Bend Hi-Tech Gurus Hatch Creative Solution for Release Docs
A pair of Bend-based hi-tech entrepreneurial gurus have hit on a lucrative new “waive” of business after tapping into the streamlining of one of the most commonly signed legal documents in the U.S.
Mark Silliman and Andy Laakmann are experts in high volume websites dealing with mass amounts of data. Laakman’s background includes the development and spin-off of early online picture sharing site success story, Webshots – at one time one of the world’s largest privately held web media properties – and Silliman’s multiple ventures include leading outdoor gear price comparison site Spadout, which consistently handles some twenty million updates.
The colleagues are also both climbing enthusiasts with Laakmann parlaying that passion into a newer enterprise providing the “definitive” online guidebook resource for the mountaineering community, named mountainproject.com, and neither was necessarily contemplating starting another business when they recognized the sound of opportunity knocking at the door.
Silliman explains, “I have a number of businesses and specialize in point of sale elements, and one day Andy told me in connection with his venture that a Major League Baseball team had contacted a rock climbing gym regarding obtaining a digitized waiver, and it dawned on us that this could be a massive untapped market.
“We discovered that the waiver is the most commonly needed legal document in the country, with around a million signed each day, and we started discussing how the logistics could be expedited to come up with an intelligent solution.”
The result was the founding earlier this year of Smartwaiver, which provides customizable electronic waivers that can be completed on smartphones, computers, tablets and in-store kiosks.
What began as a solution for streamlining the release forms needed for sports-based activities such as climbing gyms and yoga studios has already morphed into offering a wide variety of customizable waivers for clients now including the NFL and YMCA.
The co-founders are self-confessed serial entrepreneurs with an eye for simple solutions for everyday business problems, and getting to the heart of the matter as quickly as possible was an important goal, as they also saw a need for a safe, simplistic, high-tech way to serve both clients and businesses alike for what hitherto has typically been a time, paper and physical storage consuming process.
Silliman added, “One of our clients is Bend inflatable family fun center, Bouncing off the Walls, who are required to retain signed waivers for a period of time, and they literally had two storage facilities filled with the forms, and no easy way to track the documented information.”
Smartwaiver now offers this and other clients custom digital waivers which can be signed electronically and safely stored in the “WaiverVault” in a searchable highly secure database with unlimited cloud storage capacity.
Waivers can be signed and sent from home, from mobile devices and from waiver kiosks, which enables clients to skip the paperwork and quickly and securely begin their activity of choice. The interactive waivers are simple to use so there is no need for staff or customer training, and the system is web-based, negating the need to purchase any special hardware or software.
Smartwaiver can also convert existing paper waivers into a fully customized, legally-binding interactive waiver in seconds.
Silliman said one of the most exciting recent developments was the securing of the National Football League as a client, adding, “Recently, the NFL contacted us to facilitate waivers for its “NFL Experience” event which is held over several days surrounding the Superbowl when visitors can enjoy a pro football interactive theme park offering participatory games, displays, entertainment attractions, kids’ football clinics, free autograph sessions and the largest football memorabilia show ever.
“All adults and children must complete a waiver to participate in the interactive games and last year they had over 270,000 people attend and had to hand transcribe each waiver for their database. We are looking at now having lines for both ‘low-tech’ and hi-tech guys utilizing methods like short URL’s and QR codes to expedite the process.
“We are offering simplified waiver solutions and are really in the ‘waiver management’ business, turning the information into an asset where data can be easily searched and exported.
“Our system can, for example, benefit point of sale interactions like when you walk into a yoga studio and have to fill out a waiver. We can take the information and also electronically automatically populate required field to set up a membership at the same time so we are optimizing flow, which is key to our business.”
The interactive waivers can be completed:
• At your location on any computer
or tablet;
• From your website;
• From a link in your registration email;
• Using a smart phone.
While waivers are lawyer-provided, with indications of required information needed, an intuitive waiver ‘console’ allows clients to instantly locate documents and confirm their completion, with a guarantee to keep all waiver data safe, secure and only accessible to designated businesses.
Silliman said one particular advantage of the Smartwaiver system is the ability to complete required documentation ahead of time, adding, “You can get a head start on the waiver via our ‘welcome’ email.
“For instance, if you have a rafting package with 12 members on the boat you can either show up and delay the trip while everyone fills out the necessary waivers, or facilitate the documents ahead of time via the welcome email and get straight to enjoying your activity on arrival.
“Another feature we offer clients is the ability to monitor IP addresses, verify email addresses and provide additional layers of identity verification.
“Customers can also choose from a variety of service plans depending on volume, and a big plus is that we can offer 100 percent paperless storage and free unlimited storage with cloud capacity, backed by high redundancy and high end encryption for added security.
“We are growing rapidly in just six months, and have already signed up six YMCA’s with the likelihood of more to follow.
“We are receiving more inquiries on an international basis – though one recent request to help with documentation for a mid-east language may present a unique logistical challenge as everything reads right to left. But right now it really seems that we can help with a huge niche market.”
