Ole Miss Student Brings Technology to the Forefront with Startup Business

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

EZ Home Automation was started by current Ole Miss junior Prahar Patel in April 2017.

Prahar Patel, a native of Madison, Mississippi, has always had a passion for technology. As a current junior majoring in biology and information systems, Patel is in the process of bringing Oxford residents to the forefront of technology with his business EZ Home Automation.

While growing up in his hometown, Patel said he consistently used his talent for technology to not only equip his parent’s home with the latest advancements but his friends would seek him out for additional help regarding their own equipment.

Once he began his collegiate career at Ole Miss, Patel decided to use his unique and useful gift to create a business for the city of Oxford. With the help of a $1,000 grant from the Rebel Venture Capital Fund—an alumni established nonprofit entity created to financially support student start-up business with seed money grants—Patel was able to turn his technological idea into a reality in April 2017.

EZ Home Automation sells its customers convenience and efficiency, Patel said. The company combines many pieces of equipment into one source for homeowners who have multiple remotes for their televisions. Home Automation would combine the use off all the remotes into one simple application on the user’s mobile device.

The company has also worked with homeowners who have automated blinds and thermostats, Patel said. Home Automation’s goal is to give homeowners the most bang for their buck.

Patel said many companies want homeowners to completely replace the technology inside their homes instead of using something current; EZ Home Automation takes a different approach to the situation.

“We want to use what [homeowners] have and add what they need to get the most benefits,” Patel said.

As of now, the company is currently pushing voice control for homeowners. Voice control allows homeowners to enter the home and vocally make a command, using services such as Alexa or Siri, which will then activate the lights, television, or thermostat.

Everything that a homeowner can control vocally can also be controlled through a mobile device, according to Patel. For example, when homeowners leave their house, they can simply use the application on their device to make the thermostat match the outside temperature, which in return is saving energy, Patel said.

In addition to advancing entertainment and energy saving equipment, Home Automation also works with security systems. Patel said insurance companies usually give homeowners cuts when such equipment has been installed into homes, saving those homeowners additional funds.

Although Patel has been the sole operator, he said he is looking forward to expanding his company and helping homeowners advance in the realm of technology.

For more information on EZ Home Automation, visit the company’s website.