In the frantic world of entrepreneurship, sometimes the most impactful ideas come from unexpected places, sparked by personal experiences and shared memories. For Faizaan Sharif ’97 and Zachary Lovelady ’97, their journey from school friends to business partners led to the creation of Blueink, a pioneering eSignature solution that helped revolutionize the way businesses handle documents.
The genesis of Blueink can be traced back to a napkin in a Seattle hotel in 2014, where Faze and Zach outlined their vision for a new kind of digital signature platform. Yet the true impetus behind their endeavor came from a deeply personal experience – Faze’s frustrating hospital encounter on behalf of his father, which underscored the need for more clarity and transparency in eSignature transactions.
Faze and Zach fondly recall their formative years at Albuquerque Academy, when their friendship took root in the sixth grade. “One of my fondest memories from our time at Albuquerque Academy was the sense of community we fostered,” reflected Faze. “Whether it was working together on class projects or cheering on our ice hockey team, there was always a strong sense of camaraderie.” And the sense of community was solidified by their legendary prank. Faze, Zach, and other friends managed to convince students, teachers, and coaches that the school had a top-ranked ice hockey team – a ruse that only fell apart when a new student from the East Coast transferred to the Academy and wanted to join the team. The hockey team recently got a shout-out on this year’s Spring Day of Giving, when Faze and Zach sponsored a matching gift for the Class of 1997.
Their experiences at the Academy laid the foundation for their future endeavors, instilling a sense of curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence. After the Academy, they pursued different career paths, but both discovered passions that would later drive their entrepreneurial pursuits.
“Albuquerque Academy provided us with a nurturing environment where we could explore our interests and push the boundaries of our potential,” Faze shared. “It was here that we discovered our passion for technology and innovation.”
As they embarked on their entrepreneurial journey, the duo navigated the challenges of building a business, with Faze assuming the role of CEO and Zach as CTO of Blueink. Despite the demands, their friendship endured, fueled by mutual respect and a shared vision for innovation. “It’s fun to go to work every day with your best friend,” said Faze.
“We’ve always complemented each other,” Zach reflected. “It was a solid partnership right from the beginning. Faze brings unmatched drive and experience scaling businesses, and I contribute my experience of 20+ years of building software. At the end of the day, our shared vision and our tenacity have been the driving forces behind Blueink.”
Faze and Zach often echo their mantra, “Why not us?” – a philosophy that they credit to their days at the Academy and that has propelled them to pursue ambitious goals and challenge the status quo in both their academic and entrepreneurial endeavors. When they were first starting out, they were taking on behemoths like DocuSign and Adobe. “These are billion-dollar companies, and we don’t have a board of directors. Zach and I funded the whole project, the whole thing. And we can make decisions and move quickly.” That approach, Faze said, results in “half the cost, twice the product, and twice the customer success. We respond to our customers in three minutes or less. That customer experience is essential to us.”
Today, Blueink is a testament to its dedication to offering sustainable and eco-friendly digital solutions to businesses worldwide. With robust eSignature and document-management features and enhanced security, Blueink has emerged as a trusted partner for organizations seeking efficiency, compliance, and professionalism in their document management processes.
“Blueink isn’t just a business venture for us – it reflects our commitment to creating positive change in the world,” Zach emphasized. “By offering sustainable and user-friendly eSignature solutions, we’re empowering businesses to streamline their operations while minimizing their environmental footprint.”
Their ties to Albuquerque Academy remain strong, prompting them to explore avenues for collaboration with the school. From hosting senior projects to providing summer jobs for Academy students and signing on as one of the school’s corporate partners, they are eager to give back to the institution that played a pivotal role in shaping their lives.
“Our time at Albuquerque Academy laid the foundation for our success, and we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunities it afforded us,” Faze affirmed “As alumni and corporate partners, we’re committed to supporting the next generation of students and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.”
As if their work with Blueink’s eSignature product wasn’t enough, Faze and Zach have again set their sights on their latest venture, Blueink Vault. Building on their expertise in eSignatures, Blueink Vault aims to revolutionize how businesses store, manage, and share sensitive documents in the cloud. With state-of-the-art, zero-trust encryption technology and AI-powered document management features, Blueink Vault will provide organizations with the benefits of cloud storage with industry-leading security and data access controls.
As they continue to chart new territories in digital innovation, Faze and Zach offer a poignant reminder that sometimes the most meaningful ventures are rooted in cherished memories and enduring friendships. With Blueink, they are not just revolutionizing how businesses operate – they are redefining what it means to leave a legacy.
