Bandpass Enter the BerkleeICE Incubator

Startup Lab students Thomas Chardin and Alexander Bercow take their product a step forward by entering BerkleeICE's new Incubator.

May 27, 2015

What if the audience no longer simply stood and watched a live show but also actively participated in it? Thomas Chardin and Alexander Bercow, recent graduates of BerkleeICE's business development course, Startup Lab, are taking strides towards making this a reality.

The duo's startup, Bandpass, puts control of the artist's lighting and visual show in the hands of the audience. At the touch of a button, a fan can connect with the live performance at a level previously not possible. To help the pair realize their potential, BerkleeICE has ushered them into its brand new Incubator located at Workbar in Cambridge. 

"I hope that Thomas and I can build a strong team, get our foot in the door and have a usable prototype mostly done," said Bercow, an Electronic Production and Design (EPD) student as well as a Bandpass cofounder. "I want to have something to show our interested clients at the end of this summer and I want to have a reliable group of people around me I know can help take this company to the next level. Also, I want to have fun!"

The idea took form during Bercow's time living and performing in New York and he was guided to the Startup Lab by EPD chair Michael Bierylo. The goal of the Startup Lab is to provide a space not just for business plan creation, but product or service design, development, and launching, ultimately culminating in a fair/exhibition involving customers, financial backers, and other business prospects. Chardin joined Bercow during his time in the Startup Lab and from that moment the pair haven't looked back. According to Bercow, "The Startup Lab was tremendously helpful—I wouldn't be here without it. I probably wouldn't have even pursued the idea without the lab. It really showed me what was possible for myself and how to achieve those goals." To conclude the Startup Lab curriculum, Bercow and Chardin were given the chance to present their startup to a panel of industry experts where they emerged as standout performers and were quickly earmarked for the BerkleeICE Incubator this summer.