So when did it all start?
I knew even at a very early age that my passion in life was going to be surrounding computer technology and the amazing options for progress it provided. I was actually in the 2nd grade when I decided I was either going to either work for someone like Apple Computers or start my own company. I ultimately decided I would start my own company, and so started the story of Branpute. After 10 years, this how far Branpute has come...
1998
I was 9 years old and was in the 4th grade. While everyone else was wondering what game they were going to play at recess, I was sitting in class dreaming of my company to be someday. I thought to myself, the most important part has to be the name right? Well... I decided (after much deliberation) that the name would need to include my name and something to do with computers. I finally came up with "Bran-pute", meaning "Brandon's Computers". The name stuck ever since.
2000
I decided any 21st century company would need to have a website. I decided to learn coding and program a very basic website as a little project. I always liked to impress and I put together chat rooms and bits about my life on the very first versions of Branpute Online. I also formed a strong relationship with the school technician named Faye Jackson. Throughout my years in both elementary school and middle school I volunteered my knowledge to Faye and the school. I even gained some of my very first life-long clients during that time due to the strong power of word-of-mouth.
2001
I got my first official client in 2001; a realty company owner named George Stevens. He had a company called Gold & Silver Realtors. He gave me the opportunity to maintain his company website and learn a lot of the operational aspects of running an independently owned company. I was 13 years old and found a small loop hole in the state labor laws to allow me to work for him as in Independent Contractor (since it did not have a defined age restriction). I was paid $15/hour and that was pretty good money for a 13 year old. I credit George and my father Randall Rappe for allowing me to learn the aspects of professional relationships by example early on and setting me up for success later in my business life.
2004 - 2005
Completely self-taught I decided to become A+ Certified and register my company name with the State of Montana. I was 16 years old and could officially make a lot of new things happen with the company. At the peak of my push to bring awareness of my company I had almost 100 clients in Great Falls and the surrounding areas; out of them approximately 60 active clients. I was able to fuel my passion even more through these interactions with business professionals from every walk of life. I met and worked with renowned symphony conductor Gordon Johnson. During that same time I was also able to form relationships with other major players in business, government, and creative arts and those experiences were worth more than money. I realized then that Branpute was the key to opening large doors in my future.
2006 - 2007
While still in school I met Nathan Little in an organization known as DeMolay. DeMolay was a young men's masonic fraternity that promoted the idea that young men needed to be groomed to become powerful contributors in society. Its teachings were that of respect. Respect for your country, the schools, women, and the one and only living God. Nathan was very interested in the computer world and expressed his interest in partnering with me during our high school years. I decided to partner with Nathan and we were able to make a moderately good side income while in school. He contributed many new ideas and helped in the Great Falls Symphony production of "That's All Folks!", in which we assisted Gordon Johnson and the stage crew at the Great Falls Civic Center in putting together the audio/video aspects of that production. The whole experience was wonderful and I have some of my best memories with Branpute during that time with Nathan. During that same period we partnered with a few other sub-contracting companies, Nexicore and OnForce. We actually received a platinum rating for the great reviews we received during the times Nexicore and OnForce were forwarding clients to us. After high school, Nathan & I decided to split up our business relationship due to the impractical nature of running a company long distance.
2007 - 2009
This was probably the peak of my company's success in computer servicing industry during my last year at Great Falls High and shortly after. I was actually published in the Great Falls Tribune under the Class Act section in a large article about my company and my "inspiring" aspirations. It was a very gracious article and it actually opened even more doors for me in the professional world with that free publicity (who figured people still read the papers?). I continued to work for a local retailer to supplement my income and during that time I met my wife-to-be Jazmin VanDeKop. She turned out to be a wonderfully great person with a well-grounded personality. I fell in love with her and married her a year later in 2009.
2010 - 2011
So here we are at the present day. I have shifted the company to a purely online remote desktop support company. I have become a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) to broaden my company prospects. The most recent advancements I've made with the company also include partnering with my brother Colton Rappe. He has truly been an inspiration to me with his extensive knowledge of software development, game design, digital video productions, and audio development. I see a bright future ahead of Branpute with the advent of Branpute's newest focus, software development. I also have many thanks to give to Wednesday Myers (formally known as Enrique) for providing great creative feedback for the company. We have released one software title officially, but are planning to go full swing by the end of 2012. Who knows what the future holds for us as we explore new and interesting areas of computer advancement.
Want to help move Branpute forward through 2012 and beyond?
We are not currently funded in any way for our software development projects and as a result we are moving slowly but steadily towards producing some cutting-edge software titles we want to release. If you would like to be an investor in Branpute's new company direction, please make a donation of any amount using the PayPal Donate button on the left side of this page. We appreciate any contribution you are willing to make and rest assured you will be one of the first to use the newest Branpute products we release.
Whether you've been a Branpute customer or are considering a professional relationship with us, thank you. We look forward to becoming a new tech authority and appreciate you're help in getting us there!
Sincerely,
Brandon & Colton Rappe
Branpute Company Partners