Local company brings new life to toys
By Heather Ruenz
Editor
It’s no secret that electronic devices can be found in the hands of kids and adults alike in today’s fast-paced world, too often, some would argue. But the cofounders of one local company believe they’ve found a way to use electronics and bring personal interaction back into the forefront at the same time.
Jim Brandon and Liz Eversoll cofounded Meeper Technology, Inc. in September. The first product of the company, located in the Whitewater Innovation Center is MeeperBOT, which adds a motor, by way of a plastic brick, to a Legos® vehicle and was inspired, in part, by Brandon’s six year-old son, Will.
“I’ve literally bought my son hundreds of Lego™ kits. He puts them together the way he’s supposed to but then he takes them apart and builds his own thing,” Brandon said. “That got me thinking and then, while working for Liz, I started interfacing with smart device applications. That’s where it clicked.”
In addition to the motor brick the product includes an application that can be operated from any smart device, though iPods and smartphones are recommended because of their easy-to-handle size. And while the product requires an electronic device, Brandon said it can be controlled very easily.
“We put the motor on and program the device but kids can run it without looking at the device so interaction with the device is almost non-existent,” Brandon said.
Brandon, who was working with Eversoll at her Geo-location company, Solo-Mo at the time, ran his idea by Eversoll and “she said, ‘Let’s go for it. Let’s start a company.’ So we went for it.”
The bricks used in MeeperBOTs are 100 percent compatible with Lego® bricks, according to Brandon.
“The biggest difference between us and our competitors is in the plastic,” he said, adding that Meeper Technology focuses on quality, creativity, and an innovative design with all products, integrating sustainability by using recycled plastic.
Currently, Brandon said the motor bricks are built using 3-D printers, which are cost effective and easily allow for tweaks to the design.
“If our volume gets big we might have to go the injection plastics route. But as we grow, there are resources right here in Whitewater and throughout Wisconsin so we can keep it as local as possible,” Brandon said.
Keeping the product affordable was also a high priority, according to Brandon.
“We tried to keep the cost at $30 to $40 for a basic kit but do offer a more deluxe option that includes t-shirt for $50,” he said.
The company currently boasts less than 10 employees including a seven-person team of students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“I’m really impressed with the interns. They’re very savvy around digital stuff and are learning the whole gamut of designing a product to the campaign and marketing of it,” Brandon said.
To this point, Brandon said the feedback, from “some very honest critics” – kids, has been very positive.
“Kids are great to work with and products that kids will use are fun to build. It’s funny because every kid we’ve shown our product to says, ‘Do this or that.’ They have a lot of ideas,” Brandon said.
MeeperBOT has about three weeks remaining on its two-month Indiegogo campaign to reach its goal. Indiegogo, according to Brandon, helps new companies get started and often, succeed.
“For the campaign, we submitted our basic information along with a goal. Once we reach the goal, we get the money from the backers,” he said. “A lot of great companies got their start there. We got a lot of orders right away and then it slowed but has been picking up again so we’re optimistic.”
Most backers place orders through the Indiegogo website – though some pledge money without wanting the product – with the ultimate goal being to garner support, money and help spreading the word about the company.
“I’m really excited about the future and thankful for the support we’ve received from the Whitewater community and beyond. We have a lot of other ideas of where this, along with other electronics, can go once we wrap up this initial campaign,” Brandon said.
To place an order for a MeeperBOT product, visit www.indiegogo.com and search “meeperbots.” For more information about Meeper Technologies, LLC like them on Facebook.
