Mike Neubig of Capture Education
Meet Mike Neubig, founder of
Capture Education, a software company created to improve academic administrative efficiency.
What is Capture Education?
Capture Education provides software solutions to school systems that enable them to use data analytics to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative and instructional tasks.
How did you come up with the idea?
When I was working in the schools as a teacher and guidance counselor, a colleague and I developed a course for ninth graders called "Capture.” The purpose of the course was to engage student interests and keep them in school. After discovering that the vast majority of schools were having similar issues with their students, I decided to start a company with the same name – the goal being to improve equity and access to engaging curriculum for students worldwide.
What was the biggest surprise in starting your business?
The biggest surprise was definitely twofold and an immediate dilemma. The excitement of creating something and being in charge on a daily basis is beyond your imagination. At the same time, the difficulties and fears of being financially responsible for yourself and others is difficult beyond what you imagined.
Where did you find your first employee?
My first employee was someone who acted as my administrative assistant in the schools. She was used to the way I worked and the need to keep me organized and on task.
What does a typical day in your business look like?
The nice thing is that very few days look the same. Some days I start off at the office answering emails and working on development plans or financials. Other days I work from my iPad at a coffee shop or from home. Other days I'm on-site trying to assist a school, or I'm on the road doing product training. This lack of repetitive routine is the best part of my job.
What are some of the advantages to doing business in Ohio?
Ohio has excellent resources for entrepreneurial assistance and funding.
What resources or organizations in Ohio did you take advantage of and how did they help?
Tech Columbus, members of NCT (Next Cool Thing), the City of New Albany, and the
Ohio Tech Angels have all been a tremendous help. They have provided advice on all aspects of starting a business, as well as seed funding during those early and difficult stages before profitability.
Can you share a funny or amazing entrepreneurial experience with our readers?
In the category of amazing, I'd say it would be that Pearson Education, the largest Ed Tech vendor worldwide, validated that our products were unique very early on. When you have an idea, you never know whether you're crazy in thinking that it has value or if you're on target. In our first demo with Pearson, they stated that our products do fill a large need. That felt really good.
What inspires you?
What inspires me is innovation of all types. I love to see new and exciting ideas that are creative answers to common problems developed by regular people.
What founders do you admire and why?
I admire the regular people that take a chance and go through much difficulty to change the world. They come from all walks of life and you may not know their names or their companies, but they strive daily to make change.
What’s next for you?
I'd like to sell the Capture Education products to a larger company in the next four to five years, then either start another venture or become an investor/advisor that uses my experience to advance more change in the world.
Interview by Joe Baur