CCI Information Technology (IT) student Connor Haley with his business partner Christopher Sierralta have begun a start-up that combines the joy of nature and animals with NFC technology.

Nature Link is a socially responsible company that creates bracelets that track animals in the wild while supporting conservation efforts. The unique and innovative bracelets have NFC chips embedded within them, which allows customers to track their animal’s location and movement in real-time with just a tap on a phone through existing animal tracking companies. 

The bracelets are made from colored gemstones to match the ecosystems of each animal. Customers have the option to choose from a shark, polar bear, sea turtle, and elephant. 20% of the proceeds from each bracelet purchase will be donated to Wildlife Conservation Network (WildNet). The donations will be allocated to the animal in which the customer purchases.

“Our goal is to raise awareness and money for wildlife conservation while providing customers with an opportunity to connect with animals in the wild through real-time tracking,” says Haley. “Additionally, our commitment to donating a portion of the proceeds to a wildlife charity ensures that customers are directly contributing to conservation efforts, giving them a sense of empowerment and making a positive impact on the world. Overall, we hope that our concept will inspire people to take action towards wildlife conservation and create a brighter future for all animals.

When CCI asked Haley what inspired him to create Nature Link he explained that he would use an NFC card to unlock the front door to his college apartment and he was curious how it could be applied to other areas of life. 

“I began researching different technologies and found the concept of linking people with wildlife through a bracelet that uses NFC chips to be a simple and fun concept that can raise awareness about wildlife conservation through the power of a bracelet,” says Haley. 

Haley and his friends are attending the Governor’s Cup in March representing FSU. To find Nature Link bracelets, click here.