tell us about as health.

Carl Hanna: [00:01:04] Well, so my health, you know, it’s a health tech site up where based here in Atlanta. And our mission is really to help family caregivers like you or me, you know, caring for for a parent. So we’re using technology to really help you to our the care journey. Right. You know, I don’t need to care for your loved one, but also your cells. Right. So you want to make sure that you want to make sure that, you know, you’re also healthy. Right. So that’s that’s the primary focus for us. And we’ve been at this journey for the last, you know, two years, you know, building this. And so, you know, excited to to get a win today. You know, so Rob is right there with me, you know, my partner in crime. So super excited.

Lee Kantor: [00:01:46] So now tell us about how the idea came about. What was the kind of impetus to get you thinking along these lines that you wanted to serve the caregivers? And I believe dementia is one of the areas you have to start with.

Carl Hanna: [00:02:01] Mm hmm. So dementia is you know, it’s it’s a it is a focus for us. You know, as a starting point. Right. And the question you ask is about caregivers. What’s what was our why? We also caregivers are also cared for for our parents caring for and some of us who are good parents are still alive. Right. So and we’ve been in the health care industry. We are we are consultants, you know, for two of the big three of the big companies crisscross the nation, you know, several times over then we’ve seen the needs. We see, you know, when the when the family leaves the the clinic, the hospital, their by themselves to figure out what they need to do on a daily basis. So not only we’ve seen it from a professional landscape, what was the challenge? We also have experienced that as well.

Lee Kantor: [00:02:48] So then what is your solution? Is it a platform for the caregivers to go and get other resources? Is it a place for them to commiserate among themselves as a support group? Like what? What’s happening on the block?

Carl Hanna: [00:03:01] I think you’re taking a lot of those questions, right. So I want to see everything right. But of course, you know that we’re our focus right now. So it’s essentially a platform like you say, right? Like you say. No, that’s not bringing together not only information I bringing to the caregiver, not on the information that they need on a daily basis, but also to technology, but also bringing support from their own community that can help themselves if it’s not about just, hey, you know, I need to find someone else is important to to to to to share your experience. But a lot of times when you’re caring for someone, you need that help, right? We need help right now. I want to make sure that the folks that you’re connecting with can help you. Right. And so that’s where ever comes in and doing that search for you at the community level. So you don’t have to do it right. And instead spend the time caring for your for your loved one, but also your view of yourself.

Lee Kantor: [00:03:59] Well, caregivers, sometimes you need help, but sometimes you need a helper and you need a place that you can go to find that trusted resource and to protect yourself, because there’s a lot of bad actors out there. And somebody has to kind of that to make sure they are who they say they are.

Carl Hanna: [00:04:17] Not saying that’s correct. And, you know, ever will be doing that. Will do that for you. Right. Will be vetting. You know, we do I think the resources in the community and also the information that you have access, you know, if you go on Google search, you say, hey, you know, I need someone to help. Right. Do you want to have like, you know, you’re going to have like several different type of result that come in?

Lee Kantor: [00:04:37] Right. And just because someone’s going to do SEO and can show the best care. That’s right.

Carl Hanna: [00:04:44] Right. And if you are in if you are, you know, if you are in Baghdad. Right. Your needs are very different from someone in barking. Right. Right. So you want to make sure you I mean, you’re you know, with the other platform is looking at the what’s you know, what are some of the needs of someone in Buckett or Bichette houses in St. Louis, take on Baghdad and and and bring those resources to that. So I’m thinking bankcard. I’m thinking sometime is a food desert. Right. What are some of the volunteer organization community organizations that can come in and support without you as a caregiver actually figure out? Because you are already too busy, you know, help, you know, caring for that problem. Now you. All right.

Saurabh Vyas: [00:05:28] Our intent is to start with ever. And then like you ever will guide you forever throughout the entire journey.

Lee Kantor: [00:05:36] So it’s starting now with dementia. And then now you mentioned Bankhead, the crackhead. So how do you target those kind of underserved areas where there are less resources? Because by definition, there’s less resources. So how how are you going in there to encourage other maybe nonprofits who who came to that area? They show them there’s opportunity here to serve. How are you kind of creating that community?

Carl Hanna: [00:06:07] There’s a lot of coordination, you know, that needs to happen. So I’m originally from Haiti. Right? So we are the countries of NGOs. And you and if you look at the news in Haiti is the worst, you know, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Right. We have like the the most NGOs, non-governmental organization per capita anywhere in the world. And we you know, when you look at it, it’s like, OK, what’s going on? And one of the reason the case of Haiti is hoarding. Asian folks are trying to do the same thing. Right, where they can come in and work together and ever write to our platform is to bring all these disparate, disparate resources, women to one platform and be able to effectively support, you know, someone in banking.

Lee Kantor: [00:06:53] So how do you kind of meld that? Well, it takes a human kind of curator with technology and scaling.

Carl Hanna: [00:07:02] The solution has to be custom, you know, customized for. That’s why, you know, I mentioned market and bank and the needs are different. Right. And so what it’s it’s it’s looking at that community bank and, you know, what are the resources, you know, what are and how do you interact with the folks there? Right here, I’m thinking I’m African American. Right. And when I need guidance, I go to my city leaders. If I need support, I go to my faith needles. Right. So the African American approach to accessing information is different from, you know, whether you’re white, whether you’re Latin X. So having that flavor and not having a one stop, one size fits all approach, it’s what’s going to differentiate us is going to continue to be a differentiator for us.

Lee Kantor: [00:07:54] So now, what compelled you to get involved with code launch? What brought you here to this event?

Carl Hanna: [00:07:59] Well, well, you know, so I’m going to let you speak to after the quick question, but let me let me take that on. Right. So because I’m sure we, the listeners will want to hear from you as well. So codons, you know, I mean, as a startups, you you’re not new knocking on doors. Right. Trying to find the folks that can help. And sometimes, like any one thing, you know, you may find the best, you know, help. And coders get connected to a friend of ours. Right. Who told us, hey, we know there is this great, you know, initiative to cold launch and it’s helping startups just like you. Right. And by the way, the deadline is in. Is this still being three hours? So I’m scrambling. I’m like, OK, this is great, right? You know, I’m it’s already like 10:00 p.m. I’m tired. And I’m like, oh, man. But if I if I don’t do it right, you know, it’s like, well, you did need help. I offered help. So Putin, you know, quitting, therefore, trying to put the information in the system. Things were not working. Right. I’m texting, I’m e-mailing, I’m on Facebook, on Instagram, trying to reach someone. And then finally, I think it was probably midnight. They’re like, oh, yeah, we have a problem. Turn it in tomorrow. Right. So I had a few hours tomorrow and we started the journey. I mean, just like, you know, quarter finals, semi finals to the finals. And now we’re a champion.

Lee Kantor: [00:09:23] So now any advice for folks about code launch, how to get the most out of it?

Carl Hanna: [00:09:28] Oh, man, those folks are code launch. I’ve been sorry, sir. I’ll I’ll say one last thing also. I mean, those thing I code lines have been FoxI code launch, improving Atlantor. I’ve been fantastic. You know, a lot of times, you know, we’re looking for help. You know, folks always like, OK, how much of the company are you going to give? Right. Those folks are like, well, we don’t need anything. Right. We just want to help you. And you like. Is that true? Is that true? Is that after like two days, you’re going to be like, well, let’s talk paper, right. And so, I mean, the work, the dedication that they have and you know, I’m like, wow, we know we’re not. It’s just, you know, and they rally behind our idea. Right. And they give every everything that they got. And we’re able to do a successful demo, proud of it. And I mean, the team is is is excited as much as I.

Saurabh Vyas: [00:10:23] And one thing that really resonates is like code launches also based on this foundation of community and creating this new startup and venture community in Atlanta and this case and really making it thriving, bringing everyone together to actually push it forward. And that’s something that is like a shared value, because that’s what we are trying to do as well. When it comes to Alzheimer’s as a starting point in health care in general, let’s bring them together.

Lee Kantor: [00:10:46] Well, it sounds fully aligned with your mission of creating community. It sounds like they’re really walking the walk when it comes to this. There’s a lot of events out there, you know. Yeah. And so this one is one of the good ones in terms of they’re not asking for anything from you and they just want to really help you succeed.

Carl Hanna: [00:11:03] I know for sure and I think, you know, the folks we’ve met through this experience are of friends are part of our family, and they’ve said that we are part of their family. Right. And Saurabh Points, you know, community is a big thing for us. Right. And seeing other folks that have that are embracing us, you know, and bringing us bringing us into their community without asking for something, you know, that’s that’s family

Lee Kantor: [00:11:29] Now for you. What do you need more of? How can we help?

Carl Hanna: [00:11:33] Well, you know, it’s we’re we’re looking for beta testers, right. So if you’re a caregiver caring for someone, you know, reach out to us. You know, I’m call about three cecum. Right. Saurabh, as a you are a B.H. at every three second grade and reach out to us. Right. You try an investor in the area. Right. And are passionate about. I mean, we all getting old. We all going to be caring for our people, our caring for an aging parent. Right. So if you’re an investor in the Atlanta area or in the in the US, wherever you are. Right, interested in our mission. Let’s listen. Let’s have a conversation.

Saurabh Vyas: [00:12:14] And quickly to add to that, if you are an affinity organization, so if you are a church, if you are a religious organization, if you are a school, anyone who is interested in helping the care givers and being part of the community or already have services reach out to us as well, because we may be able to make it better, make it easier for you as well.

Stone Payton: [00:12:32] Well, sir Karl, congratulations again. What a fantastic feeling it must be to have gone through all of those machinations, put in the time, put in the energy, paid the price and come out with this. But you’re only getting started with what is the the next step for the next couple of steps for for you guys. What’s where are your energies going to be invested in the coming, I don’t know, six, six, nine months?

Carl Hanna: [00:12:59] Well, I think, you know, it’s it’s fund raising, fund raising. And you hear that legal a fund raising nightwear fund raising, you know, the right way to happen. And, you know, we’ve got to have we’ve got to bring the right capital, you know, of course, the right people, the right to get us to that next level, focusing and on tweaking. Right. Our our product also, you know, building alliances. Right. We all know our community. Right. So I Saurabh mentioned a hey, you know, if you’re out there, you are a community organization. You want to be able to see you want to support your community even better. Right. Let us let us be the technology platform that that lets you embrace your community.

Stone Payton: [00:13:39] I think that is a marvelous way to approach your continued success and your growth. OK, one more time. Let’s make sure that we leave our listeners with points of contact for either or both whatever you feel like is appropriate. Email, address, website. What have you. What’s the best way for him to reach out?

Carl Hanna: [00:13:56] Yes, I’m always on LinkedIn. Folks can call Hannah. I think there’s a story behind it. So a link to the on LinkedIn email. You know, call at ever EVGA 360 dot com.

Saurabh Vyas: [00:14:13] And that’s Calaway to see right away.

Stone Payton: [00:14:16] Right.

Stone Payton: [00:14:17] So and so. Obviously we need some Cortney’s for you. We should we just send the girl. I think it

Saurabh Vyas: [00:14:21] Will be easier for the listeners to just stick with Carl.

Stone Payton: [00:14:24] You got it, man. Well, thank you again, gentlemen, for all the hard work that you put in. Thank you for what you’re doing. Your mission, your work is important. It means a lot to all of us. We’re excited. We’re excited for you, at least at the Business RadioX Eco Lodge. We’re going to continue to follow your story. And we certainly want to help in any way that we can.

Carl Hanna: [00:14:43] Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

Stone Payton: [00:14:45] All right. We’ll be back in a few from code launch. Atlanta. Twenty twenty one.