COURTESY SIMEON BROWN

Simeon Brown launched WrapSat to help satellite television consumers improve the look of their dishes. College logos are some of his most popular coverings.

As a satellite dish installer for 10 years, Simeon Brown was well aware of their unpopular aesthetics.

He wanted customers to be happy with both their new service installation and how the dish looked against their home. Thus, WrapSat was born.

“One thing that customers did not like about DirecTV was the dish. It was unsightly, they just didn’t want it seen,” Brown said. “I thought about how we could make it more presentable and turn the eyesore into something customers could relate to.”

Brown’s company uses innovative patented technology to create vinyl wraps for satellite dishes that feature logos of sports teams, personal photos, custom designs, and even patterns that blend in with the yard or house. He created his own personal wrap using the colors of the Jamaican flag to represent his home country.

Once Brown came up with the idea, he needed traction to get started. Luck was on his side during an install at Kevin Mahl’s house, co-founder of the Cornelius-based business incubator First Turn Innovations.

When Brown mentioned the idea to Mahl, who was worried what his wife would think of the new satellite dish in the middle of the yard, he was instantly on board.

First Turn Innovations gave Brown the financial, administrative, and licensing support to get the new company up and running. The business incubator’s goal is to help hardware-based start-ups advance ideas from concept to testing in the Lake Norman and Charlotte area. Working with First Turn Innovations introduces entrepreneurs to a wide network of engineering and technical specialists that will help grow their business and perfect their product.  

“One of the things we like to do is look at a broad spectrum of potential businesses. It’s really about the business opportunity in the passion of the entrepreneur,” said co-founder Jeff Schultz. “Simeon has a lot of passion and drive. He had done a lot of legwork, put a lot of effort into making prototypes and figuring out the business. When somebody comes to you who’s obviously got a lot more than just sketches on a napkin, it really makes you want to help them even more.”

Brown wanted to focus on adding value to a product he knew people would buy, but he had no intention of disrupting the satellite service. Each installation is handled by certified installers and more importantly, WrapSat does not interfere with your signal. The patented design also helps disperse snow and ice so that it does not accumulate on the dish.

Brown is focusing on increasing production. DirectTV and Dish Network have about 20 million customers nationwide, and Brown believes a lot of them are unhappy with the look of dishes. His long-term goal for WrapSat is to reach at least 1% of the customer base.

Charlotte is the company’s test market. With so many colleges in the area, Brown thinks he is targeting the right audience with potential customers that include alumni or parents with kids in school. WrapSat will be one way they can represent their university and show their pride.

Brown has licensing agreements with several colleges in the southeast, including Clemson University, Appalachian State University, the University of South Carolina, and Davidson College. Other deals are in the works.

First Turn Innovations has partnered with Launch LKN to help Brown gain access to experts in supply chain, operational risk management, and business development. Brown has looked to them as mentors throughout the growth of his business.

“They have been able to give great advice in terms of marketing, my business and production plan, and manufacturing. They have been integral in the growth and development of WrapSat in terms of support and mentorship,” Brown said.

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