Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1519935
10 HARTFORD BUSINESS JOURNAL | MAY 2024 | BUSINESS PROFILES Address: 409 Canal St., Plantsville, CT 06479 Phone: (860) 359-2251 Website: www.develomark.com Product or Service: Digital marketing and artificial intelligence Number of Employees: 14 Top Executive: Ruan Manprin-Marinho, Founder Year Founded: 2018 Startup seeks to develop a more focused AI I n some respects, Ruan Manprin-Marinho, founder of Develomark in Southington, is the embodiment of a young tech entrepreneur. He wears casual clothes, works in a hip, open-space office, and is brimming with confidence about what he and his company's 14 employees can accomplish for their clients. Yet, he embraces a corporate philosophy of peace before profits, and despite being a computer-centric business, Develomark employees are 100% in the office. Manprin- Marinho believes successful relationships, whether corporate or personal, succeed through in-person connections. "There's more energy when you're together as opposed to doing it alone," Manprin-Marinho said, noting that people already sit long enough in front of screens. Develomark, which is formed from the words developer and marketing, was founded in 2018, when Manprin-Marinho began marketing his father's painting business online. He leaned on skills he had developed working in business development at large companies such as Verizon, AT&T and Comcast Cable, where he learned critical communication tactics. Many tech companies try to operate entirely in the virtual sphere. But Develomark is relying heavily on in-person connections to promote itself, as well as a new product now in beta and set to debut in June. Tapping into the burgeoning power of artificial intelligence, the product will offer a customized combination of tools to help companies succeed, whether they are interested in parsing financial data, enhancing customer relationship management, targeting their marketing efforts or all of the above and more. "Every business is going to use AI differently, and the AI should adapt to their needs," said Manprin-Marinho, explaining that his company's AI product will learn the preferences, customers and demographics of each user. To spread the word and stand out from the competition, Develomark is relying on live events. They have included in-person presentations before a panel of the CBIA, at an annual meeting of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, and at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. "The internet is becoming a cesspool of useless information because of AI. People aren't being heard online so we find the best way to make an impact is in person," Manprin-Marinho said. What most surprises business decision makers about AI is the multiple ways they can use it to help their organizations succeed. It's not something they can easily figure out on their own. "They will hear about it, start using it, and then quit because it's not that useful for them. The big 'a-ha' moment is when we make our presentation and show how we use it. They start generating their own ideas," Manprin-Marinho said. "They can't wait to try it again." Manprin-Marinho concedes AI has its flaws. "Sometimes it's not helpful at all," he said. But Develomark is eager to make the technology as helpful and effective as possible in getting things done for its users. "That's one of our top goals."