SampleServe

10/08/2026

We've been selected for the final round of the World Economic Forum Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) 2026.

Every decision about whether water is safe for its intended purpose starts with a sample. The record of that sample, who took it, where, and when, currently travels mostly on paper. Handwritten in the field, retyped at the lab, and entered again for the regulator report. When that record is delayed, unreadable or is missing, the sample is invalid, and people act on data they cannot fully trust. There is still no digital standard for the most basic record in water.

That is what SampleServe is built to fix. Capture GPS, time, photos and field data. Print the labels on site. Put a QR code on every bottle tied to its collection data. Labs scan it and log samples 80 to 90 percent faster. Nothing gets retyped. Results come back as ready reports and maps people can act on.

We've been doing this at scale. In Texas our app is used in the statewide program: 7,200 utilities, 64,000 samples a year. That only works if the chain of custody can be trusted.

Proud to be in the final round.

07/08/2026

The Night a Monitoring Well Kept Me Up Until 2 AM

Before SampleServe was a software company, we were a sampling company. If you had a big project, 50 or 60 locations and not enough crew or equipment, you hired us to knock it out.

A national firm brought us out to Massachusetts for exactly that. Big site, 150+ monitoring wells, and maps that had been revised so many times that some wells clearly weren't where the map said they were. Finding a single location could eat an hour, sometimes more.

At the end of each day we'd gather around the master map back at their office and call out which wells we'd sampled so they could mark them off. I called out MW-9B and pointed to it on the map.

The guy running the map told me that wasn't MW-9B. I pushed back. The map had it in the wrong spot relative to a nearby driveway, and it wasn't the first well on that map that was off. He assured me I was wrong. Then he assured me I was careless.

Here's the thing about me: mistakes eat me alive. That night I couldn't sleep. I woke up around 2 AM genuinely rattled, because sampling the wrong location is just not something I do. So I grabbed my phone and started scrolling through my location photos, trying to figure out how I'd gotten it wrong.

And there it was. Spray painted on the side of the well, in penmanship only a field tech could love: 9B.

Next morning I walked in, pulled up the photo, and held it out. He looked at it and said, oh yeah, somebody mismarked that well years ago and we never fixed it. Then he admitted other crews had mis-sampled that same location before, for the same reason.

I was gracious about it. Outwardly. I'll let you imagine my internal monologue.

That whole mess is now impossible on our platform. Past photos of every location pull up right in the app while you're sampling. GPS checks your position against the recorded coordinates, and if you're outside the tolerance the PM set, you get a warning before you start. We even coach crews to shoot photos with the well in the foreground and landmarks behind it, so the next person can confirm the spot from any angle.

None of those features came from a brainstorming session. They came from nights like that one. I honestly don't think we'd have built the system as well as we did without first living through everything the paper process could throw at us.

The photo that saved my reputation is below. You tell me if you'd have called it 9B.

What's the worst mislabeled or unfindable well you've ever dealt with? Drop it in the comments. I know I'm not the only one with one of these stories.

If you'd rather your crew never has a 2 AM photo-scroll of their own, DM me.

06/25/2026

Thinking about building your own environmental sampling software?

Before you spend years developing software or hiring a team of programmers, let's talk.

We customize our proven environmental sampling platform with your logo, your colors, your workflows, your data collection forms, and your reporting requirements. The finished product is delivered under your brand with web, iPhone, and Android applications.

Whether you're an engineering firm, environmental laboratory, municipal utility, equipment manufacturer, or environmental service company, we can tailor the platform to fit the way your organization collects samples, manages projects, and reports data.

Your team can schedule sampling events, collect field data, print sample bottle labels in the field, generate digital chain of custody forms, communicate directly with laboratories, and produce professional reports, all from one integrated platform.

Security is built in from the beginning. Every deployment includes individual user authentication, role-based user permissions, encrypted communications, and enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure to help protect your organization's data.

The best part is that your organization can have a fully branded, production-ready platform in a matter of weeks at a fraction of the cost of building and maintaining your own software.

If you've been considering building environmental sampling software, schedule a 20-minute web meeting to discuss. I'd be happy to learn about your organization, answer your questions, and show you what your own branded platform could look like.

📅 Schedule your 20-minute meeting here:
https://lnkd.in/eRKD6pKF

01/07/2026

I was interviewed by Blake Newcomer for Earth Onward.

We talked about:
• the “$10,000 bottle label” moment that pushed me to build better chain of custody workflows
• how missed samples can turn into $10,000 fines
• what we are building next at SampleServe: alerts, smarter schedules, and faster onboarding for water and wastewater teams

Watch the conversation:
https://youtu.be/elf4-oQ7MoI?si=bTjNSNUHdEk5__s3&t=68

Thanks, Blake, for the thoughtful questions and for sharing the story.

In this episode, I speak with Russell Schindler, Founder & CEO of SampleServe, about his journey from environmental consulting to building a software company...

10/16/2025

🚨 Outsourcing Sampling Just Got Smarter. And Auditable. 🚨
Let’s talk about the NEW way to get environmental sampling done, on time, on budget, and with real-time transparency.

At SampleServe, we just made subcontracting groundwater, surface water, and soil v***r sampling easier than ever. Our Subcontractor Bidding Tool connects you with pre-qualified sampling contractors, but here’s the kicker:

Every sample is virtually auditable using screen recording tech to ensure field SOPs are followed to the letter. No more mystery. Just quality, verified data.

Here’s what you get:
✅ Trust & Quality – All fieldwork is reviewable with screen recordings, GPS logs, and data entry trails. You see that it was done right.
✅ Big Savings – Cut field costs by 20–40% using local contractors.
✅ Your Lab, Your Choice – Stay with your preferred laboratory.
✅ Instant Oversight – View field notes, sample locations, and GPS data as it happens.
✅ Free Tools – Use our mobile app, lab app, D-COC, planning tools, and more at zero cost. We only charge if you opt into premium graphical reports.

💡 Whether you're scaling up, under tight deadlines, or just tired of the back-and-forth, we’ve built a system that takes care of the fieldwork for you while keeping you in control.

🔁 This is just the beginning of our series on outsourcing environmental sampling, more insights are coming.

🚀 Ready to experience it for yourself? Bid out your next sampling project today 👉 www.sampleserve.com

💬 Got questions or a sampling challenge you're trying to solve? Drop them in the comments.

👷‍♂️ Are you a field sampling contractor interested in joining our network? Let’s talk. Email Russell at [email protected]

09/29/2025

Great article in Treatment Plant Operator Magazine about our sampling software:

Taking Paper – and Errors – Out of the Sampling Process

09/13/2025

Excited to share that SampleServe is solidly advancing our mission in environmental cleanup through innovative sample collection and reporting solutions. Building on this foundation, we're now turning our expertise to revolutionizing crime scene evidence collection and investigation for law enforcement, empowering forensic teams with seamless evidence collection and digital documentation to solve crimes faster and more reliably.

Linked below is a video from my recent presentation to the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) forensics lab members, where I discussed our upcoming application tailored for law enforcement evidence handling. Set to roll out in early 2026, this tool will transform how crime scenes are processed, ensuring every piece of evidence and crime scene maintains evidentiary integrity from scene to courtroom. https://youtu.be/hb8Rlq1o5jY

Watch below and let's connect on how SampleServe can support your forensic operations!

This is a presentation that Russell Schindler gave to a group forensic laboratories associated with the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)

08/29/2025

Thrilled to have been invited to speak about our SampleServe crime scene evidence collection application. It's an incredible chance to showcase how we're transforming sampling and forensic processes!

Our latest feature, screen-recording every sample and piece of evidence collected at a crime scene, is set to revolutionize accountability. It guarantees SOP compliance, proper handling, and an unbreakable chain of custody. Now, virtual audits can happen days or months later, providing ironclad proof that procedures were followed precisely.

This isn't just innovation; it's about fostering absolute trust in evidence and sample management. What do you think? How could this impact your workflows?

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Join A2LA and SampleServe on September 11 for the upcoming webinar, “Revolutionizing Forensic Evidence Integrity: Virtual Recording and Digital Chain of Custody for Crime Scene Evidence Collection.” In this webinar, SampleServe CEO Russell Schindler will explore how digital tools can be used to ...

08/15/2025

How to turn 50 cents into $4.50 or more.

In the world of spatially distributed environmental data; think groundwater, soil, soil v***r, and surface water sampling, efficiency is key to generating accurate maps, contours, and risk assessments. Yet, many teams in both environmental consulting and municipal utilities view new software as just

07/01/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that Ken Hartman has joined SampleServe as our new Chief Information Security Officer! Ken is a superstar in the world of cybersecurity, bringing a wealth of expertise and a track record of excellence to our team. What truly sets Ken apart, beyond his impressive intelligence, is his ability to connect with people. He has a rare gift for breaking down complex internet security topics in a way that’s accessible and empowering, all while being one of the most personable and pleasant colleagues you could hope to work with. We’re incredibly proud to have Ken on board and can’t wait to see how his vision and leadership will elevate SampleServe’s mission to deliver secure, trusted digital solutions. Welcome, Ken! https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethghartman/