For Tyler Anthony and Thomas White, the journey to launching their first product, Switch 1.0, started long before their company, Duet Technology (or DueTT), was even an idea. The two met at the “Summer Bridge” engineering camp before their freshman year at Mississippi State University and quickly became friends.

While Anthony was ping into rapid prototyping and 3D printing through a co-op at Mississippi technology startup Kopis Mobile, White was obsessed with barbering—watching videos, practicing on friends, and dreaming of creating his own clipper. Their shared passion for innovation and problem-solving would eventually lead to a game-changing product for barbers.

Through customer research, White and Anthony discovered that many professional barbers faced the same frustrating issue: their clippers overheated after 30 to 60 minutes of use. That discovery led them to develop a clipper designed “by barbers, for barbers” to solve this industry-wide problem. They worked on their company with help from the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, refining their business model and building the foundation for their startup.

The team’s hard work paid off when they caught the attention of Wade Patterson, head of the Bulldog Angel Network. Patterson helped them raise an initial $140,000 in 2019, which triggered an invitation to apply for Innovate Mississippi’s Seed Fund Growth Award. This $100,000 investment enabled them to prototype their clippers and work with a local Mississippi manufacturer.

Even with the startup dollars flowing, the DueTT team—which had grown to include Marketing Director Vicki Anthony—quickly realized funding was only the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. To succeed, they needed to build trust within the barbering community and create a brand that resonated with industry professionals.

White launched a YouTube channel and other social media platforms dedicated to educating and connecting with barbers to offer valuable content and build the brand. Over time, he assembled a massive following—380,000 YouTube subscribers and over 500,000 followers across all platforms. This organic growth allowed them to connect directly with their target audience, ensuring that when Switch 1.0 was ready, they had a loyal customer base eager to support them.

Today, DueTT has successfully raised $1.7 million with support from Mississippi-based investors, including Innovate Mississippi’s Seed Fund, Mississippi Angel Fund, and the InvestMS Venture Capital Program. Their first batch of Switch 1.0 clippers is rolling out, with early adopters and brand ambassadors in Mississippi, including barbers in Jackson, helping showcase the product. With the funding and manufacturing in place, they’re focused on scaling their company, ensuring barbers worldwide access to a superior tool that meets their needs.

For the DueTT team, this journey has been about more than just building a business—it’s been about believing in themselves, surrounding themselves with the right mentors, and proving that innovation can happen anywhere, even in Mississippi. Their message to young entrepreneurs is clear: stay committed, stay coachable, and don’t let others define your limits.

What started as a dream between two college friends has become a reality, proving that anything is possible with the right mix of passion, perseverance, and support available to Mississippi entrepreneurs who take advantage of it.