Sam Gerace's newest venture is a tech connector
Summary
Gerace — who parted ways with Veritix in October 2015, around the same time the digital ticketing companys merger with AXS was finalized — is now the CEO of Convey, a connection management service. The companys platform has Apple and Android apps that allow users to instantly connect, with the idea that it replaces the business card via a digital service that updates contact information in real time. In explaining how it works, Gerace said he has three digital personas — as the CEO of Convey; the chairman of Minds Matter Cleveland, a nonprofit that guides high school students from low-income families on their path to college; and the coach of a youth soccer team. Convey initially anticipated that its mobile app would be free, but in its interviews with hundreds of potential customers (Gerace said the total is above 400), the company was told by some sales executives that if their firms didnt pay for the technology, they would. The entrepreneur and mentor is proud that everything has been developed in-house by his 11-person team, which is occupying the top floor of an old manufacturing building at 3635 Perkins Ave. "We didnt import anyone from Silicon Valley," Gerace said.