By Mary Barrett '14
We’ve often heard dogs called “man’s best friend,” but after an accident inside, most dog owners would agree that with friends like that, who needs enemies? Luckily, marketing major Chad Bingo ’15 has come up with a “sound” solution to this messy problem. He designed and created a pet training device called the “Gotta Go Button.”
Bingo’s invention is attracting national attention. His product appeared on Good Morning America and local television stations across the country. That publicity led to an increase in interest and requests for this new pet training tool.
Here’s how the “Gotta Go Button” works: When a pet pushes it, the button shouts the phrase, “I gotta go.” The audible alert tells pet owners that their four-legged friends have to potty. Bingo said that when dogs are trained to press a “Gotta Go Button” left by the door when nature calls, this new product will prevent accidents and the frustration that comes with them. Bingo’s idea was born after noticing that his dog was always scratching at the back door when it had to go outside. This led to some accidents because his family often could not hear the scratching from other rooms in the house.
Despite its usefulness, Bingo’s big button idea might never have gotten going. Bingo realized that he didn’t have enough money to produce the quantity of buttons he wanted. That’s where his experience in a Siena College entrepreneurship class comes in. In the class, Bingo’s professor, Ken Williams, entrepreneurship lead of the David ’73 and Christine Spicer ’75 Stack Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship encouraged Bingo not to give up on his product for pet potty training.
Bingo began exploring ways to produce the “Gotta Go Button” after consulting other faculty experts in the Stack Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “I wouldn’t be here without them pushing me,” said Bingo of the people he consulted with.
The Stack Center looks for students who are persistent and not afraid of change or failure. “Chad is the poster child for what we would want as far as his characteristics,” said Stack Center Executive Director and Siena College Executive-in-Residence Michael Hickey ’83.
“Chad already had the idea, we just helped him to build confidence, to understand what steps were next and what milestones he’d have to overcome,” said Hickey, noting that the Stack Center is focused on making student ideas come to life.
After working with the Stack Center, Bingo was able to confidently move forward with his product. Through his hard work and the support he received at Siena College, Bingo has been able to sell almost 500 “Gotta Go Buttons,” helping pet owners prevent accidents and maintaining their dog’s position as “man’s best friend.”
