In April, five scalable ventures with a lasting impact on society will compete in the 2021 Global Impact Award for the chance to win up to $50,000. In celebration of their achievements and anticipation of their April presentations will be featuring a Q&A series with the finalists on our blog over the next month. Today’s blog is all about Caregather.

Caregather provides family and friends of patients dealing with health hardship with digital tools to give care to their loved ones meaningfully and confidently. The venture was founded by Tripp Brockway (Arts & Sciences ’12) and Michael Offerman (Arts & Sciences ’13).

Industry: Digital health

Number of Employees: 2

Total Funding (as of February 2021):  $0

What problem are you solving?

For the 50+ million family caregivers in the United States who are thrust into providing care for a loved one, there's no guidebook. They learn on the job to assist with activities of daily living, battle with our complex health and insurance system, navigate the nuances of their loved one's particular illness, perform medical tasks, balance their own needs, and so much more. Needless to say, this is isolating, overwhelming, and highly stressful. The resources they need are scattered, buried, or nonexistent. They deserve better.

How do you solve this problem?

We connect friends and family to each other and peers in a similar situation, so they are surrounded by support. We also curate and personalize the expert guidance, products, and services they need all in one place, so they are well-equipped and confident in the care they give. 

About the founding team.

Tripp’s background is in leading growth teams for tech startups. He was the VP of Sales at TrackMaven, where he led the company to a doubling of sales efficiency and the best growth year in its history. In 2020, Tripp became a full-time caregiver for his sister-in-law, Grace, who inspired Caregather’s mission. Michael’s work has focused on how categories can be reinvented through customer experience. As Strategy Director at Redscout, he led brand strategy and innovation projects for companies like Oscar Health, Uber, and Walgreens. In 2018, Michael was a caregiver for his mom, Trisha, who had breast cancer. Tripp and Michael have known each other for 12 years after meeting at WashU.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting your venture?

Entrepreneurs need conviction. To make it through all the highs and the lows, you need to believe deeply in yourself, your team, the problem you're solving for your customer, and your ability to solve it. 

What do you love about being an entrepreneur?

Surrounding myself with amazing people - my cofounder Michael, advisors, and our users. 

What words of advice to do you have for those starting a business?

When you have an idea for a business, find quick ways to validate it - talk to your customers, build a prototype, and ask them to sign up or buy it. Learn and iterate from there. If you wait for your solution to be perfect before getting it to market, you'll be waiting forever. 

Website: www.caregather.com

Twitter: @caregather

Instagram: @caregather

Facebook: @Caregather