Joshua Redstone is the founder of Equatine Labs, and a longtime techie who has worked overseas in Japan, on the West Coast with two major tech giants and is now back in his home state doing something completely different: trying to disrupt the measuring cup market.

“Throughout my career, I’ve always been involved with starting projects,” Redstone summarized. “I like learning new things and I like going in different directions.”

In the Early Days of the Internet, in the Small Town of Amherst...

Growing up in the early 90s, Redstone became interested in technology after playing around with various home computers, such as the Apple IIe and a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4. He began learning early assembly language and wrote text-based video games for his own amusement. However, as his time spent with computers grew, he also learned – through tampering with internal hardware – to modify the machines.

“Back in the day, if you could get your computer to do ‘cool’ things, that was considered hacking,” Redstone remembers. “I actually  a speech synthesizer into my computer and unintentionally managed to port in a local radio station.”

Redstone’s interest in computers and their inner workings carried on into college, where he attended Cornell University as a computer science major, and even had an internship with Microsoft his junior year. However, despite devoting much of his academic life to technology –and even being offered a software engineering position at Hewlett-Packard – he felt the need to step away from it.

“After I completed my undergrad, I became torn,” he said. “I still loved software and computers, but the thought of sitting at a desk in a cubicle for eight hours a day writing code did not seem appealing to me.”

Redstone took a sharp left turn into a different path: teaching English abroad in Japan. It proved to be a good decision in the short-term but quickly became repetitive to the Cornell alumnus. When he left the Land of the Rising Sun, Redstone was itching to get back into studying technology.

He decided to come back to the U.S. to study at the University of Washington. During this time, he gained extensive knowledge about computer architecture and distributing systems.

“Essentially, we were answering the question of ‘How do you get a whole bunch of computers to work together in a productive way?’”

Finding A Career in Silicon Valley

In 2003, Redstone received his Ph.D. in Computer Science and, shortly after, became a software engineer at a little company in Silicon Valley called Google.

Redstone spent six-and-a-half years at the tech giant, where he would take on and start a variety of internal projects. He primarily worked on data storage and helped scale Google File System to meet the ever-growing demands for storage capacity and reliability. Thanks to his knowledge of distributed systems, the project went smoothly and, based on this success, Redstone joined a team to help spearhead a machine learning project called Sibyl. The machine learning project enabled the search engine to make better predictions, which is an important capability to many Google services.

While being at Google proved to be a success for his career, Redstone began itching for something new. He wanted to try his hand within Silicon Valley’s startup scene.

“I tried doing the startup thing with a couple of friends out in California,” he said. “We wanted to create a platform that would help users with financial mathematics. Unfortunately, it only lasted a few months and we just couldn’t get the project off the ground.”

Redstone later joined Facebook in 2009. At this point of his career, he not only had more than a decade of academic knowledge but a ton of hands-on tech knowledge thanks to Google.

Around this time, Facebook began experimenting with location tagging. Nowadays, taking one glance at your own news feed, your Facebook friends are tagging themselves in whatever restaurant/bar/store they end up at. However, during Redstone’s time at the social media giant, location tagging was a feature they just started experimenting with.

“There were a lot of privacy concerns not only with users but also employees of Facebook,” he remembered. “Although through lots of discussions we ended up in I think a good spot."

Redstone was also responsible for maintaining IT infrastructure, where he would make sure lines of code weren’t missing, and if they were written correctly.

From Software Engineering to Measuring Cups?

After 10 years spent with Silicon Valley companies, Redstone decided to take a hiatus and move back to Cambridge, and he experienced a bit of a culture shock.

“I’ve always seen Cambridge and Silicon Valley as ‘academic versus entrepreneurial,’” he said. “There’s always been more of a focus on schools like MIT and Harvard. The entrepreneurial community is much more pervasive in Silicon Valley, and there are more outliers to help startups. However, Cambridge has those features – it’s just smaller.”

Nowadays, Redstone spends his time working on his company, Equatine Labs. The company is developing something, well, completely different. He has created a measuring cup that utilizes applied mathematics to give the user a perfect measurement.

As someone who enjoys baking as a hobby, Redstone noticed how certain recipes would require specific small measurements. After doing some research in finding if there is a measuring cup for these kinds of situations, he found there wasn’t a market for it.

Off to the drawing board he went, and Redstone started creating prototypes of measuring cups. While in this somewhat primitive development phase, the Silicon Valley veteran had the idea to start a business again.

“I’ve noticed there are a lot of ‘me too’ companies. I didn’t want to be an entrepreneur who had just another app,” said Redstone. “I also didn’t want to be different and weird for the sake of being different and weird.”

Equatine Labs’ Euclid cup appears to look like a creatively-designed measuring cup. He had written and developed the software to assist in getting the design down. The result is the first cup on the market to take sophisticated mathematics into account.

Today, Equatine Labs’ Euclid cup is up on Kickstarter. While he is using baking and cooking as a primary launching point, Redstone believes the cup can be used in any industry where measuring volume is key, such as a chemistry lab.

Armed with optimism and several other ideas, Redstone believes his company, and his expansive skill set can be used to create other products and services.

“I’m open to implementing more of my ideas under the Equatine name,” Redstone says with a smile. “We’ll see where this cup goes.”

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Colin Barry is a contributor to VentureFizz. Follow him on Twitter @ColinKrash.

We all have things about ourselves that make us notable. While I never quite understood it, the adjective “courageous” is often used to describe me.  For the longest time, I fought it. For me, that notion was reserved for our military and first responders...not just some woman who feels comfortable sharing her thoughts in an authentic manner.  

Now, I think I finally get it.  

Apparently, people attribute any perception of courageousness I might display to my willingness to be vulnerable publicly. Over the years, I have written about my own struggles and failure, both personally and professionally. I do this not because I actually enjoying shining a spotlight on everything that hasn’t worked out in my life; just the opposite actually. I share because I have a great career. I am a happy, productive person who is really comfortable with who she is. I believe I have gotten to that place in my life purely as a result of having lived - and learned - through all the ups and downs. And somehow, I believe my “keeping it real” with others allows me to potentially encourage them to do the same. In short, I fundamentally believe no one is perfect, and it’s our ability to learn from our challenged areas that ultimately allows us to thrive. Being able to do this at work might seem a little counterintuitive, but let me share three lessons learned from my experience to help push you to give it a try.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But way less so if you are comfortable in your own skin.  

Recently, I proactively shared that I am dyslexic in a recent post. Sure, I risk the fact that some people might think, “Well that explains it… every time we go to lunch she asks me to calculate the tip. I thought she was just stupid.” Or maybe, “Every time I ask Christina to review the data, she misses multiple errors.”  Exposing that vulnerability of not being able to manage simple math has the potential to be really scary for me. Instead, however, I choose to share. I am very comfortable at this point in my life with who I am, and the journey I’ve taken. I know I’m not perfect, and I just can’t be bothered if someone judges me for something I can’t control.

You have to work at it to be able to use it to your advantage.

Humans are adept at pointing out what is wrong with others but far less comfortable admitting their own shortcomings. Perhaps it is because the very essence of vulnerability is to admit that you aren’t perfect. I mean seriously, who loves to admit “You know what I really suck at…?”  Here’s the thing though: even if you don’t enjoy being vulnerable (no one does), wouldn’t you rather be in control of it rather than be surprised by someone else pointing it out to you?  Personally, I choose option A. If you subscribe to that premise, why don’t more people take this approach?  Likely, because it’s a risky endeavor. To share your less-than-perfect self is putting yourself in the position of being misunderstood, judged or even rejected. Yikes… no one likes those options. So start small, perhaps with a trusted co-worker or friend. See the reaction you get. My hypothesis is that you will likely not just find support and encouragement, but they will open up and share something they struggle with. That very action builds trust and strengthens relationships.  And then keep on building the courage to practice more. Just watch what happens!

You can benefit hugely.  

A few years ago, I got divorced. In my first date post-divorce, I was set up with a writer.  It was a train wreck of a date, but the one big takeaway from that night was him sharing, “You should keep a journal.  It’s incredibly cathartic.” I laughed it off because, at the time, I considered myself an incredibly private person. I have always been great at asking people questions, and getting them to talk about themselves. I found over time, very few people asked me questions back, so the asking of questions became a shield. The more I asked, the less I had to share. When I got home that night, that conversation inspired me to shift that dynamic. That very evening, I decided to go ahead and keep a journal...but I would hold myself accountable to write every day for a year. And then post it. Yes, post it to the world.

Of course, that sounds insane. Writing your most intimate thoughts and sharing it with the world, right? I didn’t care. I wrote like no one was reading it. I shared deeply personal perspectives. I shared silly random thoughts. I shared the good, the bad, and the ugly that is me. Every single day for a year. And a miraculous thing happened. I changed my life.  

Yes, people read it. I did my best to ignore that fact. Likely, the majority of them were voyeuristic and loved peering inside the head of a woman who is putting it all out there. However, I beneficially made an incredible amount of new connections over that year, with people sharing their own perspectives and stories. I learned that by putting myself out there and sharing my life and challenges, others became more likely to let their guard down too. And that built trust and deepened relationships. I learned if I truly wanted to understand and connect with people, I couldn’t always just be asking questions. I had to share too.  

No one likes feeling vulnerable, whether it’s at work or in life. However, I challenge you to think about the benefits that can come from owning it, rather than reacting to it when it surfaces. This is especially important in the workplace, where building productive relationships are vital to creating impact and success. And while I am not advocating for anyone to put themselves out there to expose it all like I did, I do encourage everyone to test it out. It just might change your life - and your career trajectory - a little too.

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Christina Luconi is Chief People Officer for Rapid7. Follow her on Twitter: @peopleinnovator.

Collegiate athletes have a lot on their plates, especially when taking into account their school work, practice time, and strength training in order to keep themselves fit for playing. Sometimes, in the heat of it all, accidents can happen in the school’s fitness center.

Perch Co-Founder and CEO Jacob Rothman was playing on MIT’s varsity baseball team when he got hurt during a routine workout.

“During my freshman year, I herniated a disc in my back while weightlifting,” Rothman said. “When an athlete is not taught how to lift properly, it puts them in a bad position where serious injuries can potentially happen.”

While recovering from his injury, Rothman started to brainstorm ideas for a device that could help athletes find the right form while strength training. He teamed up with other athletes on campus, and Perch was founded in 2016.

“We spent too much time coming up with the name,” Rothman chuckled. “We came up with the name because the camera is perched upon a surface, much like a bird on a tree branch.”

Initially, Perch’s product was going to be a weight rack that would help spot the user. Unfortunately, the team found the demand for that particular product was not high. Even worse, they found it to be a liability for users, as they could potentially injure themselves, which is the exact opposite of their plan.

The company pivoted and began to focus on movement tracking. When it comes to lifting weights, nailing the form is incredibly important.

Perch’s software utilizes machine learning algorithms to study a user’s movements when lifting weights. The company’s software utilizes three different devices: a camera, tablet, and computer. However, the primary use is in the tablet/camera combo. Users log into an app on their tablet, which is available for both iOS and Android. The camera is connected to the tablet via Bluetooth and can be placed on a surface near the machine.

The desktop application can be used for storing data gathered from workouts into Perch’s application called the Nest.

Perch allows users to playback the footage, and the application will point out where improvements are needed. Rothman took the video approach as a way to give more accurate feedback.

“With wearable devices, it can be difficult to collect data and get the exact numbers,” the CEO said. “With a camera, you can get results right there in front of you.”

Shortly after the company’s founding, Perch was accepted into MIT’s delta v program for student-led, early-stage startups. Rothman and his team began the development period while part of the accelerator. Typical for an early-stage company, the development was very much “all hands on deck,” with everyone contributing what they learned while attending MIT.

Since leaving the accelerator, Perch has maintained a busy schedule, further developing its tech and attending trade shows across the country. Perch made an appearance at the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA) Conference in May.

“We were able to show a prototype of our product at the conference, and received feedback from strength training coaches from colleges across the country,” said Rothman. “We had coaches from Alabama and Georgetown take a look at what we were doing, and it was validating to hear from them.”

Perch's prototypes are being demoed by a handful of Boston-area colleges but, in terms of looking ahead, Rothman wants Perch to expand into other markets.

“Currently, we are focusing on performance athletics,” Perch’s CEO said. “However, the goal is to break into the commercial gym market. Perch can be used to help personal trainers to give the average gym goer tips on how to improve their form.”

Weightlifting is not something anyone can jump into and expect results. It takes time and effort to get the movements and form down for changes to show. Perch could be the product an athlete needs to help them get that form down and prevent a potentially-serious injury from happening.

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Colin Barry is a contributor to VentureFizz. Follow him on Twitter @ColinKrash.

Images courtesy of Perch and Jacob Rothman.

When looking at the United States’ wine culture as a whole, it is region-specific. Overseas in London, it’s a much different environment, as first-time tech startup founder Jennifer Williams-Bulkeley experienced.

“When I was living in London, I started to become enamored by wine culture,” said Williams-Bulkeley. “Wine and spirits are huge in England. I ended up taking a couple classes to learn more about the wine industry, that ended with me getting one of the industry’s top accreditation in the wine industry.”

In London, consumers have incredible direct access to wines and are able to buy an almost unlimited array of wines. There was no shortage of tastings for her to attend.

Williams-Bulkeley and her husband moved back to the United States and noticed something different. It was a drastic change from what she was experiencing overseas.

“There are a lot more challenges with alcohol in general, with many regulations going back as far as the Prohibition era,” she said describing the differences.

Williams-Bulkeley wanted to help wine collectors and professionals by creating a facilitating system to actively manage wine collections and drive engagement with customers. The platform applies analytics to wine inventory and identifies opportunities to drink, sell, or buy wine before its drinking window closes.

Vinolytics initially started out in 2016 as a wine asset management platform before evolving into an analytics platform. The software allows wine collectors and professionals to keep track of different kinds of data relating to the wine, such as drinking windows, price, producer, and location. Moreover, the service includes data regarding how much a bottle of wine costs in the current market, as well as how much it has performed over a period of time.

One feature Williams-Bulkelly would like to add is the ability for users to connect with one another through a communication feature. With this potential idea in place, Vinolytics can also work as a liaison between the seller and buyer.

“We currently have a database currently containing over 50,000 different kinds of wine that were bottled over the past 25 years,” she said. “As for buyers working in the current regulatory environment, we believe if you want that particular bottle of wine, that you should be able to get that wine.”

The market for this type of technology is not limited, as CellarTracker has been around for over twenty years, but there has been little-to-no competition in the space.

However, in Williams-Bulkeley’s experience, many of them are made for a specific audience. One of the goals she wants to accomplish with Vinolytics is to not only give wine buyers and sellers technology for the 21st century but also make it one anyone can use. Williams-Bulkeley does not have an extensive tech background and put herself in the shoes of wine collectors and professionals who may not have one either.

“I wanted to make a product that was not only up-to-date but also user-friendly,” she says. “If you have an idea of what something is supposed to look like, it can be difficult to find an engineer to match that vision.”  Williams-Bulkeley worked with a team at UMass Amherst that had a strong engineering core and the ability to implement a user-friendly design.  

Currently, the company is targeting partnerships with various wine professionals across the country, while simultaneously targeting wine markets such as Austin, Boston, Nashville, and Denver, to name a few.

Despite wine being their main focus of the business, Williams-Bulkeley insists Vinolytics is not “Just another wine app.”

“We want to be seen as a SaaS company, and why not?” Williams-Bulkeley said. “There is a lot of opportunity in the industry and as a SaaS company, we have a good go-to-market strategy.”

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