After closing his real estate company, David Sarver, then a freshman at Case Western Reserve University, found himself facing an unusual challenge—he had missed the internship window for the summer. Determined to make the most of his time, he took a job as a server at Bob Evans, hoping to connect with the CFO of a local bank who was a regular at the restaurant.
That summer, David quickly discovered one of the most dreaded tasks among servers: rolling silverware. It was tedious, time-consuming, and often the last thing anyone wanted to do after a long shift. One night, after returning home from work, he stared at a pile of freshly cleaned laundry he had no energy to fold. A thought struck him: If only I had a tool to make folding clothes faster... maybe I could get this done tonight.
And then, it clicked:
What if there was a way to roll silverware faster?
Fueled by this idea, David spent the rest of the summer working on a proof of concept in his basement. Though progress was slow, this experience planted the seed for what would eventually grow into something remarkable. It wasn't until he met Tobias, an incoming freshman, that things would start to rapidly develop.
Tobias Heller, a 3D printing and amateur radio enthusiast, had an insatiable passion for optimization. He and David first met during the second week of school, bonding over a spirited debate about stock trading platforms and strategies. Intrigued by each other's perspectives, they exchanged contact information and soon met again. David was impressed by Tobias's meticulous attention to detail and linear thinking, so he eagerly shared his new idea he had been working on:
The world's first purely mechanical silverware wrapping machine. Cost effective, and easy to use
Initially, Tobias wasn’t convinced. But after a week of heated debates and brainstorming, David managed to win him over, persuading him that the idea had real potential.
With Tobias’s engineering expertise and David’s entrepreneurial experience, the duo quickly began refining their concept. Their work caught the attention of the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship, which provided funding and invaluable networking opportunities to help bring WrapSpin to life. Progress was steady, but slow due to their limited knowledge of mechanical engineering. Considering bringing on a third member, Tobias suggested engineering powerhouse and close friend AJ Williams.
AJ, an extrovert with a passion for performing arts, smoothly integrated into the team and further fostered a balanced team dynamic. Using his engineering experience from CWRU’s Baja SAE and competitive robotics, he complimented Tobias's structured approaches with creative theories on how to tackle some of WrapSpin's development challenges. As Tobias and AJ worked vigorously on making an effective silverware wrapping machine, David continued to share WrapSpin's vision. With increased support from the Veale Institute,
The trio was invited to showcase their product at CES, one of the largest technology events on the planet.
Looking forward, WrapSpin has plans to work with MAGNET, the leading manufacturing startup accelerator program in the state of Ohio. The team is looking to expand, gain more funding, and begin mass manufacturing.
If you or anyone you know is interested in keeping up with our progress as WrapSpin continues to develop and grow, shoot us a message! We'd love to stay in touch with you and bring you along for the ride.