Founder Profile: Fred Allegrezza

Anyone who has tried to coax an older loved one into an assisted living facility knows how terribly stressful and difficult of an ordeal it can be. 

 

Fred Allegrezza and his family managed to convince his elderly mother to do just that, but for an encore, they were also able to teach her how to use technology – another historically difficult task. Allegrezza’s brother Jack set up a Mac to display family photos and auto-answer Skype video calls ofr the 84 year-old woman. And she loved it.

 

When Allegrezza experienced the power of technology’s impact on his mother’s life, he set out to create Telikin, a touch-screen computer with large 18-inch screen ready to use out of the box that includes built-in features like video chat, email, photo sharing and virus protection. Software updates are free and automatic and the unit comes Wi-Fi ready. 

 

The 35-employee company has grown sales by 150 percent in the last year and now boasts 20,000 users who share in the joy his mother also knows.

 

We decided to base the design on Linux to eliminate all the problems with viruses and spyware.  We had to make a custom build of the operating systems, integrate drivers for touch screen and integrate with Skye to get our interface to work. This was challenging.

 

After we had a prototype we raised an investment round for a group of Philadelphia based investors.  Most of them are good friends and prior investors in prior companies.

 

I think the biggest challenge was learning consumer marketing.  Previous businesses we all B2B.  This was very different. We are still learning.

 

I’ll let you know when that happens.  Seriously, I think just this  year when we hit breakeven and proved this was a sustainable business.  I think everyone in the company is proud that we are enabling seniors to stay more engaged, reduce social isolation and

 

I am concerned about the PA Corporate Net Income Tax.  I think it is the second highest in the nation.  We already pay taxes on sales, taxes on wages, corp franchise tax, state income tax, we pay tax on the income as it flows to the investors, do we really need to tax the corp income also?

  

The biggest challenge now seems to be Seed and A round investment.  It has really dried up in the last few years.  It has always be less than the west coast, but it is much more difficult now.  Ben Franklin Technology Fund is one great program for seed round companies.  The challenge seems to be the next step after Ben Franklin, in the $300,000 to $2 million range.

 

Telikin is built from the ground up on Linux with all applications geared for touch and ease of use.  Telikin include instructional videos, a printed user’s manual and a very strong support group.  We really help teach people how to use computers.

 

We are launching an integrated 3G/4G internet service that will make it much easier for new users to get up and running.  We are also launching national TV advertising this month.