York College of PA's J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship Welcomes Tenant Business Led by Alumni
York College of Pennsylvania’s J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship recently welcomed a new tenant, BeeCentral Technology, a company making smart home technology for seniors that is led by three alumni.
CEO and founder Alex Louderback earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2021; COO John Gallo earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2020 and an MBA in 2021; and CFO Taylor Bull earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2021 and a Master of Accounting in 2022.
BeeCentral is integrating the power of the smart home into senior living communities. Once installed in the community, the proprietary BeeCentral HoneyComb integrates all smart home devices into a senior-optimized mobile app for residents, with support for any smart device brand. The BeeCentral HoneyComb also provides the ability for residents to share device access, creating a network of support and security. With BeeCentral, community staff are less burdened and can provide better care through the assistive benefits of smart technology. In addition, residents can maintain their independence longer and gain the benefits of added convenience and security by holding the power of the smart home in the palm of their hand.
Louderback participated in spring 2022 in the J.D. Brown Center's McNees Accelerator program, where he earned the funding to start his business. “The McNees Accelerator was the perfect crash course on building a business that created the connections and acumen needed to bring BeeCentral Technology to fruition,” he said. “Without the help of the professors and events at York College of Pennsylvania, our dream would not be possible.”
More recently, the company received $100,000 in funding from Ben Franklin Technology Partners. “We are incredibly excited to join forces with an organization as respected as Ben Franklin Technology Partners,” said Louderback. “Their investment validates the importance of our mission to empower seniors by placing the power of a smart home in their hands. This funding will propel our efforts to develop more advanced and intuitive products and services that cater to the unique needs of senior living communities.”
BeeCentral partnered with a York College student to produce two promotional videos, and hopes to hire other York students for internships shortly.
“All of us at BeeCentral Technology were united due to York College of Pennsylvania,” said Gallo. “We are ecstatic for the opportunity to be back on campus. The opportunities that the J.D. Brown Center has provided us have helped push us toward a future of helping seniors live a better life through smart home technology.”
