Cleveland native Brad Kleinman gets a kick out of the funny things his grandmother says – and he thinks others will, too. That’s why he developed iGavolt, the iPhone app that puts a Jewish “gramma” in your pocket.
All his life, Kleinman, 28, has listened to his Gramma Netty, Annette Kleinman Markell, 84, also of Cleveland, shower him with typical Jewish grandmother phrases like “Are you going to get married before I die? I've only got a few years left you know!”, “Why don’t you call me anymore?” and “You look too skinny…eat some farfel.” And he can’t get enough of it.
“I love my gramma,” Kleinman says. “And if you knew her, you’d love her, too. I’ve always wanted to have my gramma with me wherever I go. Now at least I can hear her everywhere I go.”
For years, Kleinman has been the only one of Markell’s nine grandchildren who regularly attends weekly dinners with Gramma Netty and her friends at either one of two favorite Cleveland-area Jewish delis.
“Jack’s is better for corned beef. Corky & Lenny’s is better for mushroom barley soup,” Markell says. “It just depends on what you’re in the mood for.” Kleinman looks forward to these Monday evening affairs, which has affectionately dubbed: “Dinner with the Old People.” It was following one of these dinners that he came up with the idea for iGavolt.
Known as the “iPhone App for Jewish Kids,” iGavolt can be downloaded on iTunes for $.99, a one-time fee that includes free monthly upgrades. Features include an array of snappy one-liners that are actual recordings of Gramma Netty and a gramma rap option that has Gramma Netty rap to different beats.
Gramma Netty is not overly impressed with her grandson’s most recent entrepreneurial venture, though she’s pretty sure she understands the general concept of developing an iPhone application.
“It has to do with a lot of computers,” Markell says. “I think computers are a pain in the neck.” Still, she admits, “I’ll be happy if Bradley makes any money out of this.”
iGavolt is a joint venture between Kleinman’s company, WorkSmart eMarketing, and Vokal Interactive. Ten percent of the proceeds from sales of the application will be donated to Jewish charities throughout the world.
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For more information on Brad, Gramma Netty or iGavolt, or to schedule an interview, please call Brad Kleinman at (216) 339-0353 or email him at brad@worksmart-emarketing.com.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Aunt Flo is not happy about Swine Flu. Or chicken noodle soup with not enough broth. Take a look
I've always wanted to have my gramma with me wherever I go, and now I can...Thanks to iGavolt - The iPhone App for Jewish Grandkids.
I'm launching iGavolt in just a few weeks, an iPhone app that puts a Jewish gramma in your pocket. We'll be making frequent updates with more grammas, more beats, and more functionality.
It's only $.99 and 10% of all proceeds go to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.
So show your support of Jewish grammas and buy iGavolt.
And let me know if you like your matza balls hard or soft.
