MICHAEL PEARCE
VESTLIFE
BY Russell Nichols
One of the scariest questions for parents of children with developmental disabilities is : “ What ’ s going to happen to my child after I die ?” As a special needs attorney , Michael Pearce has heard this concern and came up with a solution : a web app that enables parents to organize , manage and instantly access their child ’ s key disability information in one secure place .
“ The app makes sure the parents have a way to pass on the child ’ s story ,” says Pearce , founder and CEO of VestLife .
Typically , parents would keep a trust document or other pieces of vital information about their child in a spreadsheet , binder or possibly a file-hosting service . But VestLife , Pearce says , was built specifically to solve the unique and complex problems faced by parents of children with developmental disabilities .
The app , called Vest , is organized into 22 major areas of life , each with dozens of pre-labeled sections , called “ pockets ,” for parents to put their child ’ s information . For example , the first section is “ The Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Me ,” which can include details about the child ’ s allergies , seizure procedures , primary support team contacts , unique strengths and needs , and dos and don ’ ts . Other sections include health care , medical records and family notes , so an employer , teacher or another guardian has all the data needed to give support .
Pearce and his wife bootstrapped the app development , hiring programmers in San Diego to build it out over a 10-month period . Recently , VestLife received a $ 30,000 grant award from the City of Elk Grove through its Invest Elk Grove program . The subscription service , which costs $ 99.95 annually , has about 100 paid subscribers to date .
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DOES VEST USE AI ? “ Vest is using proprietary technology to predict and provide targeted solutions for parents across the lifespan , based on their child ’ s unique needs , age and abilities . Things like when and how to obtain public benefits , starting a conservatorship , employment opportunities and housing options . Vest is like having an expert disability guide on the parents ’ team .”
WHY HASN ’ T THIS BEEN MADE BEFORE ? “ Software companies in this space have overlooked the needs of the parents . The major players are focused on business solutions for the enterprise : public agencies , schools and disability providers . … Vest is an innovator in providing person-centered solutions to problems faced by parents and their children across all ages and stages of life with disabilities .”
For more on VestLife , read Russell Nichols ’ Startup of the Month column at comstocksmag . com .
114 comstocksmag . com | September 2022