Al Tearjen, 24
- Hometown: Yorba Linda, California
- Residence: Seattle
- Company/project name: Seize, the app
- Founded: The inception of Seize was in June 2020, but officially incorporated in May 2021.
What does your company/project do? Seize is a mobile app that offers in-the-moment photoshoots with vetted mobile photo takers at picturesque locations. Pick your photo taker in the Seize app by checking out their reviews, ratings, phone type and portfolio. The photo taker takes photos through the app that are shared with you in real-time, allowing you to provide feedback to the photo taker regarding your desired angle, lighting, etc.
How did you come up with the idea? My co-founder Dana Wiggins had the idea and told me about it. We have both always struggled with getting quality pictures while exploring scenic spots because someone always had to be left out of the picture, selfies never captured the full moment, and tripods required a lot of effort and didn’t work in crowded places. Asking a stranger is awkward and never guarantees a quality photo. After years of terrible pictures, we built Seize together.
What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs? Never give up. The only thing standing between you and your dreams is not giving up on them. Although it might be hard, persevering is 90% of the battle.
Other interests? I love to travel and have been to 13 countries. I enjoy learning about the chemistry of things and taking care of my plants. I always enjoy a good movie, video games, hiking, snowboarding and wine tasting.
