Xippee

Robert S. Bunn

I would say I have lived my life according to the philosophy of Thomas Edison, my personal hero. Such statements like “invention is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration,” I know now to be completely true. A man who did the impossible with only a 6th grade education, and who never gave up is someone I want to be compared to one day.

I was born in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho (see picture at bottom) to a middle class family in 1974. Back then Coeur d’ Alene was not the beautiful tourist town it is today. Logging and mining were the main occupations of the area back then. When I was still fairly young I realized this was not the best area for someone interested in inventing new technologies. Realizing this I graduated high school in 1992 from Coeur d’ Alene High and joined the U.S. Army shortly thereafter.

I must admit I learned some things in the Army I couldn’t have foreseen. I acquired self-confidence which was forced to some degree at first, but today I realize I couldn’t have gained anything more valuable for the type of work I do. I remember so many challenges that were presented for me to do and I remember thinking to myself I could never do what they are asking. Given no choice I had to complete these tasks or else. After actually completing these tasks I began to realize that I could accomplish what I previously thought was impossible for me. It was then when I realized that I am the only person holding me back from achieving great things in life and I just needed to get out of my own way.

After my 3-year enlistment was up it was time for college. I attended a few colleges before finally attending Eastern Washington University where I obtained a B.S. in Chemistry in 1999. After graduating I went to attend graduate school in Edmonton, Canada at the University of Alberta. During this time I came up with the idea which eventually became the software Systematichem. I shared the idea with a few of my professors there who all basically told me computers could never do what I was suggesting and I should give up on crazy ideas and be more practical. I left that university before even completing one semester.

At this point I started working basic chemistry jobs to pay the bills, nothing glamorous to say the least. It wasn’t long before I realized I would never be happy unless I was creating new ideas of my own. At this point I found two programmers to help me with the computer science aspects of my new invention for developing cheaper ways to manufacture pharmaceuticals (along with other chemicals), and together the three of us eventually accomplished what many in the field believed was not possible. Although it wasn’t long before I realized that the pharmaceutical industry isn’t about saving lives, it’s about money pure and simple.  It's too bad that what they show on their commercials isn't based on reality. So I figured I had to develop a different technology that I could take directly to the people, which would allow me to finance other technologies I have invented I believe this world desperately needs. So I invented Xippee, which has grown at an incredible rate in only a few months time. I very much hope this invention will allow me to create many others that will benefit everyone as well.

Basic Data:

Birthplace:

Coeur d’ Alene, ID

Places called home:

Coeur d’ Alene, ID; Alaska State; Cheney, WA; Colorado

Hobbies:

I think I have seen just about every movie made in the last 30 years if you can call that a hobby.

Highest Titles:

Chemistry Manager, Director of R&D, Founder of Xippee

Most Pleasing Achievement:

Working on the Systematichem software for almost six years and finally seeing it work at last.

Marital Status:

Single (but looking)

Tombstone ephitaph:

A true inventor

Picture of my hometown:

Terrance & Phillip talk smack about me.