Summary
In this special two-part series on The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell continues an engaging discussion featuring members of Fuel’s 2023 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Accelerator cohort. They spotlight Fuel’s 12-week enterprise-ready accelerator program, which pairs seed- and growth-stage tech startups with key enterprise partners to fast-track the adoption of practical technology solutions. The program emphasizes operational value training over traditional venture capital pitch coaching. This episode highlights innovators from around the globe in the AI and ML sectors, along with their companies from various industries. Conversations include Dexter Caffey from Smart Eye Technology, Andrew Bart of AlgoFace, Mike Romeri at Analytics2Go and Kevin Butler from Edify.ai, who showcase their companies, their experiences through the Fuel Accelerator and their #BecauseBentonville stories, painting a vibrant picture of entrepreneurial growth and community connection.
Show Notes
(1:12) Introduction to Dexter Caffey and Smart Eye Technology
(2:20) Dexter’s surprise connection to Pharaoh Ramesses III
(3:09) About Smart Eye Technology
(6:22) Dexter’s Experience with Fuel and Bentonville
(11:14) Dexter’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(12:55) Introduction to Andrew Bart and AlgoFace
(14:10) About AlgoFace
(16:57) Andrew’s Experience with Fuel and Bentonville
(25:34) Andrew’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(28:14) Introduction to Mike Romeri and Analytics2Go
(31:03) Mike’s Experience with Fuel
(32:32) About Analytics2Go
(34:40) Mike’s Experience with Bentonville
(36:32) Mike’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(38:00) Introduction to Kevin Butler and Edify.ai
(42:36) About Edify.ai
(44:23) Kevin’s Experience with Fuel
(51:27) Kevin’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(54:24) Introduction to Grace Gill
(56:05) The Evolution of Fuel
(57:35) Fuel’s Application Process
(58:39) Closing Thoughts
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
Quotes
“I had no intentions of moving [to Bentonville] when I first came here…but then I noticed that when you’re here in Bentonville, it’s a relationship town. It’s about building relationships. So I recognized that through the program and told my wife we’re going to be moving to Bentonville.” – Dexter Caffey, (10:19)
“I’m looking to open an office [in Bentonville]. I’d like to have a presence here. That is very much on my immediate radar from both a talent acquisition perspective as well as the exposure to the Walmart epicenter and how unique it is to have that kind of sponsorship to the community.” – Andrew Bart, (21:41)
“I’m sure I’m not the first one to say that the environment [in Bentonville] is a lot more professional, more experienced, and more innovative. It’s just a series of superlatives where you don’t expect someplace in Northwest Arkansas to bring together a group of innovative people from all over the world that can get things done.” – Mike Romeri, (35:39)
“[Bentonville] is the sort of place where if you put yourself out there and ask for some help, people are more than willing to do so. It’s obviously part of the mission and it’s been extremely helpful for our company…and it’s really opening up doors and leading to sales.” – Kevin Butler, (45:40)
Blog
In this special two-part series on The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell continues an engaging discussion featuring members of Fuel’s 2023 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Accelerator cohort. They spotlight Fuel’s 12-week enterprise-ready accelerator program, which pairs seed- and growth-stage tech startups with key enterprise partners to fast-track the adoption of practical technology solutions. The program emphasizes operational value training over traditional venture capital pitch coaching. This episode highlights innovators from around the globe in the AI and ML sectors, along with their companies from various industries. Conversations include Dexter Caffey from Smart Eye Technology, Andrew Bart of AlgoFace, Mike Romeri at Analytics2Go and Kevin Butler from Edify.ai, who showcase their companies, their experiences through the Fuel Accelerator and their #BecauseBentonville stories, painting a vibrant picture of entrepreneurial growth and community connection.
Smart Eye Technology
Dexter Caffey, who recently relocated from Atlanta to Bentonville, founded Smart Eye Technology to protect online users by employing continuous facial recognition to constantly monitor faces while looking at a screen. Therefore, if a user turns their face away, the screen will go blank because the technology can no longer authenticate their face. Where typical authenticators recognize devices, Smart Eye Technology utilizes biometric identification to protect digital accounts from unregistered users and on-lookers. One of the biggest advantages Dexter has acquired from Fuel is how to approach and generate revenue from larger enterprises.
“I had no intentions of moving [to Bentonville] when I first came here…but then I noticed that when you’re here in Bentonville, it’s a relationship town. It’s about building relationships. So I recognized that through the program and told my wife we’re going to be moving to Bentonville.” – Dexter Caffey, (10:19)
AlgoFace
Co-Founder and CEO of AlgoFace, Andrew Bart, helped start the company with the intention of making it easier for enterprises to build and deploy face AI and analysis solutions. Some examples of its application are virtual try-ons for cosmetics like hair extensions and lashes or situations more geared towards the healthcare industry like vital sign detection, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature detection and oxygen level. Andrew praises Fuel for its focus on optimizing the process of acquiring enterprise level customers and authentic relationships versus simply teaching its participants how to raise money.
“I’m looking to open an office [in Bentonville]. I’d like to have a presence here. That is very much on my immediate radar from both a talent acquisition perspective as well as the exposure to the Walmart epicenter and how unique it is to have that kind of sponsorship to the community.” – Andrew Bart, (21:41)
Analytics2Go
After working in the management consulting industry for around twenty years, Mike Romeri realized the world makes it increasingly difficult for supply chain practitioners to use AI because one, they require practitioners to reengineer their processes and two, there’s a lot of complexity with respect to data. As a result, Analytics2Go was founded with supply chain management workers in mind to minimize the complexity of using AI for knowledge. Mike’s biggest takeaways from his Fuel experience are receiving advice on how to price products and the ability to continuously improve the way Analytics2Go presents itself to enterprise customers.
“I’m sure I’m not the first one to say that the environment [in Bentonville] is a lot more professional, more experienced, and more innovative. It’s just a series of superlatives where you don’t expect someplace in Northwest Arkansas to bring together a group of innovative people from all over the world that can get things done.” – Mike Romeri, (35:39)
Edify.ai
A Bentonville resident, Kevin Butler is a self-proclaimed Swiss army knife in that he has experiences in a lot of different backgrounds from banking to academia and more recently tech development. Kevin’s current work focuses on strategy and development for Edify.ai, a company providing technology that helps stakeholders in high risk industries like construction, warehousing and manufacturing leverage data, create transparency and drive safer behaviors at the worksite. Edify’s goal is that every employee comes home safe every night. When speaking about the Fuel program, Kevin highlights the amazing opportunity members have to understand target markets better and build invaluable networks that they will be able to benefit from indefinitely.
“[Bentonville] is the sort of place where if you put yourself out there and ask for some help, people are more than willing to do so. It’s obviously part of the mission and it’s been extremely helpful for our company…and it’s really opening up doors and leading to sales.” – Kevin Butler, (45:40)
Get Connected!
Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories and advice from the entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders who are sparking the rise of the Greater Bentonville area. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Greater Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.
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