Eric Grunfield

1. What’s your background, and what are you currently working on?

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My name is Eric Grunfeld and I’m the CEO and Founder of PluggdIn. I’m 25 years old and based out of Alpine, New Jersey. PluggdIn is a patented smart car phone holder and a mobile app that rewards safe driving behavior and enables parents to eliminate distracted driving in real-time from anywhere. As the founder of PluggdIn, I am responsible for managing all aspects of business development along with engaging as a product manager. Our business model is licensing our technology to auto insurance companies.

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2. What’s your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?

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I started this company in 2018 as an undergraduate studying community entrepreneurship at the University of Vermont. During my studies, I was always brainstorming ideas to solve social problems and make cultural changes. Suddenly, I recognized that the leading cause of death for my generation is distracted driving. My passion for starting this company is driven by providing teenagers with the opportunity they all deserve which is a chance to live.

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3. What were the biggest challenges you faced and obstacles you overcame?

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Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, the most significant challenge I’ve faced has been navigating ambiguity. For example, the onset of Covid-19 put me in an isolated environment where I simply couldn’t network the way I was accustomed to. As an entrepreneur, one can only do so much on their own and in an isolated environment. With limited progress and networking opportunities, I had to persevere knowing that this company defines my purpose.

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4. What did you find as a result of hiring us?

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Tappollo Media is a partner to our organization that provides an environment where I'm not alone in my entrepreneurial journey. As a business-orientated entrepreneur, Tappollo not only fills in the technical gaps of our company but also ideates and challenges us on the business side. This dynamic is rare across any venture building firm.

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5. What specific aspects did you like most about this service?

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Overall, the front-end and back-end developers of Tappollo are highly talented. Their talent level is proven by their track record of success with scaling numerous startups and working with various market leaders. The team also displays high attention to detail on design features which often leads to new opportunities for learning and product positioning.