Visit from Shadrach White

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Shadrach White is the CEO of CloudPWR, a software as a service company that provides its services through cloud-based web computing. Their service revolves around designing and providing faster solutions to slow and outdated government problems. Part of their mission is to take what the government uses for organizing their services and make it irrelevant by providing more elegant software solutions. They've recently designed AIRLIFT, software that is designed around providing accurate, fast, and secure service for providers and patients of cannabis. CloudPWR is based in Tacoma, WA, and recently Washington state has legalized the use of cannabis for commercial consumption, instead of just medical prescription use.

Mr. White and CloudPWR were able to capitalize on this opportunity for several reasons. For one, the tools in place were outdated and unable to comply with the new demands, something that their company is based on providing. For two, being associated with cannabis is somewhat controversial in society, so well established companies that could provide software to meet this service weren't taking it. For three, a lot of companies refuse to work with the government as the turnover is pretty slow. I was impressed with his activeness in observing the issue and taking ahold of it.

We asked him about how he got to the point of figuring out what needed to be done. When working with the users of the software, and in general, he told us that the easiest way to figure out what's needed is to get the user/buyer to talk first about it. Asking them, "What's your biggest challenge?" can reveal a lot about the features a piece of software can handle. I was particularly interested in this because one of my other business ideas was providing some sort of service software for the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs to minimize organization issues between them and their clients so they can maintain higher productivity and focus on the training they provide for other organizations around the state. I'm thankful someone asked that question, because now if I'm given the opportunity to write some interesting software, I know exactly the kinds of questions I'd need to ask to develop something great.

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