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Ellie Symes, CEO of The Bee Corp. is joined by Board Member Wes Hadley to discuss the start-up company that has created decision-support software powered by real-time sensor monitoring and hive data analytics to help beekeepers grow their businesses.
The Bee Corp technology and mission, to drive innovation on traditional beekeeping practices through scientific research and technology in order to foster sustainable honeybee populations, was the creation of Ellie while an undergraduate student at Indiana University in Bloomington.
After working one summer as an apprentice to an Ohio beekeeper, Ellie returned to campus with a vision. To kick off her sophomore year at IU, she applied for a grant from the Hutton Honors College to help fund the first student-run beehive at IU.
She graduated from IU in 2016, officially started The Bee Corp, and is currently a part-time graduate student at Indiana University pursuing candidacy for a Master of Public Affairs from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Wes Hadley serves on the Board of Directors, specifically as the Benefit Director, of The Bee Corp, making him responsible for holding the company accountable to its stated social benefit as a Benefit Corporation.
Wes earned his MPA from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University with a focus on Sustainable Development and Social Entrepreneurship.
Both Ellie and Wes are passionate about creating positive social impact through the use of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Listen in as Ellie and Wes discuss the company that is creating quite a bit of “buzz”! Ellie was recently nominated as a 2018 Rising Star for the 19th Annual Mira Awards and The Bee Corp received a $225,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.