Skip to main content

Retail Aware Founder and proud UNO CBA alumnus, Keith Fix was excited for the opportunity to partner with the Maverick Venture Fund.

The success of Retail Aware began with a vision from the founder Keith Fix over three years ago. Fix isn’t shy when it comes to generating entrepreneurial ideas. While a student at University of Nebraska at Omaha, he led the creation of a daily deal site for the university community, DailyMav, in 2010.

  • published: 2021/02/19
  • contact: TJ Andersen

Over the course of two years, DailyMav reached over 48,000 subscribers, worked with over 300 local businesses, and even became a course at CBA students could take to gain real-world experience in account management. During his time at UNO, Keith was heavily involved in the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) where he employed his peers to work on his various startup ideas.

Being active in the chapter and ending up in the centerfold for the Entrepreneur Magazine for his pursuits, Keith helped the UNO CEO chapter receive “Chapter Business of the Year” and also “Student Startup of the Year.” Adding to Fix’s trophy shelf, the Midlands Business Journal named Keith Fix as 2020’s “Young Entrepreneur of the Year,” while being included in their “40 Under 40,” as well.

As Keith and his team continue to grow Retail Aware, applications of their technology have expanded during the pandemic. For example, stores with Retail Aware sensors are using it to monitor quantity, proximity, and patterns of shoppers. A Zoo is planning to deploy Retail Aware’s microsensor technology to track animal behavior and leverage machine learning to gain insights. Other clients are benefiting from Retail Aware technology by gathering real time product inventory data to inform partners in the supply chain when it’s time to restock, reorder, or make more product.

A proud UNO alumnus, Fix was excited for the opportunity to partner with the Maverick Venture Fund. “The opportunity of working with the Maverick Venture Fund was the perfect fit for us.” Fix believes that, “doing things in real life is the best way for students to learn,” and he was happy to be part of that experience for UNO students now, and in the future.

About the Maverick Venture Fund

Students gain insights into the world of Venture Capital and Angel investing. They learn the key principles and concepts necessary to conduct due diligence, calculate investment returns, write term sheets, make investment recommendations, and manage the investments made in student, alumni and community ventures.

Student cohorts research, recommend and monitor several investments of $5,000 to $10,000+ under the supervision of local venture capitalists who train the students in the art of startup investing. During the spring and fall semesters of 2020, the Maverick Venture Fund invested $50,000 in five companies. Since the first investment in December of 2019, the fund has invested $80,000 in eight companies.

Led by Tom Chapman and Levi Cermak, the Maverick Venture Fund invests seed capital into startups, especially those founded by UNO students and alumni. Throughout his career, Tom Chapman has helped hundreds of early-stage companies grow and secure venture capital funding. He has worked on product validation in healthcare, software, government, e-commerce, and other fields. Tom is especially helpful to startups by finding customers throughout a variety of sectors and has introduced hundreds of people to potential clients.

To learn more about Retail Aware visit: https://www.retailaware.com/