PROFILES IN INNOVATION: Squadle says: List short-term goals, do due diligence

Squadle’s Brendan Bencharit & Le Zhang

C3 PORTRAIT: Brendan Bencharit and Le Zhang of Squadle

WHO: Brendan Bencharit and Le Zhang

WHAT: Squadle

WHERE: Bencharit: hometown: L.A.; current residence: Allston. Zhang: hometown: Boston; current residence: Allston

EDUCATION: Bencharit: Johns Hopkins; Zhang: Boston College.

CONNECT: Web: squadle.com; Twitter: le_isms & BAtTheNile. Zhang says to text or call him at 617-816-9286. He loves networking with folks.

TYPICALLY FOUND IN C3: in the music area “It’s more relaxed,” says Brandan. “We are very loud and talkative people,” adds Le.

CELEB THEY’D LOVE TO LUNCH WITH: Bencharit: “Magic Johnson. I’m from L.A., and a Laker’s fan. He’s a successful entrepreneur. He likes to help those less fortunate.” Zhang: “Jackie Chan. … He has a great sense of humor and does his own stunts.”

WHAT THEY OFFER C3: Bencharit: “My business experience.” Zhang: “Consulting and development experience.” 

WHAT THEY’D LIKE TO SEE AT C3: Bencharit would like to see more events that bring in local small businesses, in an effort to help them make their lives easier. Zhang leans toward wanting more eating functions to “increase the solidarity.  … Food is the great equalizer,” he says. “Perhaps a ‘C3 Iron Chef.’”

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 What very well could be the next big thing in retail operations was conceived in a hookah bar.

 

Brendan Bencharit owns Nile Lounge in Allston where, a few years ago, he began chatting with one of his customers, Le Zhang, about their mutual background in computer science and Bencharit’s interest in creating an electronic task management tool for his consumer business’s back-of-house operations. 

 

The two implemented a tablet-based solution that worked so well that it allowed Bencharit the ability manage his lounge from a distance and created a new business opportunity for him and Zhang.

 

Squadle’s turn-key solution versus the tome

Zhang and Bencharit soon found a Sonic Drive-In fast-food service franchise owner who was interested in the offering. The opportunity for the manager to dispose of his huge 11×17-inch, several-hundred-page record-keeping books and replace them with a compact digital option held huge appeal. Squadle’s turn-key product, which combines hardware and software together in a bundle, allows the system to be set up in minutes and makes it a no-brainer for business owners and employees to adopt. Zhang and Bencharit had a customer.

 

On July 4, 2013, Squadle was officially born. Just six months later, the company has landed 31 locations, including Burger King and Denny’s franchises. Four restaurants are fully up and running with the Squadle system. Bencharit and Zhang say they are growing slowly, deliberately, and steadily. After acquiring some more clients and creating an even more robust product, their aim is to work with corporate headquarters to scale up. 

 

Their big vision? “To conquer the world,” says Le with a laugh. Actually, they say, they want to be to the back-end of retail what Square was to front-end. (Square revolutionized retail points-of-sale by using apps on mobile devices, enabling closings to happen virtually anywhere—not merely at a register stand.)

Ka-ching! Squadle is completely self-funded for now, though Zhang and Bencharit know that they will likely eventually need additional capital. Any funders? Get in line. They aren’t quite ready to relinquish control yet!

When asked what they like about working at C3, Zhang says that “on top of the free food, it’s the wide variety of experience and how everyone is open to learning about other peoples’ experiences.” 

Bencharit cites the outstanding staff. 

And both say that the energy in the space is “motivating and uplifting. … You feel the energy as soon as you walk in.” Zhang further mentions that he’s been all over the world and that the Cambridge Innovation Center is the best place of its kind he’s ever seen.

What’s their advice to those embarking on their own business ventures?

“Keep a list of short-term goals and make sure they mesh with your long-term vision, and you’ll get results,” Bencharit says. 

“You need a certain discipline,” says Zhang. “Movies like The Social Network make starting a business seem glamorous. … You need to be disciplined. You need to be organized. You need to do your due diligence … or it can slow you down or wreck your business.”