admin Marc Rippen, a skilful engineer with a background in multiple disciplines focused on changing the way diabetics go about their daily lives. Prior to founding Alertgy, he was the Director of Engineering of the Marine and Space Division of SRI International St. Petersburg, as well as a prominent program manager and a top gun in business development for multiple fortune 500 companies, and defense contractors supporting DOD organizations such as DARPA and SOCOM for advanced Applied Research and Development Projects.
“In 2016 I found my wife, Sue, unresponsive after a low blood sugar attack at our home. Ever since this event, I have been compelled to create a better way for diabetics to manage and be knowledgeable about their blood sugar. After the experience with my wife I knew there had to be a better way than the current products on the market, and my journey began to make this dream a reality,” revealed Marc.
Key Driving Forces to Become an Entrepreneur
“The main driving force behind my entrepreneurial spirit is my passion on this subject combined with my will to challenge myself and succeed at difficult tasks. The challenge Alertgy has bringing our market to diabetics all around the world is truly one that I can give my all every day, and will not stop until the goal is accomplished. I believe innovation, especially in the technology field, is the key to making a better world, and I want Alertgy to be a part of that.”
To become a successful entrepreneur Positive Leadership is important, it can give employees a sense of purpose and create a sense of unity among the whole team, which will in turn increase the productivity and ultimately help accomplish the company’s overall goals – Marc Rippen
Working style
“Between being in the office, traveling, and developing our business relationships, I spend well over 8-10 hours a day related to Alertgy, however, all the time will be worth it when we succeed in the end.”
Motivation
The motivation behind my drive and the other team members of Alertgy to have this become a successful product is our personal connection to diabetes. Every member of the team either has diabetes or knows someone close to them with it. For this reason, we are all in some way affected by this disease and can see what can happen because of it. Every member of Alertgy from the top-down wants to make sure diabetes can be better managed and not have a negative impact on the lives of those we love.
Family life
Being an entrepreneur means constantly being on the road building relationships and not always being able to spend the time with my wife and children that I want. However, my family knows how important this journey is and will be, so in the end the sacrifice me and my family are making right now will be worth it ten-fold.
Handling Difficult situation
“In order to handle a difficult situation properly, you should always attack the problem with a clear mind and unemotional. Think about the problem analytically and try to come up with a solution that would serve the best for the long term of the company, not necessarily the best outcome for just tomorrow. “
Successful Customer base
To build a successful customer base you first have to have a product that the customers want to buy. For Alertgy, this means we have to have a device that people will enjoy wearing that won’t negatively affect their daily routines. Secondly, you have to build a relationship with your customers so that they trust your product. To many, diabetes is a deeply personal issue, and they will not trust just any product that says they can change their life. We have to prove to them that not only is our product better than the competition, and others they have tried before, but it is also a trustworthy piece of technology, with a company behind it that can be trusted to have good intentions. Instead of simply being out to make a buck, we have to foster these relationships and help them know we are here to most importantly improve their lives, because we care about them.
Strong Company Culture
First of all, to have a strong company culture the leadership of the company has to instill important values such as hard work, honesty, and reliability in order for every team member to put in the effort we need to be successful. If every member of the team shares these common values, they will all have a common connection that will drive the product towards the finish line. Secondly, there needs to be a strong communication network. Many times the thing that can drive down a company is a bad communication, either within the team themselves or throughout the company structure. In this environment, things are changing on almost a daily basis, and in order for everyone at Alertgy to be on the same page, there needs to be a communication network so that everybody understands their role and what they need to do. When a communication breakdown happens there many times are people not working together, or people working against each other unknowingly. To have this strong culture every team member in the company needs to be in agreement about what our goals are, and what we need to do in order to reach those goals.
Pattern
“Every successful entrepreneur should inspire those who work under them to succeed in what they are doing, as well as get the best out of each employee. Positive leadership can give employees a sense of purpose and create a sense of unity among the whole team, which will in turn increase the productivity and ultimately help accomplish the company’s overall goals. In order to be a successful entrepreneur this is especially important, because without having those working with you be inspired to the same level you are, they will never work as hard towards achieving the goal. If everyone on the team is inspired by the leader/entrepreneur, there will be a much better chance of being successful in the end.”
Future Goals
“There are 422 million diabetics in the world, and this number is steadily increasing every day. Currently, 1/3 of the world’s population is border line diabetic. We can help people change their daily lives in order to avoid becoming diabetic, like DEXCOM the world first Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Company. With our revolutionary technology, Alertgy could be a multibillion-dollar company in a short time.”
I believe innovation, especially in the technology field, is the key to making a better world, and I want Alertgy to be a part of that. – Marc Rippen
‘Keep Learning, and Never Be Satisfied’
“Good entrepreneurs should always keep learning, and never be satisfied. In their free time they should learn about their industry, product, or competitors in order to always be improving themselves, and in turn, their chance of success.”
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