Logan Havern ‘19, a graduate from the Wm Michael Barnes ’64 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University, developed a company that helps organizations combat high volumes of data reports by implementing a system that immediately recognizes errors in reports, duplicates, performance issues, cost optimization and more.
Havern and his team, including fellow industrial engineering graduate Pablo Lerdo '18, call this company Datalogz. The company recently acquired $2.3 million in seed funding led by Squadra Ventures with a contribution from Berkeley SkyDeck.
After graduating from Texas A&M, Havern worked in the airline industry at JetBlue, immersed in data projects, migrations and reporting tools to enhance operational efficiency and reduce delays. Through this experience, he gained valuable insight into the various and complex challenges professionals face daily while working with data.
"When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I found myself with some unexpected free time, and that's when the idea for Datalogz began to take shape," said Havern. "Initially conceived as a tool to help me do my job more effectively, the concept continued to evolve through multiple iterations, ultimately leading me to leave JetBlue and devote myself full time to building my own company."
Havern’s experiences in the College of Engineering were instrumental in giving him the tools he now applies to run his company. He participated in a variety of programs, including the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program, the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps and various hackathons.
"I am grateful for the excellent education I received, and I feel that it has been an instrumental factor in my success as an entrepreneur," Havern said. "I gained valuable insights and experiences that fueled my passion for creating something new and innovative."
The professors he worked with and studied under, including Dr. Sergiy Butenko, Dr. Madhav Erraguntla, Dr. Alfredo Garcia and Dr. Hrayer Aprahamian, helped motivate him to go beyond what he thought was possible. He also worked closely with Dr. Ben Zoghi and Dr. Dimitris Lagoudas, who guided him as he explored his entrepreneurial ambitions.
"Their mentorship was instrumental in helping me navigate the challenges of starting and growing a successful business, and I am grateful for their ongoing support and mentorship,” Havern said.
One of the most valuable lessons he learned at Texas A&M was the importance of failing and quickly adapting to change, or, as entrepreneurs put it, pivoting.
"Through my participation in the NSF I-Corps program, I was able to explore a technology idea in the legal compliance space. However, as we delved deeper, it became clear that the market for our proposed tool did not actually exist," he said. "While initially disappointed, we quickly pivoted and went back to the drawing board to iterate and refine our concept."
Havern has found that engineering and entrepreneurship are interconnected, as both fields share a common goal of solving problems and creating innovative solutions. Engineers design, build and test the prototypes and products of entrepreneurs.
"Engineers are trained to identify and solve problems using a systematic and analytical approach, and these skills are highly valuable in the entrepreneurial world,” he said. Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, is about taking calculated risks and creating something new and innovative that solves a problem or meets a need."
Havern encourages others to take risks and pursue their entrepreneurial dreams boldly, especially in college, where students have access to an enormous number of resources.
"One of the great things about being a student is that people are often more willing to speak with you and provide feedback on your ideas. Take advantage of this and seek out mentors who can offer guidance and support as you work to turn your vision into a reality,” he said.
However, he does caution that there will be challenges and setbacks. But entrepreneurs need to take risks.
“It is also an incredibly rewarding experience that allows you to make a real difference in the world,” Havern said. “So be bold, be creative, and never stop pushing the boundaries of what is possible."