
OuttaVue Founder Deborah Loper was a recent winner at the January 2016 Entrepreneur Innovation Awards.
OuttaVue was an award winner at the latest Entrepreneur Innovation Awards. Presented by CTNext, the Shark Tank-style event gives Connecticut-based entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their innovative startup for a chance to win $10,000 in awards.
Entrepreneur Innovation Award winner Deborah Loper, Founder of OuttaVue, explained to Innovation Destination Hartford her reasons for founding her company and her business plan goals.
IDH: Why did you start your company?
LOPER: Today, the safety of our students in our schools is a primary concern. Sadly, overwhelming tragedies continue to afflict many educational institutions. As a parent and middle school employee, I chose to attempt to protect our children and teachers.
IDH: When did you launch the company?
LOPER: I began developing my product more than three years ago, and OuttaVue began as a startup company a year ago.
IDH: Explain how your product works.
LOPER: The OuttaVue Shield is a classroom safety tool. It is an effective, fast-acting, low-cost, solution during an emergency situation. This product enables the teacher to follow the proper high-alert protocol in just seconds, thus, allowing the teacher to focus on their students during a highly emotional, dangerous situation. The tool also creates uniformity for all classrooms during a rapid response emergency.
IDH: Why did you get involved in Entrepreneur Innovation Awards?
LOPER: Getting involved with the Entrepreneur Innovations Awards presented an excellent opportunity in which to potentially grow my company. I am thrilled to have won this award to focus on getting the word out more broadly about OuttaVue.
IDH: Where do you see your company in the next three to five years?
LOPER: My business plan is to have reached most of the schools in the state of Connecticut and expanded nationally. The OuttaVue Shield has received rave reviews by teachers, administrators, parents, and safety personnel.
IDH: Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs or startup business owners?
LOPER: My advice for entrepreneurs is simple, “It’s complicated and time consuming, but if you believe in yourself and your goal, then stick with it. It can be very rewarding on so many levels!”