Nic Brown founded Connect-UV in March 2020 in direct response to the COVID pandemic and the need to keep people safe from dangerous germs. Connect-UV provides UV-C sanitation products for consumers and businesses. UV-C is naturally occurring light that is filtered by our ozone layer. The wavelength of the light destroys the DNA of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and mold spores.
“I first learned about UV-C when I was researching solutions for cleaning car interiors for my detailing company, Dr. Shine My Ride,” Brown relates. “When the pandemic hit, I realized that UV-C could be a crucial component to helping people get back to normal.”
The technology has been used in hospitals and water purification for nearly a century. Our products help bring UC-V into the home and office. We offer small, desktop sanitizing chargers for phones, air purifiers, charging lockers, charging carts, and full room sanitizers.
One big challenge Brown faced in starting and growing the company has been educating consumers and companies on how UV-C works — and gaining trust that his products utilize real UV-C lights. “The glut of fake UV-C products capitalizing on COVID to make a quick buck has been harmful to companies like ours in this regard,” he shares. Another challenge comes, perhaps surprisingly, from his belief that everyone and all companies can benefit from clean air, surfaces and electronics, because that, he explains, “can make it difficult to focus on specific industries to get a foothold.”
The other challenge he names has been balancing building a company with schoolwork. “I’m still a high school senior,” he says. He credits his family for their great help. “My mom, Wendy, is the company CEO; my uncle Tom is leading business development; and my dad, Eddie, is our biggest cheerleader.”
In founding Connect-UV, Brown has put into play advice that he values: “If you have a good idea, act on it. Don’t sit back and allow others to succeed where you could have.”
Did You Know: In February 2021, Connect-UV donated three charging carts to Notre Dame Prep to help keep students and staff protected from dangerous germs. The charging carts are in the school’s computer lab, where they clean and charge laptops, tablets and keyboards between uses.
Photo courtesy of Connect-UV
