In the ever-evolving landscape of startups, the story of Purcell stands as a testament to the power of perseverance. Founded with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing how bulk products are dispensed, Purcell faced numerous challenges and setbacks along the way. However, their journey is a shining example of the importance of resilience and the belief in the vision of a better, more sustainable future.

When we last caught up with David Conway, the driving force behind Purcell, he was hitting the road once again with his innovative dispensers. Demonstrating the product at select stores and garnering orders for the Fictiv-manufactured final assemblies, Conway’s dedication was evident. The continued effort and countless road trips required to bring sustainability to bulk products is not only honorable, but it also makes good business sense. Without the support and partnership of Fictiv, these milestones might have remained out of reach.

Conway passionately explains, “We’re taking the things that we’re using every day: food, cleaning products, dry soaps, and powders and tablets, and we’re packaging them more efficiently. We’re putting everything in the same box and then dispensing at the point of purchase, giving people the amount they need at the grocery store level. And what that does is it changes the entire game.”

The impact of Purcell’s approach is transformative. Customers are seeing their profits double per sale, while brands are experiencing significant savings on packaging and transportation costs. The partnership with Fictiv has been instrumental in realizing these sustainability goals, creating a win-win scenario for all parties involved.

Purcell's journey underscores a crucial lesson for all startups: success often comes after numerous refinements and unwavering belief in the potential of your product. Their story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, it’s not that a startup isn’t working—it’s just not working yet. With determination and the right partnerships, even the most challenging endeavors can lead to groundbreaking successes.

Purcell was a graduate of Santa Cruz Works Accelerates 4th cohort.