innovationIOWA is sharing profiles of the current members of Maple Studios, a startup studio for early-stage industrial technology companies based on the campus of Ramco Innovations in West Des Moines. Brad Hoyt, founder of FullConfidence, shares about the company’s journey below. Read recent coverage of Maple Studios on innovationia.com.
Know a startup from around the state with an innovative idea to highlight? Email me at sarahdiehn@bpcdm.com for consideration.
When did you start your business and why?
FullConfidence Inc. was started in 2023. Personal conversations with SMMs, companies serving SMMs, and research led to an understanding that there is a significant need within SMMs for tools that help them take better advantage of the data that is and could be generated in their day-to-day operations.
SMMs make up the majority of manufacturers in the USA but are traditionally an underserved segment of enterprise software. They are perceived as inefficient and not significant consumers of information technology. The reality on the ground is different from perception. SMMs are often leaders in using technology to their advantage, but large information technology companies overlook them because their annual dollar spend on IT does not match that of large manufacturers.
Simple, low-cost information technology tools can have a significant impact on the profitability of SMMs and their ability to grow and provide high-paying jobs.
What makes a startup studio the right place for your business right now?
A startup studio, especially one focused on manufacturing, that offers not just an address and a desk, but other services necessary to kick-start a new business is the perfect place for FullConfidence at this stage of our existence. Maple is full of like-minded people grinding away on their businesses, but always interested in helping out others. There is a sense of comradery and a willingness to share experiences, celebrate wins, encourage after rejection and share a laugh. A key value to FullConfidence is the ability to get direct feedback from the Ramco Innovations team.
What do you see as the next phase of growth for your business?
The next phase of growth for FullConfidence is taking what we have learned during this initial stage of the business and turning prototypes into production-grade software that we will put in the hands of several launch customers.