Nate Wimer, Lukas Thackery, Craig Dombrowski: Brite | PWV Podcast

Higher education faces a monumental challenge: student attrition. For colleges and universities, every student who drops out represents a lost opportunity, both academically and financially. Addressing this issue is Brite, a software company founded by recent West Virginia University graduates Nate Weimer, Craig Dombrovsky, and Lucas Thackery. Brite is on a mission to revolutionize how universities understand and support their students.

Solving the Student Attrition Crisis

Brite is not just another ed-tech company; it’s a lifeline for institutions struggling to keep students engaged and enrolled. At its core, Brite provides universities with data-driven insights that highlight students at risk of dropping out. Armed with these insights, administrators can proactively intervene, connect students with critical resources, and improve retention rates.

“Our app empowers universities to measure the end-to-end student lifecycle,” explains Nate. “By giving institutions visibility into their students’ needs, we help them take action before it’s too late.”

The app collects daily feedback from students about their university experience, incentivizing participation with prizes sponsored by local businesses. These prizes range from free coffee to exclusive discounts, creating a win-win-win scenario: students enjoy rewards, local businesses gain exposure, and universities gain invaluable data to support their student body.

Built by Students, for Students

As recent graduates, Nate, Craig, and Lucas understand the challenges today’s students face. From mental health struggles to academic unpreparedness, the trio has built Brite with empathy and insight, leveraging their own experiences to create a solution that resonates with their peers.

“Our firsthand perspective as recent students gives us a unique advantage,” Lucas shares. “We’re not building this for some distant demographic. We’re building it for people like us, our friends, and our classmates.”

This understanding has helped Brite foster exceptional engagement. In just eight months, thousands of students at institutions like WVU, Marshall University, and Fairmont State University have made Brite a daily habit, creating a robust data pipeline for administrators.

“We launched a beta for professors, but usage dropped to zero after just two months,” Nate recalls. “That’s when we went back to the drawing board.”

Through extensive interviews with over 100 university administrators, the team uncovered a more pressing issue: student attrition. This discovery spurred a complete pivot, transforming Brite into the powerful retention tool it is today.

“We’ve gone through so many iterations to get here,” Craig adds. “What Brite is today is the result of constant experimentation, learning, and adapting.”

Expanding Horizons

While Brite’s primary focus is higher education, the potential applications for its technology extend far beyond universities. Healthcare providers have expressed interest in using the platform to track patient recovery, and landlords have suggested deploying it to gather tenant feedback.

“The data we’re collecting is incredibly valuable,” Nate notes. “We’re starting in higher education, but the possibilities are endless.”

A Brite Future

Brite’s founders attribute much of their success to the supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem in West Virginia. From participating in business plan competitions to engaging with mentors like James Carnes of Iconic Air, the trio has leveraged every opportunity to refine their vision.

As the company grows, the team remains focused on its mission: helping universities tackle the student attrition crisis. With innovative technology, a deep understanding of the student experience, and a commitment to solving meaningful problems, Brite is poised to make a lasting impact in higher education—and beyond.