By Founder and CEO Quentin Sauvage
The idea for CloudBox started with my mom. Growing up as the oldest in a single-parent household, I saw firsthand how much she juggled. She worked long hours, kept us on track with school and activities, and still somehow managed to keep the house running. But no matter how organized she was, there were always those moments—usually late at night—when she realized we’d run out of something important. Usually my siblings or I had just ate the last of a very important candy bar or cereal. Those trips to the store felt like a small thing at the time, but they added up, and I could see the stress they added.
One night, it hit me: what if there was a container that could tell you how much you had left of something? Better yet, what if it could remind you when it was time to restock? That simple question sparked what would eventually become CloudBox.
At first, it was just an idea. But I couldn’t shake it, so I called my friend Maxime LaFaix, an electrical engineer I’ve known for years. I explained the concept to him and asked if it was even possible. Maxime didn’t hesitate. He said, “That wouldn’t be too hard.” Within weeks, he built a proof of concept—a basic version of what I’d imagined. Seeing it work for the first time made it real. This wasn’t just an idea anymore; it was something we could actually build.
That’s when I realized I needed help taking it to the next level. I knew the concept was solid, but I didn’t have the skills to design a finished product. I didn’t know any engineers who could develop a prototype personally, so I posted an ad on the University of Oklahoma’s public Snapchat story looking for someone with experience in product design. I wasn’t expecting much, but at the very last minute, I got a response. Ethan Connelly, now our Chief Technology Officer, messaged me and said, “I can help.”
From the first meeting, I knew Ethan was the right person. He brought a level of focus and creativity that completely elevated what we were doing. With Ethan handling the design and Maxime driving the engineering, CloudBox started to take shape. The modular design, real-time tracking, and seamless integration capabilities—all of that came from the collaboration of this team.
Eventually, we realized the CloudBox could be much more than a pantry solution. We saw that CloudBox technology could tackle a variety of issues across a number of industries, reducing inefficiencies in businesses across the board. The idea of tracking inventory automatically and accurately resonated far beyond what I initially imagined.
Looking back, I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but I know it wasn’t just about the idea. CloudBox exists because of the team. Maxime, Ethan, and everyone else who joined along the way brought their expertise and drive to make this happen. I might have had the spark, but they built the fire.
And to think, it all started with a busy mom trying to keep the pantry stocked.
