We Hear You

Origin: Peoria, IL |

Grant Awarded: 2023 | Status: Active

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What is We Hear You?

We Hear You® is a startup company that creates accessible technology for those who are often not placed at the forefront of innovation. We Hear You® is currently working on two inventions that are focused on inclusivity and accessibility. The first is a two-way sign language translation software that is able to translate ASL through hand recognition and then translate speech to ASL. The second invention, Push™ , is a revolutionary solution for transforming ADA doors into automatic doors. With a simple press of a personal button, individuals with mobility exceptionalities can easily access public spaces, improving their independence and ease of mobility. This device is versatile; it can be worn as a wristband, attached to a wheelchair, or clipped to a keychain. The low-cost assistive devices empower businesses to accommodate their customers, ensuring a more accessible and inclusive environment. By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as the foundation of innovation, We Hear You® strives to create a world where everyone can navigate their everyday lives with ease and dignity.

Company Leadership

Pierre Paul

FOUNDER & CEO

Pierre Paul was born in Brazil, grew up shortly in Guyana, and then landed in Ohio. At a young age, he faced extreme poverty, xenophobia and racism for simply being different. Armed with these experiences, he grew up with an unwavering determination to ensure that others who fell outside the “status quo” did not feel unwelcome in the world. Motivated by a vision for change and a burning desire to address the concerns of individuals whose voices often go unheard, Pierre embarked on a mission to establish We Hear You®.

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BETHANIE COURI

Co-founder

Bethanie is a young, driven Ed.D. student and professional. She works at Bradley University overseeing campus Residential Living. In addition, she serves as the Chief Operating Officer for We Hear You, LLC to ensure that we as a society are proactive with inclusivity and accessibility instead of being reactive to others’ needs.

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9Line Software LLC

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2023 | Status: Active

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What is 9Line?

9Line ensures federal compliance and peace of mind by transmitting precise location data with every 911 call to the appropriate public safety answering point, accelerating emergency response efforts and enabling faster assistance to those in need.

Company Leadership

MARK TURPIN

CO-FOUNDER & CEO

Mark has been immersed in technology since the 1990s, even before high school. In 2003, he shifted his focus to telecommunications when he joined Sprint. Later, in 2008, he achieved the prestigious Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification in Voice, showcasing well-rounded expertise in telephony and technology. Mark’s extensive knowledge and experience in the telecommunications sector, leadership, technical proficiency, and over a decade of start-up experience suit him well to guide 9Line to success in the emergency response solutions market.

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colin o’brien

Co-founder & CTO

James Barbieri (CEO): Aerospace industry expert who spent 10 years at Boeing and the U.S. Intelligence Community in a wide variety of roles spanning engineering, corporate strategy, business development and senior R&D leader responsible for executing a $6M+ portfolio of innovations.

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12 Pentagons

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2023 | Status: Active

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What is 12 Pentagons?

12 Pentagons sells experimental, hand-crafted soccer balls and makes content about it.

Company Leadership

ALLISON DIAZ WHEATLEY

Co-Founder

Allison has over a decade of experience telling stories for brands both big and small. With a degree in Marketing from UIUC College of Business, she sharpened her skills at AB, managing brand strategy for Budweiser and Michelob ULTRA at the regional level. Allison started 12 Pentagons with Jon-Paul to bring his bespoke designs to market. She’s even made a few footballs herself.Connect on LinkedIn →

JON-PAUL WHEATLEY

Co-founder

Jon-Paul is a product-focused founder. He immigrated from England to San Francisco for his first company, later moving to St. Louis in 2014. He has had multiple previous exits. His first company, DailyBooth, was acquired by Airbnb. Jon-Paul is an obsessive ball designer and shares his process at @jonpaulsballs on social media. In his first year making content, his videos were viewed over 100 million times and worked with brands like adidas, FIFA, MLS, and St. Louis City SC.

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King of the Curve

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2023 | Status: Active

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What is King of the Curve?

King of the Curve is revolutionizing the journey from high school to physician by offering a comprehensive platform tailored for aspiring medical professionals. Our unique blend of high-quality test prep, personalized mentorship, and cutting-edge predictive analytics ensures students are not only prepared for medical entrance exams but also receive insights into top-tier medical school admissions. While our core expertise is in medical education, the adaptability of our platform means we’re poised to expand our transformative approach to other academic domains in the future.

Company Leadership

Heath RUTLEDGE-JUKES

Co-Founder

Heath Rutledge-Jukes is currently a medical student at Washington University in St. Louis, co-founder of ed-tech company King of the Curve, and a TEDx speaker. Faced with a challenging childhood, Heath managed to climb out and attend college, where he was a pre-medical student who studied psychology with a focus on pedagogical design. His hard work yielded him a 522 on the MCAT (99th %-tile), as well as numerous publications in venues such as The Journal of Arthroplasty and the Global Health Catalyst Summit.

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William KELLY

Co-founder

William triple-majored in Accounting, Economics & Finance, and Business Administration and recently graduated from Cornell University with a Master’s degree in Accounting. He is excited to have have helped so many premedical students through the King of the Curve app.

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