News & Insights

Meet Our Founders: Lauren McCullough

Lauren McCullough

Tromml – MICRO Fall 2022

Published March 8, 2023

As part of our ‘Meet Our Founders’ series today, we introduce Lauren McCullough, Founder of Tromml based in Chapel Hill, NC. Tromml offers advanced reporting to help automotive aftermarket sellers monitor performance and ensure the products they are selling are actually profitable.

Q: How will your NC IDEA grant funds advance your company?

A: Getting our NC IDEA grant was a huge help to get in front of more potential customers by subsidizing the cost of market materials and conference attendance, which is also where we expect to connect with new partners.

We also are going to be bringing on a contract data analyst to speed up report generation so we can get more feedback from our initial customers faster.

Q: When did you know you wanted to take an entrepreneurial path?

A: Unlike others I talked to, I didn’t consider myself an entrepreneur growing up. But, looking back, I was always creating new things and trying to solve problems with innovative solutions. I originally thought I would be working within the public/non-profit sector, but then I discovered the power of entrepreneurship to solving local, and global problems.

Q: What is your greatest fear as an entrepreneur?

A: Looking at the possibility of failure is tough. I tend to really throw myself into projects and, though I like to think rapid iteration can prevent failure, it’s not always enough. It can really shake you when it happens…it feels like a loss of identity and takes a huge strain on your mental health.

 

While visiting the Research Triangle, Lauren recommends:

  • If you swing into Durham (especially on a Saturday), I’d kick off your day with a breakfast at Press before the Durham History Tour. Grab lunch/snacks after your long walk at Queeny’s and before getting a massage or facial at Auroraflow (my other business). In the evening, get over to M Kokko for an amazing dinner (but get there when they open) and then shoot over to Arcana or 106 Main for a cocktail then end your night walking around American Tobacco Campus!

Support Lauren and Tromml by:

  • Right now we are looking to connect with other eCommerce services providers, specifically those that work with automotive sellers. We believe partnerships will be a huge part of our early growth and we are looking to expand our network even further. We also can always use feedback from other companies developing business analytics tools, especially in the eCommerce space.