Texas Christian University graduate Forrest Williams, ‘25, was honored with the Future Texas Business Legend Scholar award for his drowning prevention wearable, WaterWatch. For the recognition, he will receive a $15,000 prize.
September 23, 2025
By Marcella Moreno
Content Creator, Neeley Communications
Some of the most successful entrepreneurial business ideas come from an effort to solve real-life challenges. For Forrest Williams ’25, it began with summers at Three Lakes, Wisconsin, with his younger cousins and their proximity to the lake. Upon learning that the leading cause of death for kids ages one to four is drowning, Williams felt a responsibility to be part of the change that could save lives - an idea that launched WaterWatch.
In an entrepreneurship class at the Neeley School of Business, Williams took his childhood summer memories and developed a drowning prevention wearable and an accompany app that became WaterWatch. The affordable wearable device sends an instant alert to a parent’s phone via the app when the device makes contact with water.
“Drowning is silent; it can happen in less than 20 seconds, and it often happens when parents are just a few feet away,” Williams said. “Reading those stories and talking to families affected by it made it feel very real.”
WaterWatch “acts as an early warning system, giving parents the precious seconds needed to react before a dangerous situation unfolds,” Williams said.
The Texas Business Hall of Fame recently announced the Class of 2025 award recipients, naming Williams a Future Texas Business Legend. He and other honorees will be celebrated at the induction dinner in October. Williams will also receive a $15,000 prize.
WaterWatch came into existence initially through the CREATE program, operated by the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Neeley and the TCU's Strategy & Innovation Office. Williams received a CREATE grant for his initial funding to build an early prototype. Since then, Williams’ business has been self-funded and driven by passion.
In his application to the Texas Business Hall of Fame, Williams emphasized the WaterWatch mission to “prevent childhood drownings and give parents peace of mind.” He highlighted the current lack of tech-driven prevention tools, and he said the traction already gained for WaterWatch, includes strong interest from hospitals.
Williams feels lucky to receive valuable insight into the entrepreneurial space from mentors like Cooper Conger, president of New Pad Building Co., and Niko Ludwig, founder of Collateral Partners, adding “I can either replicate their success or avoid the same mistakes.”
At Neeley, Professor Paul Evans helped Williams validate WaterWatch in its earliest stage, while other professors guided him through funding strategies and challenged him to refine his product. The Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the institute have connected him with alumni, experienced entrepreneurs, and the opportunity to compete in pitch events, including the Hult Prize in Boston.
Today, the WaterWatch app has been developed, and the commercial-ready prototype is being finalized for the first production run this fall. Williams said, WaterWatch is also working with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) and Safe Kids Coalitions to spread awareness and make sure we are building something that truly meets the needs of families and safety.
Williams said, the award recognition “not only helps us continue moving forward but also connects me to a group of people who believe in building things that matter.”
