CerTracker was born out of one of the most persistent frustrations facing frontline healthcare workers: the constant struggle to track licenses, certifications, and compliance paperwork. As a registered nurse, Devin Patterson faced the logistical headache of juggling documentation deadlines while managing demanding shifts in patient care. Each potentially missed renewal carried real consequences, and it became clear that this wasn’t just a problem she faced, but rather a widespread problem across the profession.
When she shared her frustration with Shadrach Igwe, a software developer, he decided to do something about it.
“I went searching online, but there was nothing out there that could do what she was looking to do. So, I decided to build it. And then she introduced it to a few colleagues, and they were adamant that we need to make it available to others.”
What started as a thoughtful attempt to make Devin’s life a little easier turned into CerTracker, a platform built to simplify how healthcare professionals and institutions securely store and manage credentials and compliance documentation.
Building with i2E
CerTracker’s story is intertwined with i2E from the beginning. Founders Devin and Shadrach were first introduced to the organization when they attended an i2E Bridge2 Demo Day to support friends in the startup community. They didn’t know it then, but that event would become a turning point.
“During Demo Day, we were still trying to figure things out, but we kept hearing we’d be the next ones on stage presenting our business,” Shadrach said. “When we applied to E3 and were accepted, we realized we had something real. Then the E3 program made us feel like we could do Bridge2 and we just kept it going.”
They first completed i2E’s E3 program, a six-week customer discovery bootcamp that helps early-stage companies validate product/market fit. The founders then graduated to Bridge2, i2E’s pre-accelerator program, and were accepted into a cohort that helped them clarify their direction and sharpen their focus. Through structured programming and hands-on mentorship, they attempted over 100 stakeholder interviews, which was an exercise that shifted their understanding of their target market.
Initially concentrated mainly on individual clinicians, the founders discovered a strong growth potential in nursing leadership and healthcare systems. That insight led to a deeper focus on CerTracker Manager, an enterprise dashboard that gives healthcare administrators real-time visibility into staff compliance, eliminating the endless paperwork chase.
“i2E has given us the structure and tools we needed to test our assumptions,” Shadrach said. “Our i2E mentors pushed us very hard, asking questions about who the real customer is. Going through all that, we were able to tell what wasn’t going to work, if we needed to pivot, and if things were missing.”
Beyond market validation, i2E’s team also helped the founders build a data room, understand investor expectations, and shape their story for funders. For Devin, this was transformative.
“Programs like this are really great because I’m a first-time entrepreneur and I didn’t necessarily know all the terms or information that people with business backgrounds do,” Devin said. “It was helpful for me to learn about the ins and outs of things and to guide us along the way.”
Fueling Growth Through the W.E. Build Accelerator & Beyond
Equipped with a clearer market focus and stronger business foundation, CerTracker was accepted into the W.E. Build Accelerator, where they secured a $25,000 non-dilutive award. The funding allowed them to enhance their platform and expand their presence at conferences and industry events.
The Benefits of CerTracker
For individual healthcare professionals, CerTracker provides a secure digital “wallet” that centralizes credential storage. The platform tracks expiration dates, license details, and renewal requirements automatically, sending timely reminders. Users can securely share their verified credentials with employers, replacing the outdated system of folders, emails, and spreadsheets with a streamlined, automated system.
For institutions, CerTracker Manager delivers an AI-powered enterprise dashboard that gives healthcare leaders instant visibility into organizational compliance. CerTracker Manager saves substantial administrative workload, facilitates faster onboarding, and ensures audit-ready compliance, which means a smarter, more proactive approach to compliance management that reduces risk across the entire organization.
