Q1 2020 Texas CEO Magazine

Josh Ramos, Rick Narpaul, John Adams, and Beto Altamirano
[ENTREPRENEURSHIP]
THESE
ENTREPRENEURS
ARE MAKING
SAN ANTONIO
SAFER
Plenty of innovators have made our
lives more convenient, productive, and
connected—but for some, the primary
concern is making our lives safer.
Each of these four San Antonio
entrepreneurs developed a new way to
keep people safe from preventable harm,
at home, at work, or on the road. The
world may still be a dangerous place, but
these Texans are making it a little less so.
Rick Narpaul
Founder & CEO, Mach1 Services
Ever been stranded on the side of the road
thanks to a blown tire, a drained battery,
or an empty gas tank? Even if you have a
membership to AAA or other insurance,
you still have to wait for someone to
dispatch help from a call center, which
seemingly takes forever. When you’re in
that stressful situation with cars and trucks
speeding past you, you want help as soon
as possible.
The Solution:
Rick Narpaul describes Mach1 Services
as “the Uber of roadside service.” With
the Mach1 app you can access roadside
assistance dispatched automatically,
connecting you to the closest service
provider that can help. This cuts down
your wait time and lets you track the help
that’s on the way in real time. The process
is simple for service providers too: Receive
the request, follow turn-by-turn directions,
and arrive at the driver in need. The service
is currently available in San Antonio,
Austin, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, and
Corpus Christi.
Next up for Mach1 is expansion across the
US and into more automotive services.
Users will soon be able to use the app
to order a mobile mechanic to do oil
changes, trip inspections, and lots more,
right at their home or workplace.
www.mach1services.com
Download the iOS or Android app
Josh Ramos
Founder & CEO, RMS Innovations
Josh Ramos usually begins his elevator
pitch with a number: eight. As of 2019,
Ramos explains, eight children in the US
are shot in their own home accidentally
every single day. Gunlocks may seem
the obvious solution, but they have their
flaws. Many can be easily unlocked
with the universal keys available at any
Home Depot or Walmart. Some guns
can still be discharged with the lock
in place. And the traditional key or
combination dial mechanism can prevent
the firearm owner from quickly using
the gun in an emergency situation.
The Solution: Ramos’ solution is twofold.
First, biometrics allow the owner to unlock
the spring-loaded mechanism in less than
half a second by pressing their finger on
the sensor. Second, the RMS gunlock uses
a dual-rod blocking mechanism, which
ensures that accidental firing doesn’t
happen while the lock is engaged (setting
it apart from dangerous single-rod trigger
gunlock). When Ramos’ gunlock hits the
market soon, it will fit about 80 percent of
rifles, shotguns, and handguns.
John Adams
Founder & CEO, RubrixAiD
For 60 years, since the inception of the
modern EMS and 911 phone system,
citizens have only had one major response
to crisis in their homes or in the street:
call and wait. Most people—even trained
ones—are not always mentally ready or
equipped to deal with injury as it happens.
EMS is not readily available on every street
corner, so time is a factor. Seconds count,
so proper and immediate aid could make
the difference in saving limbs or life.
The Solution: For the first time in human
history, RubrixAiD has developed and
manufactured an automated first-aid
kit that helps users with medical care,
anytime, anywhere. RubrixAiD walks
the user through emergency non-critical
first-aid care, whether it’s minimizing
blood loss, stimulating breathing, or
mending wounds. The interface is visual
and intuitive, meaning that even a preteen
can offer on-the-spot, potentially
life-saving assistance. RubrixAiD uses
the latest and greatest technology on the
market, including artificial intelligence
and machine learning, to accomplish this
feat in real time across any geographical
location. As it works to offer safety and
care to the public, the company has
garnered significant attention, including
strategic partnerships and working
relationships with companies such as
Google, T-Mobile, and Twilio.
www.rubrixaid.com
Beto Altamirano
Cofounder & CEO, Cityflag
Let’s say you see a pothole, an abandoned
car, vandalism, or any other unsafe area
in your neighborhood. What’s your best
option for getting it fixed? Most likely,
it’s calling 311, having a drawn-out phone
conversation, and simply hoping that your
local government is able to follow through.
The Solution: As cofounder and CEO of
Cityflag (and one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30
Social Entrepreneurs”), Beto Altamirano
is using mobile technology to open up
the lines of communication between
citizens and government—and get issues
resolved quickly and more efficiently. With
Cityflag’s 311SA mobile app, San Antonians
can instantly report issues in their
neighborhood to the city. It’s a 15-second
task rather than a 20-minute call. The app
has already drawn 20,000 users, who have
generated over 40,000 requests. Bringing
the agility of the tech world to bureaucratic
and risk-averse government may not have
been easy for Cityflag, but it’s now paying
off in saved time, saved taxpayer dollars,
and increased civic involvement.
www.cityflag.co
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