Developing Your First Prototype w/ Joseph Hamilton of Bacchus Bracelet and 4 Second Football

Joseph Hamilton is a former army soldier with soldier of the year accolades, college graduate from Columbus State University, member of Kappa Alpha Psi, and collegiate athlete. Joseph's specialty is in digital marketing with a focus in SEO and Advertising. His background prior to running his startups was in Sales and Marketing. Now Joseph runs two tech startups, Bacchus and 4 Second Football.

Bacchus is your drinking buddy that will alert you in real time of your estimated BAC level, and 4 Second Football is the first smart football that comes with a built in timer.

Connect with Joseph, a Wearable Founder Ambassador at www.bacchusbracelet.com | | | info@bacchusbracelet.com

Transcript

00:02.60
wearabletakeover
Welcome back to another episode of wearable takeover I am your host Lakeishia Greenway also known as coachel and you know what you can now access wearable takeover podcasts or in your favorite podcast app you can access it on Youtube or. Ah, direct link that you might find when we've posted on Linkedin. What we want you to do is to make sure number one that you are subscribing to the podcast that you're leaving us some feedback and also sharing it because we are showcasing revolutionary innovators revolutionary technology. Going to solve problems for problems that you face on a daily basis and so I'm so excited to introduce to you 1 of our founder ambassadors of wearable tech ventures now some of you might be saying what's the founder ambassador so last year twenty 22 we launched what we call the inaugural founder ambassador program and we literally had founders to reach out to us from around the world and we selected a class I believe it's about 8 to 10 founders to join us personally where they receive 1 on 1 access direct access to us as well as our advisory teams. And they are able to get that 1 on one coaching that 1 on one emboment. But then they also get access to a number of our resources first. So that's the benefit of being a founder ambassador and then also our founder ambassadors embody our ideals meaning that.

01:36.84
wearabletakeover
Not only do we get but we give we give back in order to keep the ecosystem going so you more than likely will see this particular founder ambassador in person as well as virtually as we launch some of our other programs later in the summer so do you want. Know who this amazing founder ambassador is who's coming to us from Georgia. Well let me tell you about Joseph Hamilton Joseph is a former us soldier with a background in sales and marketing and he graduated with a degree in business from Columbus State University in Georgia. Joseph is also a former collegiate athlete and member of the divine 9 greek letter organization cappa alphacide fraternity incorporated and I had to you know, put a little umph into that because I'm a divine 9 member I'm a pretty girl. He's a pretty boy you might. See us in person we might fighte over Mary's and he'll just shimmy and I'll just you know do a little sunt with my mirror but now I'm so excited. Can we give a virtual round of applause for Joseph.

02:40.45
Joseph Hamilton 
Go I'm doing good. How are you doing.

02:45.10
wearabletakeover
I'll standing Joseph I am so excited about you and let me just share with our community. Why your story is so important so when we were closing out the onboarding process for our founder ambassadors Joseph actually heard about wearable tech ventures on one of. On a fellow ah founder ambassadors podcast and he reached out to us and he was like I gotta do whatever I got to do to work with you guys and his persistence and his approach is ah and also his innovation. We were like okay, we're going to make sure that Joseph is in our first class.

03:12.47
Joseph Hamilton 
Um.

03:20.81
wearabletakeover
Ah, founder ambassadors the inaugural class and so Joseph I'm so excited about what it is that you are doing and so Joseph why don't you tell everyone number 1 your wearable product. What's the name of that product and and then also um. Ah, what that particular product does. Yes.

03:44.70
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, certainly so um, so I actually have two wearable ah products, two wearable tail products. So I'll start with the first one that I reached out to you about all right? So the first one is called baccus and ah baccus is the roman god of wine and fertility. So that was where we got the name as you'll see soon. Ah, the problem that it solves baccus is a wearable alcohol monitor that will alert you in real time of your current b ac level. Um bakus will send you notifications such as when you should drink water. And eat food when you hit certain benchmarks as you consume alcohol throughout the night or the evening. Um, whenever you're consuming our out with friends so we call it ah your personal drinking buddy right? Boggas is your personal drinking buddy because it's gonna. Is going to remind you to slow down drink water. Um it'll it could help you make smarter decisions as you go throughout your your drinking event.

04:49.68
wearabletakeover
I love it. I love it. So some of you might be listening. You're like I totally need that and um, I'm identifying all types of partnerships in my head for Joseph as he prepares to launch. He's preparing to launch his first crowdfunding campaign so you want to make sure you stay tuned. Ah, to our website to our newsletter as well as to our social media because we're going to help support Joseph as he is launching his crowdfunding campaign but you'll see him on a lot of stages as well and so he also mentioned that as a solopreneur he has. Fund it self-funded to tech startups to wearable startups and we're super excited about Baccas and so wait. Let me just let me just take this back a little bit okay because this man is absolutely amazing. He develops on purpose but he's also when it has served our country. And I want to make sure that we note that and so we appreciate your service to our country. He was ah given this soldier of the year honor in the georgia armor excuse me Georgia Army National guard and then he even ran another business called Knickerball Georgia and a suit knocker balls. AhKNOCKERBALL for those of you that might be saying we can't hear her. What did she just say I didn not say anything deroator. Okay up on Knocker fall Georgia so he just told us about the Bacca's bracelet we're going to dig into that a little bit more tell us about your second wearable startup.

06:05.66
Joseph Hamilton 
Person.

06:17.68
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, so the second wearable that I created is called 4 second football for second football is actually the first smart football to hit the market that one will be launching probably about the next sixty days we're just putting final touches on it now. But. 4 second football is um, the first smart football that can tell you how long your quarterback has held the ball and football which is a sport that I play back in college typically the quarterback we give them 4 seconds to get rid of the ball as you get to higher levels of playing like the Nfl they. They really only get about two and a half maybe 3 seconds because guys are so much faster. So I built a football that can tell you how long you've held it and if you don't get rid of it in time then a buzzer goes off in our app to indicate that you took a sack. So. Over time. It should build an internal time clock in your head through repetition as to what 3 4 2 seconds is because you can alternate the the timer as you please? Um, it also will track data. So now what can happen is if ah. If your quarterback Monday through Friday was performing very well at 3 seconds well you should be confident as a coach and though he's going to perform well on Saturday because you can track his data through our app so we can tell you his average throw time.

07:48.49
Joseph Hamilton 
We can tell you his completion percentage his touchdown to interception ratio. We tell you his sack rate all kind of statistics all through our football and app.

07:58.87
wearabletakeover
I'm so excited and so hopefully we'll be able to showcase some of these products where you could touch and feel and play with them in July July is the month folks that's when we are launching our hackathon our summer programs you're going to get to meet more of our founders. Um and see their products in person. And um I was just challenging 1 of our other partners to a gaming competition amongst ecosystem founders and leaders. But I think it'll be cool because Joseph I don't know if you notice but back in the day I used to play street football and so.

08:32.17
Joseph Hamilton 
Ah, no.

08:33.29
wearabletakeover
Yeah I was only girl on the street like 1 of the only girls on the street and so I was a time boy I ended up becoming an All-american cheerleader but my but my beginnings were on the street playing football and kickwall with the kids and and I'm super excited about this but you know let's listen. Take it back because we're gonna dig into these innovations folks. You definitely want to follow this man. Um, So what's the inspiration behind you know, founding 2 startups.

09:02.94
Joseph Hamilton 
That's a great question. Um, the reason I started my first company to be honest was because um, you know it's it's really a twofold situation one I got in trouble when I was in college you know I was reckless like a lot of us might tend to be when we're younger sometimes. And you know all I kept thinking was how could I have prevented this from happening. Um, so that was when I just started playing around with the idea. But what really made me want to become entrepreneur and build a company was you know it was a job that I had and I just didn't have a really you know? Nice boss. Ah, he you know, kind of made me feel like my voice was kind of diminished around like social issues. It was around a time that like Trayvon Martin got killed and I kind of felt like I couldn't express myself and all I kept thinking was you know I would want to work in a workplace where somebody doesn't make me feel this way.

09:46.20
wearabletakeover
Her name.

09:56.25
Joseph Hamilton 
So You know I wanted to kind of become the boss that I wish I had so I was like why don't I create it. It would be cool if I could combine the 2 like create a workplace and environment and create a company that solves a need I found a need that I need it solved and you know when we get to a point we have employees. Like I want to be that employer that you know doesn't make anybody feel uncomfortable and has open door policy and you can come talk to them. Um and gives the employees a voice.

10:27.54
wearabletakeover
I Love it. That's so admirable and they and thank you for being so transparent about your journey leading up um to where you are right now and we're gonna dig a little bit deeper into that. But that inspiration is so important and one of the key things you said was the social Justice right? I'm considering that there's been so many black. Males So many black boys that have been murdered on the street senselessly um amongst our own but then also from you know those that are that take an oath to protect and to serve us and so actually if you do not know the history of wearable tech ventures.

10:59.20
Joseph Hamilton 
Um, correct.

11:03.41
wearabletakeover
We actually started. Um, we were originally glam tech. But originally I wanted to develop a product for myself. But I understood that the the system needed something much more than my product and we started as a result of the Freddie Gray murder in Baltimore.

11:19.71
Joseph Hamilton 
Um, who are.

11:20.68
wearabletakeover
And so we wanted to make sure that there was a platform available for a genius of black brown underrepresented folks to be seen on a stage and so that's how we started and now we're global and I'm really excited about Joseph's products and how he's going to grow now Joseph you're going to need a team. You're you're gonna need a team. So right now who's on your team tell us that.

11:44.39
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, absolutely so um, with bakus. Um I just partnered with a gentleman named ah bail ah Beil Patel um I've known bail he actually was the person who you know at first he started out as a contractor and he was the 1 building it for me.

11:59.30
wearabletakeover
New.

12:01.21
Joseph Hamilton 
Um, and I just got to a point where you know funds kind of were drying up. He had always expressed that he had interest in the data. He considers himself like a data scientist. So um, he told me that he would love to join the team and he wouldn't charge me. You know the rest of the way to finish building it out So here we are and with the football.

12:09.92
wearabletakeover
Business.

12:20.66
Joseph Hamilton 
There's a gentleman named Vashaw Patel they're not related just wont throw that out there but ah, both very smart gentlemen vashaw went to georgia tech um, you know he's worked with some pretty big companies Stanley I think Stanley and decker. Um, and so now he's joined the team.

12:23.68
wearabletakeover
Her.

12:39.20
Joseph Hamilton 
Ah, finishing up working on the software hardware for ah for 4 second football.

12:42.70
wearabletakeover
I love it. So so Joseph he has his his co-founder partners if you will and this is a notion for all of you founders out there. You may be technical. You may be nontechnical you you could be looking for folks to fill your particular gaps. Make sure you have agreements in place make sure you have those agreements and that are signed by each party so that there's an understanding of who owns what? especially because when we talk about the overall tech ecosystem data is key and one of the key elements of wordable tech. Is data and so that's one of the things that makes this industry so attractive in addition to the problems that we solve is that data piece and it's incredibly important that our founders in this ecosystem that you're protecting yourself that you're protecting your innovation and that you're putting all of those things in writing. As it relates to who owns what? what does that partnership look like and how do you move forward now. 1 other thing for those of you that um are listening to this particular episode. Maybe this is your first introduction to the wearable takeover podcast I want to make sure that you listen to. The previous episode that we recorded with Eric Mckinney and he provided some insight from obesity accounting perspective as far as what founders should have in place to get ready for investment and so I want to make sure that I'm highlighting that again because.

14:14.31
wearabletakeover
Mounters is amazing if you have these ideas and you're investing so much of your own money and early stages to develop your prototypes and to get this product ready for the market. We want to make sure that you're protected and it you're ready all around legally from accounting tax et cetera right. So I wanted to insert that real quick I'll get off my soapbox. We'll have some other programming available for all of you that may be saying how do we do this? How do we work? Who should we go to make sure you're listening to the world. We'll takeover podcast because we drop gems we drop gems for free and all you gotta do is download and just listen to the episode and take notes. Okay, so anyway, so. Ah, Joseph. So you're going to probably be adding to your team is that correct.

14:54.61
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, absolutely always looking to grow the team because you know no man is ah as a one man Army right? So you can't do it alone. So absolutely.

14:59.73
wearabletakeover
Yeah, yeah, okay, so let me just put a plug here. Another reason why it's so important that our listeners and supporters and partners attend our activities that we're currently hosting in July from the standpoint of the hackathon and the camps. Is because it's also a talent scouting opportunity. Not only for our sponsoring companies. But for our startups. Our startups are growing. They're looking for people to join their teams and so when you participate in our hackathon series if they see something special um in you the way that you're interacting with folks the way that you're solving problems or. Whatever it is that you're doing that is special to them. That's the prime opportunity to get chose That's how they say it in street come on out here and get chose right? So ah so another reason if you're like um maybe I don't like what I'm doing maybe I got laid off maybe I want to try something new. You.

15:44.18
Joseph Hamilton 
I think.

15:56.42
wearabletakeover
Need to register wearabletechventures Dot Org make sure you're registered for the hackathon is free. Okay, and we're doing a hybrid in person and virtual but our startup founders are startup leaders. They're looking for talent to help build out their startups and that's the key. Prime opportunity to get shows. Okay, so Joseph what are you looking for in um, future teammates I'm going to call them teammates instead of employees. What are you looking for and future teammates.

16:27.55
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, to be honest I look for certain like intangibles cause I feel like from a tangible aspect there. There are certain things that you could just be good at whether you're good at like logistics supply chain sales if you're good at software engineering. Right? Like that's a skill that you could just you know flat out be good at but I look for the intangibles. So like your people skills your attention to detail. Um, your response time like you know, um, if you if you say that you're gonna have something done by Friday right? like. Was it done by Friday can I can I depend on you to have it done by Friday like I'm I'm just really big on accountability. Um, and that's the biggest thing right? I think of the accountability and availability um is is kind of like you know a sports you know my coach always said the best.

17:18.84
wearabletakeover
Um, yeah.

17:24.34
Joseph Hamilton 
Ability is availability and then the second best is accountability can can I hold you accountable to do your job so it's the intangibles but I will say you do have to have like those those um hard skills as well. But those can still always be developed and you know I can. Be a lot more patient with a person that has a passion like they just have a dire driving passion cause I know that's how I was before you know I got to where I am I just had a passion to want to keep keep continue learning and to get in there and somebody just give me a chance.

17:58.66
wearabletakeover
I Love it though. Those are those are admirable traits that you mentioned so important when hiring and when transitioning from the startup founder to building and developing a business. Ultimately, right.

18:00.87
Joseph Hamilton 
So.

18:15.35
wearabletakeover
And that's one of the things that investors are looking for. They want to know can this truly be a business. Not just the startup this cute. So you said something about development. What do you attribute to your development as a leader today who or what. Um, were you listening to what what were you attending? What were you reading? What are some things that you can share with our audience that helped to shape and develop you into who you are today.

18:45.38
Joseph Hamilton 
Oh yeah, certainly I think the number 1 thing you know the number one person I would have to say is my father just kind of like how my father raised me you know he was really tough on me. Um, that definitely is what helped mold me into like a leader and the person that I am today. Then second I would have to say like playing sports I know they say sports builds characters. So you know a lot of people are fans of people playing sports but to me sports is like ah a microcosm of life. It's the greatest microcosm to life in my opinion like there are so many similarities. Between sports and many other things that you will experience in life. You know being up being down thin even kill having adversity having competition preparing like a whole season in advance is so many things that I can translate from the sports world into the business world. Which is why I always thought that I would be successful then you know being a part of my fraternity you know leadership is 1 of the pillars that we were founded on um, leaders in the community. So these are some of the things that I would say help mold me into to being the leader that I am today. Um. But like I say I think one of the biggest ones would just be sports because I mean you have to learn how to take the good with the bad you have to learn how to take the losses. Um, you have to learn that like when things are not going right? or well like are usually gonna give up and quit I've never been able to quit anything right? I'll tell you I've been.

20:17.79
Joseph Hamilton 
Like keia I've been working baccus for about 10 years

20:20.53
wearabletakeover
I was just about to ask that that was my next question I wanted to know how long does this take because you know what today the startup world is glorified like you know like a microwave boy I got an idea tomorrow kick get investors right? So yeah, let's go there ten years ten years yeah

20:37.39
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, I'm gonna be honest I like I literally I have ah some friends in this startup ecosystem right? and they're like my therapists that I've we vent to each other.

20:45.73
wearabletakeover
Yeah.

20:48.73
Joseph Hamilton 
And I and we were just talking other day about like man you kind of got to be crazy to to get into this startup world because it is extremely difficult like it is so hard. You really have to be built for it like something just has to be off in your brain. Um.

20:57.18
wearabletakeover
Will happen. Yes.

21:07.57
Joseph Hamilton 
And I mean that so seriously to like 1 Yeah no I know I get that but it's like it's I told him I said a founder to me is like a firefighter who is constantly putting out fires and it seems like a fire is always coming up.

21:09.71
wearabletakeover
We're incredibly focused or have that vision right.

21:21.20
wearabletakeover
Yeah.

21:26.30
Joseph Hamilton 
Every week if not every month and you just constantly have to like get up. Go get your hose and go fight this fire and at times you get tired like I'll be completely transparent. There was one time where I wanted to give up my idea right? I wanted to give it up. But I had put so much into it I was like I need to get something back I attempted to reach out to one of my competitors who you know was ahead of me just because they had more notoriety right? I attempted to reach out to them and I I basically asked them for a job and was like hey I've been researching this.

21:45.18
wearabletakeover
Yes.

21:53.13
wearabletakeover
Who.

22:02.19
Joseph Hamilton 
Would you all be interested in bringing me in I bring my research and my skillset and you know that email went unanswered and I'm glad it went unanswered. I'm so glad it went unanswered you right cause I wouldn't be sitting here today. So you know, um you you just have to like just keep going and it's a lot.

22:09.21
wearabletakeover
N.

22:20.48
Joseph Hamilton 
Easier said than done.

22:22.69
wearabletakeover
You know what? I'm I'm so glad you were transparent and let me just take it back to 1 of our first episodes of the of the kind calendar year twenty twenty three we had Rashad Mills on and he's a therapist. Um and we advocate. For our founders to get therapy as well as coaching because as Joseph said this is not an easy journey I remember I was talking in Pennsylvania at the Pennsylvania women's conference and there were some physicians and dentists and other women in stem that were considering a startup. And I told them do not get into the space unless you will dedicate at least 7 years to your idea and Joseph I could just see the eyebrows go up people were like what and I said seriously because if you cannot fathom dedicating 7 years don't even get into it. Because you don't know it may not take 7 years it may take a little bit more. You just don't know. But if you don't have that grit if you don't have that focus if you don't have that perseverance if you don't have that passion. You will be gone at the first sight of resistance and I'm so appreciative of you being transparent. About the need for community the need to find founders that you can share your experiences with and that's why our founder ambassador program is so important because we understand our wearable founders are so unique. Um, the importance for having that support system.

23:52.74
wearabletakeover
Where you just really need to vent and for folks to be patient with you and understanding that this is this might take a while and we already know the stats when you know when we talk about articles and who receives venture funding or whatnot but rarely do we ever get to discuss who those angels are or who who are the angels that are going to step in. To assist our founders so that they could even get to the venture part of the funding and when we talk about black and brown founders specifically and bemail founders. That's a long hard road to even get to that. So there's alternative ways of financing and getting to the point where you can even achieve a prototype and so. I'm gonna I'm gonna ask you next Joseph like what was your journey like on getting angel investment did you did you have that experience. Did you go to family. Did you fund? What did that funding yourself like look like and I want us to be incredibly real because the more that we could be transparent. And show people some of the things that our founders have to go through perhaps so they'll get a better understanding of some things that we need to put in place to prevent that from ever happening again right? So that's that's the first thing let's start there.

24:58.11
Joseph Hamilton 
Right? Yeah, no, that's a great question I'm glad you asked it I hope that my answer can help somebody else right? that might be looking for options but the very first thing was. You know I use my own money right? I saw in the beginning I just picked up extra jobs right? Okay, so that wasn't enough money so then my next step that I did was um I had been working a few years I had saved up a little bit of money earlier in my 401 k so I was still kind of young.

25:23.27
wearabletakeover
Less.

25:35.32
Joseph Hamilton 
And I was like I can always you know restart my four one K So I had went ahead and I had't tapped my 401 K that money then ran out. Okay, so then what I ended up doing was there was a program where they could get you like unsecured lines of credit. Um, it was a program where like if you pay these people for their service. They'll go represent you to the banks and then they'll come back with ah either personal credit cards or business credit cards and I knew it was at risk because these credit cards were like super high interest gonna be completely transparent.

26:05.56
wearabletakeover
The list.

26:13.25
Joseph Hamilton 
You know there are a lot of people who sell services now buy my ebook and I can help you get 60000 in funding I'm gonna be on the other end of the transparency and say like mine can't weigh extremely high um interest rates right? So you have to be cognizant of that. Especially if you don't have a plan. To generating revenue within the short term so being that I was technology and I had to go through r and d that was that was what the money was needed for so much r and d and you don't know what you don't know right? Even if you were to ask me today. How would I do it different I would tell you I don't know like I don't know.

26:31.83
wearabletakeover
A.

26:40.60
wearabletakeover
Um, yes.

26:50.50
Joseph Hamilton 
How ah how else I would get money different because I literally look you this way I just did a family and friends round for 4 second football like I'm literally doing it now I just got my first $12000 and I have some more thousands of commitment but they just haven't sent the money in.

27:04.80
wearabletakeover
The.

27:06.94
Joseph Hamilton 
The only reason I even have their money now is because I actually have a working prototype that they can see so it's like they're now believers and I'm telling them that hey your investment we're going to tweak a few of these bugs and make this thing as perfect as can be. But.

27:12.93
wearabletakeover
Um, yes.

27:24.28
Joseph Hamilton 
When I just had an idea nobody was interested right I had to like put up my own money first to make them believers and get and show them the vision. So um I think the only way around it is to get a ah partner earlier that can help you build but I'll tell you I tried that and.

27:28.60
wearabletakeover
I will.

27:44.11
Joseph Hamilton 
Um, I tried looking for a partner and here was the reality. The people who were qualified to build it. They wanted way too much that like I would have gotten nothing and the people who weren't qualified to build it right? I It's kind of like I didn't really want them because I knew I was gonna waste time because. I Knew they couldn't build it like I just could kind of tell they didn't have enough experience to kind of you know they didn't really know how to talk like the the lingo um in the beginning because in the beginning I did have ah um I did have a an advisor and so he would kind of help steer me in the people that I was vetting. They didn't really how to talk to Lingo so that was my journey multiple jobs tapped my 401 K Um, and then I went ahead and took out some credit and and max to all of that out and then now I'm still working multiple jobs being very transparent and.

28:36.64
wearabletakeover
Listen.

28:39.44
Joseph Hamilton 
Here we are now doing the family and friends round. But I'm so confident that okay, one last point though every step that I would spend money I said I'm not going to continue to spend money unless I know I have some traction so with my very first prototype or my very first proof of concept.

28:51.48
wearabletakeover
Yes.

28:59.30
Joseph Hamilton 
Right? I went out and I tested the market with my proof of concept and I always said if I don't have so much of a reaction then I'm dead in it right here like I'm done I'm not gonna spend any more money and I'm gonna just take my loss but I did so much research.

29:01.40
wearabletakeover
You heard.

29:12.29
wearabletakeover
Good.

29:17.00
Joseph Hamilton 
I Did so much research before I spent the dying I did so much research. But yeah, it was a journey I've been you know ripped off all of that you know so um, it was a journey but you know I've definitely grown in it and I'm so much better for it today.

29:21.47
wearabletakeover
And I.

29:33.37
wearabletakeover
That is so important that you put your own stops and losses in in into this particular process right? So you said before I make a decision I have to have these certain things in place so that I can move forward if it's gonna be a yes or no, if I'm gonna move forward and. Investors look for that type of thinking and founders because investors are saying how much skin do you have in the game and how do we know if you're going to make a good decision and you've basically demonstrated that yes it took me a while took me some years I had to you know do some things now traditionally. To bring this to fruition. But I'm a better manager because of it I'm a better risk manager because of it I've been able to learn from some mistakes and then gain some traction in that keyword attraction. So you're able to demonstrate all of those things which are all essential. Elements that a leader and a startup founder needs in order to be successful I do want to kind of backtrack because you you were talking about a lot of the research and some of a number of the challenges that you have faced and that's one of the beautiful things about wearable tech ventures as we continue to develop our global ecosystem. We've been working with partners to develop new pathways of funding number one because we understand wearable founders. Everybody does not understand a wearable founder. We understand our wearable founders and so that's why if you're listening to this, you want to make sure that you.

31:04.90
wearabletakeover
Look at the show notes as well as you go to our website and sign up for the newsletter There's a new cohort that's opening up for the national institutes to held ah institute of aging boot camp and so there's funding associated with that. So our founder ambassadors get first dibs to apply to that. Ah, the rest of you. You can also see if you ah qualify to apply for that as well. But we were very instrumental in helping to bring that to life. We've also been working in bedding our investment partners in not just overnight not over six months. We've been vetting. These potential partners and existing partners for years and so all of this has been intentional because just listening to Joseph's story yes he's learned and he's gained but what we want to do is to perfect this process to a point where our founders don't have to work so hard that.

31:57.14
Joseph Hamilton 
Printing.

31:57.66
wearabletakeover
That you know that they're missing out on some other opportunity and so I'm grateful to you Joseph for staying in the game for developing yourself for really selling your fit family of friends and so let me just look can I just be transparent Joseph we're black right? is that.

32:09.84
Joseph Hamilton 
Um, yeah, right we want.

32:16.10
wearabletakeover
We're black black families are not most black queen are not going to give you money for an idea and so for Joseph to have gone through his process and I'm glad had you explained you like at first with the idea they said nope we want to see this. You know, ah concept or whatnot.

32:22.18
Joseph Hamilton 
No.

32:35.42
wearabletakeover
Um, and and now he's been able to gain some traction with his funding. That's a significant feat for a black founder just putting it out there. Let me just be as plain as I could be because a lot of times your family. They'll be supportive or your friends will be supportive or introduce you to somebody but when it's time to pull out that wallet.

32:51.48
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah.

32:55.79
wearabletakeover
That's a whole different story so has any of your family or friends told you how you inspire them or anything that they've learned from you by watching your journey.

33:04.69
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, my my mom tells me all the time. How incredibly proud of me she is and you know my perseverance right? I mean that's that's one of the things I think. Um, also one of my high school friends that's kind of watched my journey. You know he just made a comment 1 time like me, you've always had this relentless energy about you and you know it's definitely helping you now and um and yeah, some of my other friends who are also on the journey with me. You know, just let me know like all the time like man you inspired me to keep going because you know you never know when you're gonna hit that diamond right? We have the visual of the man with the with the with the hammer but not the hammer but he's digging a it's like in the diamonds a few feet away you just never know when you're gonna hit that diamond. Um, and get your breakthrough and so you know I don't even consider that I've had like my real breakthrough yet right? but I know it's coming because I could just feel the energy flowing at this point. Um you know, ah at my last. Ah I just went to a.

33:54.40
wearabletakeover
Um, moving.

34:06.56
wearabletakeover
Lists.

34:12.48
Joseph Hamilton 
The the largest high school coaches association conference in January um, and I took the football prototype right? It wasn't even the fully developed one. It was the prototype and so many coaches said I need this next week

34:26.76
wearabletakeover
Yes.

34:29.90
Joseph Hamilton 
That was and see that was that traction that told me okay, go do your family and friends round now right now you're ready because to you know to your point you know they don't want to just give up money. They always want to know how can you avert my risk right? like how how can you guarantee I'm get my money back and it's like 1 there's no guarantee. But. I can try to reduce as much risk as possible so to answer your original question though you know people are just proud of my relentless effort my perseverance how I just continue to put my head down to keep trucking um no matter how hard it is um so yeah I hope that answered their question.

35:05.13
wearabletakeover
You know and I see this as a dual cell for a lot of programs and I went to a D one school I'm not gonna put the name out there. But you know you if y'all know me, he just just way took football season I'm totally go to represent. Um, but but I could see.

35:14.32
Joseph Hamilton 
Ah.

35:22.23
wearabletakeover
Both of your products being taken in at the same time by a lot of these different programs. Want to keep players out of trouble, especially a lot of these collegiate players. Keep them out of trouble make sure they're not getting duis or getting stopped by the police and then also number 2 from that training perspective. To help them train more effectively and efficiently so I definitely see you know these 2 going together. Ultimately, what do you envision for your wearable products.

35:51.14
Joseph Hamilton 
Oh envision you mean like you took me talking like 105 years down the road.

35:55.19
wearabletakeover
Where would you like it to go like what's what's like the thing that that says that success.

36:04.37
Joseph Hamilton 
Ah, um, okay, success to me because I just like to really I like to be stereotypes like that's that's success to me I Just like to defeat stereotypes. So um I actually.

36:15.57
wearabletakeover
Will note.

36:21.15
Joseph Hamilton 
You know, want at least one of these businesses I want to hold on to it and take it public because I know we always say like the big. The big goal is you know a buyout right to get acquired. Um and you know I just want to change narrative right? I Want to have some ownership.

36:25.97
wearabletakeover
Okay.

36:39.97
Joseph Hamilton 
And you know I want to represent people who typically don't have ownership because we typically may um, you know sell our businesses or ideas and it's nothing wrong with that. Um I just want to change you know I just want to change the narrative. Um, another idea that to be honest with you another thing that I would consider success.

36:47.67
wearabletakeover
Exactly.

36:58.67
Joseph Hamilton 
Okay, I'm a big advocate for like my hometown like I love the town that I'm from which is Columbus Georgia ah I have another idea which I'm not starting it because I'm not putting too much on my plate. But if I get to a level of success where I can get some money in my pocket and then start my next idea. I would love to take my next idea to my hometown and provide jobs. Um, it's it's another tech idea and you know that could put you know more money in the in the ecosystem down there and you know bring better jobs because I know the type of jobs that are available there which is.

37:23.59
wearabletakeover
Yes, ah.

37:38.34
Joseph Hamilton 
You know they have good ones but not so many. That's why a lot of people leave and come. You know to Atlanta so I just wanted like you know change the narrative and that would be success to me if I could take ah a business public and then get another business and move it to my hometown and um and try to change trajectory there.

37:41.97
wearabletakeover
You know.

37:57.81
Joseph Hamilton 
Um, that would be what I consider success.

37:58.79
wearabletakeover
A man with a vision a man with a plan and I'm so happy that you discussed what that ultimate plan is and how that equates to success as well for you because just being incredibly transparent. Investors at first they might shy away and say oh there's too much on on this founder's plate but we understand our founders. We understand our founders' dynamics and we're really out here providing solutions to problems that we face every single day. So it's good to know that one of these businesses you're saying okay, you know there's a exit there. 1 of them though. Long term I want to be ringing that Bell and I want to go public and it can will happen I believe that for you because we got partners that have done that type of stuff and so that's the beauty of you know, having this ecosystem in and helping our founders. 1 other thing I just want to you know, kind of highlight you were talking about the prototype.

38:44.20
Joseph Hamilton 
Um, and.

38:53.30
wearabletakeover
Process right? and I want to kind of discuss that a little bit more for those that may be listening because a lot of our wearable founders are getting prototypes and one of the things that we've been working on here at wearable tech ventures is identifying partners within the us to assist our founders with the prototype development and so we've identified I can say at least 4 Facilities that we're going to be partnering with in a near future to assist our founders in that process. But um, what are some tips that you can share with founders as they might be navigating the prototype process and I think is better coming from you versus them.

39:12.88
Joseph Hamilton 
Ah.

39:30.76
wearabletakeover
You know going online and trying to research how how do I get a prototype What? what are some? What are some tips you have um and some lessons learned as you were ah trying to assume your prototype.

39:44.15
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, um, as far as tips I'll say this I think tips come from experts right? and I I would be honest I'm not an expert right? or at least not yet I'm be very transparent there but I will definitely say what I work for me. Um.

40:00.77
Joseph Hamilton 
My very first prototype I needed somebody who could build it for my price right? You know I I went online and I found contractors right in this engineer.

40:07.62
wearabletakeover
You away. How did you know your price though. How did you know your price.

40:15.20
Joseph Hamilton 
Ah, be completely honest with you. My price was gonna be more so like a what are you gonna charge me and then I'll see if I can make it work. That's the wrong way to do it that.

40:22.58
wearabletakeover
Okay, and that's real that's real though That's real that's how some founders may be starting so I wanted you to share that on purpose because again, these are things that founders that they're thinking the same thing Joseph they're thinking the same thing.

40:31.30
Joseph Hamilton 
Okay.

40:37.28
Joseph Hamilton 
But.

40:40.17
wearabletakeover
And they they may be looking and getting different answers from elsewhere. But now you've got 2 successful prototypes right? So that's why I wanted you to? Okay, so go ahead so you so you said what's my prize keep going what else.

40:44.83
Joseph Hamilton 
Bright.

40:51.29
Joseph Hamilton 
Right? because I cause I was blind where I was blind like that wasn't something you can get on Google and look up like how much is a prototype called. There's so many ah variations that variables that could go into a price so I didn't know do I need 85000 okay, so um, I went out and um I went on meetup was what I actually did I found what type of engineer I needed right? because I that was when I was learned by electrical engineers mechanical engineers software engineers which one do I need me being a hardware I really need it all 3.

41:19.22
wearabletakeover
Um, let me see.

41:27.94
Joseph Hamilton 
Right? So I found a guy on meet up I've messaged a meet up ah group member. He put me in connection with a good friend of his who he said I think this guy may be interested in in meeting with you based off my concept. This guy was a um.

41:29.10
wearabletakeover
Ah.

41:46.30
Joseph Hamilton 
Ah, software engineer you know? Um, so he then introduced me because he's worked on other projects like some projects that have been on shark tank he's worked on other projects and so he introduced me to the team that he's worked with in the past. That's actually how I met my partner now bamil I really feel like I was blessed if you want the honest truth because Beil you know his company they work with ah startups they they but they price so that it can be affordable for startups. Um, because you know I think a part of their business model is is they help you get your prototype and get started then you'll probably need them for manufacturing down the line so that way they they can keep that residual going for years to come um, which is he's you know? Absolutely you know in my opinion right? About. So.

42:30.24
wearabletakeover
And.

42:37.50
Joseph Hamilton 
That was how I got started with mine but I will also say this looking back and going through think about the courses I've taken and stuff Mvp is a big thing and that stands for minimal valuable product I had a lady tell me 1 time. She literally told me don't put any more money into bocus and I'm gonna be honest I didn't listen who knows if I should have or shouldn't but I was in this course she said you know they teach you they teach you in this course there are 2 theories. 1 theory is build it and they'll come.

42:58.56
wearabletakeover
Who's.

43:14.94
Joseph Hamilton 
That's what some people say build it and they'll come another one is you test the market you find the problem and then you build the solution based off of what customers tell you but you know you have to do it through Customer Discovery so you can't just ask them like directly you have to like kind of like pillow talk and find out what their problems are and then build it.

43:31.76
wearabletakeover
Who.

43:34.14
Joseph Hamilton 
So ah, this lady was of the second opinion right? find the problem build the solution that way you reduce your risk and she was telling me she was like well how do you know people want to know how intoxicated they are as they drink. And I told I said there's no way I can ask a series of questions to find that out. But I said people can't even conceptualize the idea because nobody's done it like how could I ask you a series of questions to ask you if you know, but this is what I told her I got in trouble and I took a class.

43:59.70
wearabletakeover
Yeah, yeah.

44:09.77
Joseph Hamilton 
And it was in my class where I came up with the idea I said I bet you if I go to any of these classes where other people who have gotten in trouble they would more than likely probably have a high conversion of people who would want this right? which is that's a tip I hope people may take. Take to heart your first customers could be where you came up with the idea like think of where you saw the problem and then that could be your your customer your first customers into the market. so um so yeah she told me oh build an Mvp minimal money.

44:33.79
wearabletakeover
Is.

44:47.70
Joseph Hamilton 
Go build something I'm like well how do you build a minimal bracelet that can tell you you know how how intoxicated you are through the skin like how do you build that in a minimal way. So um, yeah I know that was a mouthful but but you know. My Mvp cost me some money but it was worth it. You know, um I have pre I did a presale a pre-sale um like sign up I got like 80 emails for people who are waiting on my presale campaign. So I think it was worth it. I went on social media did some content creation to test the to test the theory. Those are ways that you can test the market as the mvp to be honest, it doesn't always have to be building a product. You know it could be something much more simpler and social media is is a free tool. So so yeah, um I hope to answer their question though I know you asked me about.

45:39.30
wearabletakeover
Lots of wisdom there. Lots of wisdom there. So if you're a founder you need to rewind some of what he said and listen to it again because there's a lot of wisdom and one of the best ways to become wise is not to do all this stuff on your own. But to listen to someone that's already done it all right and learn from the lessons that they have already gone through and again Joseph I I so appreciate your transparency this is this is the one of the beautiful things and I just love being a founder of this ecosystem because I get to work with founders such as you. Um, that work with other founders and I'm I'm a strong believer that Iron Sharpens iron and just imagine folks what we're doing. we're taking it over that's why this episode this this podcast called wordable takeover we're taking it over from the standpoint of experience and. Um, ah testing um and becoming successful. So I'm I'm just so excited. So Joseph I'm excited for everyone to get to meet you um to test out the product. Ah, we'll be working with you and our other founders on some tips for crowdfunding so we got some resources coming in for that. But what would what else would you like to share with our listeners before we sign off on this episode.

47:04.32
Joseph Hamilton 
Ah I don't I'll say this um some good advice from I told me once before was don't chase the money chase chase your passion and if you chase your passion then the money will chase you so um you know just say that because I see a lot of people you know complain about money all the time and everybody says they want to be a millionaire today and my first question is well how you gonna do it. Ah but you know, um.

47:31.11
wearabletakeover
Yet.

47:35.00
Joseph Hamilton 
And I think I think that leads to like mental health issues cause then when people don't get money then they're like wondering and why other people are getting stuff and so you know me, you know my whole thing was just chase your passion and I always said you know if it doesn't work out. It wasn't meant to be right? you know ah you know god has a final answer so I was like if it's not meant to be It won't happen. Um, but I'll be okay with that knowing that I at least chase my passion and knowing that I actually still get to do my other passion which is digital marketing. So um. So yeah, if I had to leave one piece of advice if you chase your passion then you know where they say you will never feel like you're working. It'll never feel like a day at work if you chase your passion. So yeah, that would be a 1 piece of advice that I would leave with.

48:19.94
wearabletakeover
Ah.

48:22.96
wearabletakeover
I Love it. Just we love your passion. We. Love your Vision. You drop some gems as it relates to self-care tips on this episode. We talked about therapy. You mentioned that like oh yeah, it's easy to go crazy on this journey. But when you also have community when you have those safe spaces. Ah, definitely helps the journey to developing something revolutionary much more meaningful and a little bit easier if we could even call it that and where can folks go to get on your list so that they can.

48:51.65
Joseph Hamilton 
Right.

49:01.52
wearabletakeover
Ah, be 1 of the first to get a product. How can they support you with crowdfunding like where where do you want people to go.

49:08.63
Joseph Hamilton 
Yeah, absolutely follow me on Instagram at baus bracelet um, you can oh yeah, absolutely is BACCHUS bracelet b r a c e l e t um

49:11.98
wearabletakeover
Spell that spell that spell that for them spell it.

49:26.46
Joseph Hamilton 
And then um, the website is being reentt right now so you know you can't really interact on there but you can't email me at info at boccusbracelet.com and so if you want to join my um, my waiting list for the presale campaign just shoot me an email. Let me know I will throw you on there and then for the football. You can find me on all social media platforms at 4 second football 4 second football you can email me at info at 4 second football and that football that website is live so you can go there. You um, you can see demos any if any coaches are watching. Um. You can place pre-orders now we'll be delivering um midsummer before before the fall camp. So oh yeah, I'm sorry yeah, it's for the number 4 so the number four second.

50:10.36
wearabletakeover
I love it. So is that the number 4 or is it 4 spelled out for second.

50:21.23
Joseph Hamilton 
Foot bar.

50:22.58
wearabletakeover
Outstanding. So folks here you have it and then you're also on Linkedin is that correct.

50:25.98
Joseph Hamilton 
Yes, I'm on Linkedin at Joseph Hamilton I know some sometimes it's hard to find me so but yes I am on Linkedin at Joseph Hamilton and both those pages are on Linkedin as well.

50:38.83
wearabletakeover
Okay, so folks you heard it here. He is preparing he is preparing to bring these products to the forefront. So by the time you listen to this episode if you're listening to it. It may be in the summertime of 2023 or beyond. I'm pretty sure the sites will be up but in the interim you can still reach him via email as he already mentioned and we are happy to support Joseph on his journey. So as he continues to share more information about the waiting list and with his crowdfunding efforts. We'll be sharing these in our newsletters as well as well as our other founders. So Joseph. Thank you so much for being a great ah ambassador for wervo tech and also for being incredibly inspirational and folks stay tuned. We just got a few more announcements and we hope that you make sure that you subscribe leave us a review. Um and give. But Joseph a virtual high 5 thanks for listening to this episode of warable takeover. Um.