Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Thompson.
Hi Tyler, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from Georgia Southern in 2012 with a degree in sports management and a minor in business. My first job out of college was working for a company that sold fitness/training equipment. After gaining a few years of sales experience, my father approached me about going into business together. My father has been a tech entrepreneur for 35 years, so naturally, I followed in his footsteps. We started our first tech company together in 2014 with the development of a mobile app for fundraising. When that business sold in 2017, we started DockIQ which is a marine technology company focusing on the security and safety of residential docks and lake communities. DockIQ has now been in business for five years with over 60 distributors in 25 states covering over 50 lakes and growing. We have now received 4th pending across our product line. Our DockIQ system gives dock owners the tools to watch and manage their property utilizing security cameras and sensors that alert the owners if there is an issue with their dock or if theft is occurring. ShockIQ is our life-saving device that watches for stray voltage in the water around your dock. In the event of a life-threatening electrical problem, ShockIQ kills the power to the dock and alerts the homeowner via the mobile app and provides diagnostic information to the user.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Its been very challenging building a business during a pandemic and economic downturn. Securing adequate funding to really grow and scale the business during these unprecedented times has certainly been difficult; however, our biggest challenge to this day is the persisting supply chain issues that hamper our ability to build products and sustain inventory levels. We are very fortunate that the marine industry boomed during the pandemic so our sales continued to climb and we were able to sustain ourselves thru the thick of it.
As you know, we’re big fans of DockIQ LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
DockIQ is a family-owned marine technology company with patented products that provide smart security and safety systems for residential or community docks. My role has Vice President is to grow distribution, work with direct consumers, account management, and provide support to our customer base and distributors. Of course, with any small business, it’s mandatory to wear many hats, so I also work closely with marketing and our development team. One of my strongest attributes is my ability to take market feedback and articulate it to our development team so we can constantly make improvements that meet our markets needs. I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in identifying dangerous electrical conditions and understanding how to correct life-threatening problems. I really enjoy working with homeowners and electricians to help identify and solve these problems before someone is harmed. We are the leader in marine technology and I am extremely proud of my team and the products we’ve built that make lake life more enjoyable while also keeping your loved ones safe. Every member of this team has put in a ton of work and made sacrifices to keep the business thriving thru difficult times and I cannot thank our employees enough.
Product features:
DockIQ- Remotely arm & disarm dock security, even turn dock lights off or on! View your dock in real-time, from anywhere. Get notified & track your dock via GPS if it swings or breaks away. Unlimited storage for on-demand photos & security events. See current lake levels. Alerts you when to move your dock in or out. Alerts you to trespassers on your dock & turns on lights & alarms. Display shows if your dock has power or not. Uses AI technology to confirm people are in the images & on your dock.
All these tools are driven by our easy-to-use, world-class mobile app.
ShockIQ context- Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) happens when an electric current, typically AC-current from boats, docks, or lights, escapes and enters through the body with sufficient force to cause paralysis. ESD can be deadly but is completely preventable with ShockIQ Mobile. We believe no one should have to live in fear while enjoying the water around their docks. But the other dock protection solutions are either extremely expensive, difficult to install, or both. That’s why we invented and patented ShockIQ.
ShockIQ- Monitor your dock frame & water for stray electricity. Shuts off power to the dock when electricity is detected. Activates siren & warning light. Intelligently monitors your dock’s circuitry. 24-hour battery backup. See real-time voltage levels in the water via the ShockIQ Mobile App. Instantly sends texts & alerts to friends & family via the ShockIQ Mobile App. Identifies & alerts you if you have a faulty GFCI
We also do GPS tracking of residential watercraft and boat rental fleets.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that there is so much to do in Atlanta. You can go to different parts of the city and get a totally different experience with a wide variety in dining and activities. I also love that Atlanta is accessible to lakes, mountains, and even beaches. Atlanta has become a huge melting pot and I’ve enjoyed meeting people from all over the world. As an avid sports fan, I love that Atlanta has become quite the sports town with championship caliber teams.
Like most people that live here, I certainly dislike the amount of traffic and increase in crime. I do understand every city faces these challenges with the level of growth Atlanta has seen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dockiq.com
- Instagram: @dockiq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dockiq
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQwiF_93WqIg1LnMkN8PEg/videos
