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Startup Makes Smartphones Accessible for the Visually Impaired

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The founding team for Israeli-based Project Ray, one of the innovative startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator. (CEO Boaz Zilberman second from right.)

Israeli-based Project Ray is one of many innovative startups in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator. The program is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

CEO Boaz Zilberman discussed the evolution of the startup, challenges the company has encountered, and the importance of creating a U.S. presence in Connecticut.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and why did you start your company?

BOAZ ZILBERMAN: The company evolved over time to become what it is today.

We started with pro-bono technology work we had done with the Israeli Library for the Blind in 2012. In the process, we recognized the difficulties of elderly people with visual impairment (about 75% of the 6 million visually impaired in the United States). It was challenging for them to utlize the current technologies available that enable the blind to use smartphones. (The technologies involve reading any element on the screen aloud and a special set of fingertipping.)

IDH: How did you develop the business concept?

BOAZ: While working ith the community, we identified a new user interface concept, now a registered patent, that enables users to access different capabilities using a simple figure gesture on the screen.

Next was a long stage of trying to identify funding resources for the project. We managed to get funding from Israeli resources and Qualcomm Corp. in 2013, a time in which we “officially” launched the company and started the work. Throughtout 2014 and 2015, we developed the solutions, including ongoing product release cycles for friendly endusers around the world.

In 2016, we started actual sales of the product in Israel. Our sales increased considerably in early 2017, when we signed a distribution agreement with the Israeli mobile carriers that provides the solution free of charge f for any visually impaired person.

After securing this deal—and proving to ourselves that the business model we have to collaborate with mobile carriers works—we initiated the activity in the United States, which resulted in opening a U.S. office in Hartford and joining the reSET accelerator.

IDH: What makes your product innovative?

BOAZ: Project Ray provides accessible smartphones and related digital services for visually impaired people. Our unique approach is to provide a super-easy interface on the device that is the same across all applications and services.

In addition, we have a range of tactile interfaces in the form of touch buttons that enable people with different levels of visual impairment to use voice recognition, simple gestures, or physical keys to interact and use the device and applications.

IDH: Why did you become involved in reSET Accelerator program?

BOAZ: Being an Israeli company, we felt that we didn’t know enough about the go-to-market aspects of the U.S. market, especially as they related to impact ventures like us. Our gap of knowledge and understanding spanned a varity of issues—including finding the right channels to use, determining how to advertise to a niche segment, and identifying the government bodies that deal with the community as well as the non-governmental organizations involved.

Also important is the issue of funding. The concept of impact investing is relatively new and not clearly defined, and it’s of crucial importance to our expansion potential.

We had heard about reSET in the past, due to their work in the impact sector and the fact that we opened the office in Hartford. With their local presence, it was a “match made in heaven.”

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

BOAZ: Social impact for us is easy—we serve a niche segment of the community that is often ignored by technology giants.

Working with this community requires a high degree of specialization, a lot of patience, social skills, and superior technology. The personal drive is crucial to survive and continue in this market.

I think the drive to push it forward is a combination of the satisfaction you get when you see an elderly person exchange social messaging with his/her grandchild and the commitment of the few thousands of current customers who see us in the same way you look at Steve Jobs (assuming you have a smartphone!).

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

BOAZ: Clearly, understanding the needs and capabilities of our endusers.

Our ability to identify a user interface concept for the visually impaired is not trivial. Sighted people with a high degree of technology know-how will never be able to “see” things as the visually impaired do. Our ability to learn from what they do and the patience we’ve found with working and understanding them was the crucial, none-trivial aspect of it all.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

BOAZ: Connections and money.

Connections are required to speed and pinpoint the best go-to market channels. In our work with a small community of endusers and their caregivers, we cannot use general and expensive marketing channels. We must identify the best way to build awareness and approach users quickly and efficiently.

And money is required to finance the operation and build the infrastructure that is needed for marketing, training of potential users, and support.

In Israel, our day-to-day operation is managed by six visually impaired employees who run all the aspects of the business. Our immediate goal is to do the same in Connecticut. We are now seeking the first visually impaired employee to join us and help us drive the business forward.

IDH: What is the best advice you have received?

BOAZ: To listen to whoever and whatever you can—to judge with open mind—and be very stubborn and jealous for your own principals.

Learn more about Project Ray

VISIT: www.project-ray.com
FOLLOW: FacebookLinkedIn, and Twitter @ProjRAY

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:


8 Entrepreneurs Share the Greatest Lessons Learned From 2017

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In 2017, Innovation Destination Hartford met with dozens of entrepreneurs from all types of industries and all stages of growth. Here’s what 8 of them have to say they learned over the course of the year.

ASSOCIATION OF PERSONAL PHOTO ORGANIZERS (APPO)

I learned patience this year. I started 2017 with a set of goals to achieve, including rebranding, creating a personal website and completing a book, and thought those tasks would be completed by mid-June. Well, none of that happened until late December, but by waiting and holding ourselves to excellence it was worth the wait.
— Cathi Nelson, Founder

IDH INTERVIEW: Entrepreneur Helps Empower Small Business Owners
VISIT: www.appo.org
FOLLOW: Facebook

Andréa Hawkins and Doug Barber are Co-Owners of Berkins Blend Café, which is participating in the 2017 reSET Impact Accelerator.

BERKINS BLEND

Providing customer value is most important. This year we decided to begin baking so we could provide the freshest baked goods possible. This required an investment in new equipment which, in no time, paid for itself. Happy customers = more sales.
— Andréa Hawkins, Co-Founder

IDH INTERVIEW: Startup Concept Cyber Café Promotes Community Building
VISIT: www.berkinsblendcafe.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Twitter @berkinsblend

CONNECTICUT PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALISTS

Stay focused. Do not let the political or social drama of the day distract you from taking action on your plans to attain your business goals.
— David Bostic, Founder

IDH INTERVIEW: Successful Physical Therapy Startup With 3 Locations in Connecticut
VISIT: ctpts.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Twitter @callmyPT

GOLDEN EGG CONCEPTS

The greatest lesson from my standpoint is learn how to delegate/let go. It’s a hard lesson for a business owner, but so critical as you grow and expand. You can’t do it all. You’ll kill yourself trying.
— Lindsey Mathieu, Owner/Principal

IDH INTERVIEW: Connecticut Woman-Owned Business Finds Marketing Niche
VISIT: goldeneggconcepts.com
FOLLOW: Facebook, Instagram goldeneggconcepts, and Twitter @GoldenEgg_AEC

POSH (PERSONAL ORGANIZATION SOLUTIONS FOR THE HOME)

As cliché as it sounds, follow your dream, take the plunge, do what makes you happy, and success will follow. Your passion for your business will shine through, gravitating people to you.

As someone told me, “my geekiness about organizing” shines through as I talk. I’ve been a pharmacist for 30 years, and when I talk about that I’m not excited. But when I talk about my organizing business, my personality changes—my face lights up, my body starts to bounce, people can tell I love what I do. I always said the thing I loved most about pharmacy work was helping people, and now as a professional organizer, that’s what I get to do all the time!
— Leslie Raycraft, Founder

IDH INTERVIEW: Entrepreneur Launches Organizational Solutions Startup
FOLLOW: Facebook

Jonathan Johnson is Owner of Hartford-based startup SnapSeat Photo Booths.

SNAPSEAT PHOTO BOOTHS

I’ve learned there is no substitute for human capital in business. Having great people and a great team may be the difference between success and failure. The best idea and the best business plan mean nothing without a team to execute on it.
— Jonathan Johnson, Owner

IDH INTERVIEW: Entrepreneur Runs Successful Hartford-Area Photo Booth Company
VISIT: www.snapseatbooths.com
FOLLOW: Facebook, Instagram snapseatbooths, and Twitter @SnapSeatBooths

SUDOR TAINO FITNESS STUDIO

I have learned that my gifts and blessings are to be shared to inspire people to see the hero in themselves. Labeling myself a “vessel” enabled me to share more freely without the fear of being judged.
— Karla Medina, Owner and Founder 

IDH INTERVIEW: Entrepreneur Founds Innovative Variety Fitness Studio
VISIT: www.sudortaino.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Instagram sudortainogroupfitnessstudio

WHSQUARED

The greatest lesson I learned in 2017 is to collaborate. Work with as many people as possible who can help you get your word out, they are most likely doing the same thing and trying to build their own audience. Show true value to the person or business you are trying to work with. There needs to be a disproportionate amount of upfront value you provide to get people to want to work with you while at the same time expect nothing in return. Show good will through your interactions and more times than not, people will reciprocate—but be patient!
— Jeff Lovanio, Founder

IDH INTERVIEW: Startup Launches Mobile App for West Hartford Events
VISIT: whsquared.com

reSET Summer Internship Program 2018

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reSET’s Summer Internship Program is designed to equip students with skills in entrepreneurship and social enterprise. It also provides students with exposure to a diverse set of industries.

The program is comprised of three components:

  • Working directly with startup teams
  • Receiving professional development education
  • Taking part in the reSET Innovation Challenge, which provides an opportunity to for participants to launch their own startups

Since 2016, reSET has hosted 16 interns who have worked with 60 companies for approximately 4,418 hours.

Learn more and apply

Applications for the 2018 Summer Internship Program are open through March 15th.

NOTE: Colleges/universities interested in partnering with reSET should contact reSET Managing Director Ojala Naeem at onaeem@resetco.org.

Interested in learning more about the reSET Summer Internship experience? Read interviews with two interns:

 

Startup Provides an Innovative Carpooling Experience

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tripBuddy Founder Tawheed Abdul-Raheem (left) and Alex Fero (right), Head of Marketing and Business Development.

tripBuddy Inc. is one of many innovative startups in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator, a program geared toward entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

Founder Tawheed Abdul-Raheem told Innovation Destination Hartford about what makes his startup innovative and discussed what he hopes to gain from participating in the accelerator.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: Describe your company. What makes it innovative?

TAWHEED ABDUL-RAHEEM: tripBuddy Inc. is a startup designed to facilitate commuting and traveling for individuals without access to a car. We’re an innovative company because we encourage carpooling and ride sharing by providing the platform for those who drive to pick up other individuals on their traveling route with the goal of decreasing time and expense of commuting.

IDH: When and why did you start your company?

TAWHEED: The story behind tripBuddy dates back to 2008 when I arrived in the United States to study for my undergraduate degree. There were multiple occasions when I needed to leave my undergraduate campus to go to the store, but realized that transportation such as the college shuttle was unreliable.

Most of those times I would find many other students at the store as well, but I was too shy to ask for a ride. I wished a platform existed to connect me to other students. This encouraged me to devote my senior thesis to the creation of an application that would effectively track his campus shuttle bus.

Fast forward a few years, I was faced with a less than optimal situation once more, having to commute about an hour and a half each way daily to get to my new job in a city a bit too far from home. This transportation experience, along with many others, led to the development of tripBuddy in 2016. The application intends to facilitate commuting and ride sharing for those who do not wish to take a train for two hours.

The tripBuddy family hopes to engage users, drivers, and riders to hopefully one day contribute to the reduction of traffic.

tripBuddy screenshot

IDH: Why did you become involved in reSET Accelerator program?

TAWHEED: We got involved in the reSET Accelerator program because we felt it would give us the opportunity to expand our business to the Greater Hartford area. Additionally, we felt the program might provide us with resources and networking opportunities that would help us grow the company.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

TAWHEED: The goal of tripBuddy is to minimize commuter traffic and present a platform for commuters to meet, while riding together. The backbone to tripBuddy is the riders and drivers, so our role is to provide the most efficient medium for these interactions to occur—all while improving commuter/travel time and expenditure. Our company creates more human-to-human interaction, while also reducing costs, like many other companies have done in recent years.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

TAWHEED: Our biggest challenge at tripBuddy has been the expansion to more users, because for our startup to be self-maintaining we require more riders and drivers.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

TAWHEED: I hope to create partnerships with other companies that would lead to the promotion of my company, therefore expanding my users.

IDH: Any advice for other startups?

TAWHEED: Sales is a numbers game—to increase your chances of success, make sure you reach out to a ton of potential customers.

Learn more about tripBuddy Inc.

VISIT: www.thetripbuddyapp.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and LinkedIn

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:

Startup Brings Fitness/Dance Workouts to Wethersfield, CT

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CNG Fit, LLC Founder Brandi Kilbourne (second from left) says she launched her startup as “a fun and effective way to engage in fitness through dance.”

FitPartyMe a CNG Fit, LLC brand, is one of many innovative startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator. The program is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

CNG Fit Founder and CEO Brandi Kilbourne told Innovation Destination Hartford about the importance of making connections when launching a startup.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and why did you start your company?

BRANDI KILBOURNE: The concept of FitPartyMe was born back in 2013. Allow me to set the stage: I was a professional commercial hip-hop dancer in New York City and twerk dance classes were all the rage. A childhood friend of mine from New Orleans approached me with the idea to start teaching twerk fitness classes. Twerking is a dance staple in the South (where I grew up), making me somewhat of an expert! I loved the idea of teaching a dance style I’d grown up, on but really wanted to take it a step further. We eventually parted ways and I began working on what is now FitPartyMe.

IDH: How did you develop the business concept?

BRANDI: While developing this program, in trials, I began to recognize certain patterns of attrition in those who had fitness goals but, for whatever reason, couldn’t stick with a program. I was intrigued by how I could best design a program that seamlessly blended dance and fitness in a way that was welcoming and fun yet yielded real results.

I went on to obtain a certification in personal training from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and developed FitPartyMe, a fun, approachable, affordable, convenient, and effective way to engage in fitness through dance.

FitPartyMe started off with pop-up classes in New York and Connecticut a year and a half ago.

CNG Fit, LLC Founder Brandi Kilbourne instructs a FitPartyMe class.

It developed into FitPartyMe a CNG Fit, LLC brand, which is a membership-based community that gives members affordable access to live dance/dance fitness classes at our FitPartyMe gyms, online dance fitness programs, and nationwide pop-up dance fitness parties (which often include musical talent, health/wellness seminars, and exhibitors).

As of January 2018, we have a facility in Wethersfield, CT, where clients can come to our classes on a weekly basis.

IDH: Why did you become involved in reSET Accelerator program?

BRANDI: As a newbie entrepreneur with a tiny staff, I needed all the help I could possibly get. I needed to be in an environment where everyone is making their startup machines work. I needed to be connected with those who know more than I do about how to keep a startup machine running. The reSET Accelerator program was the answer.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

BRANDI: We donate 10% of our profits to a charity or non-profit every fiscal year. Additionally, we offer certain donation-based programs/classes, like our “Dance Lab,” where 100% of the class fees are accepted as donation and go directly to a local charity of choice (chosen by the class participants).

As we expand, we plan to partner with civilian re-entry programs on a nationwide level for military veterans and recently incarcerated individuals that will train and employ them in certain CNG Fit LLC departments.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

BRANDI: Our biggest challenge has been getting our market customer through the doors and exposed to our product.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

BRANDI: The most important resource for us to move forward right now is funding and working capital. FitPartyMe is currently operating a beta product version. To get the program to the next level, we’ll need more working capital/investments.

IDH: Any advice for other startups?

BRANDI: If something isn’t working, pivot.

Learn more about CNG Fit, LLC and FitPartyMe

VISIT: www.fitpartyme.com
FOLLOW: Twitter @FitPartyMe

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:

CT Founders Discuss Their Best Day as an Entrepreneur

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Innovation Destination Hartford asked Hartford-area business owners to tell us about their best day as an entrepreneur. Below, 7 of their answers.

Beth Bolton is Owner/Pastry Chef at A Little Something Bakery in West Hartford, CT.

A LITTLE SOMETHING BAKERY

My niece, Allison, works as a second grade teacher in New Britain. She had helped me with my business since day one. Allison asked me to make undecorated gingerbread men for her class. I told her she could not pay me, to just let me know how the kids enjoyed the project. She sent a video of her class—their enjoyment brought a tear to my ear. This is why I do what I do! I think as entrepreneurs it’s it is our responsibility to give back. Thank you for letting me be a part of something wonderful.
— Beth Bolton, Owner/Pastry Chef

READ: Entrepreneurial Center Fosters Hartford-Area Startup Bakery
VISIT: www.alittlesomethingbakery.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Instagram alittlesomethingcakestudio

ASSOCIATION OF PERSONAL PHOTO ORGANIZERS (APPO)

Three years ago, as I walked around the convention hall of our third annual photo organizing conference, I knew the profession and business I started would continue on without me. It was no longer just “my idea,” but a business and passion for hundreds of others.
— Cathi Nelson, Founder

READ: Entrepreneur Helps Empower Small Business Owners
VISIT: www.appo.org
FOLLOW: Facebook

CONNECTICUT PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALISTS

I’ve had too many “best days” in the past year to single out one day. But, today is going to be one of them. I make it my daily goal to ensure that someone is going to have a magic moment, either myself, one of my employees, or one of my clients.
— David Bostic, Founder

READ: Successful Physical Therapy Startup With 3 Locations in Connecticut
VISIT: ctpts.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Twitter @callmyPT

LIFER FITNESS STUDIO

I love that Lifer Fitness Studio plays a part in making people feel good about their bodies and their overall fitness efforts. I have a few phrases I find myself repeating during my classes to help encourage and motivate people to finish strong. To me there is nothing better than that look of accomplishment on our clients’ faces after they finish a workout. I’m convinced that these good feeling stay with them as the go out into the community. Teaching classes and riding that wave of endorphins with my class is the Best Day for this entrepreneur.
— Debra Fountain, Owner

READ: Entrepreneur Creates Fitness Startup Success in West Hartford
VISIT: liferitswhatwedo.com
FOLLOW: Facebook, Instagram liferfitness, and Twitter @liferfitness

Onyx Spirits Co., Highclere Castle Cigar & Highclere Castle Spirits Co-Founder & CEO Adam von Gootkin delivers a Ted Talk.

ONYX SPIRITS CO., HIGHCLERE CASTLE CIGAR & HIGHCLERE CASTLE SPIRITS

My best day as an entrepreneur was the day we had our son this past July. It struck me more than ever that entrepreneurs are the designers of reality, and with that power and vision we are, in fact, continuously engineering a new world.

Using the wins, failures, and infinite daily lessons we inevitably experience as entrepreneurs can equip us well for raising good children—if we are conscious enough and can muster the wisdom to use it.

I’ve realized so many parallels in having a child and starting a company—not always knowing what you’re doing, big learning curves, lots of sacrifice, working as a team, and of course sleepless nights! The rewards and sense of pride that come from both are similarly fulfilling, as both involve creation.

The key to success in entrepreneurship is to dream big, clarify your vision, do what you say you are going to do consistently, and get to work. To be conscious of what you’re creating and the impact is has on people is the new requirement and obligation for business. If I’m successful in teaching these principles to my son, I’ll consider it my greatest success in life. And, to those looking to start a business I say that if one can do a great job raising children, they likely have just what it takes to start a business and succeed.
— Adam von Gootkin, Co-Founder & CEO

READ: Entrepreneurial Team Launches Connecticut-Based Cigar Company
and Onyx Moonshine: Reviving the American Spirit In Connecticut
VISIT: www.onyxmoonshine.com and highclerecastlecigar.com
FOLLOW: Onyx Spirits Facebook and Highclere Castle Facebook, Instagram onyxmoonshine and highclerecastlecigar, and Twitter @OnyxMoonshine, @HighclereCigar, and @AdamvonGootkin

SUDOR TAINO FITNESS STUDIO

Recently, I had a media company come in and film a class. When we were done, they were emotional about what they had witnessed. Each one of them was enamored by the energy, camaraderie, passion and power—namely the overall vibe they saw. It made my heart smile because it meant my business was showing up exactly the way I intended it to thanks to our commitment to its cultivation.
— Karla Medina, Owner and Founder 

READ: Entrepreneur Founds Innovative Variety Fitness Studio
VISIT: www.sudortaino.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Instagram sudortainogroupfitnessstudio

TEN DIGIT COMMUNICATIONS

An entrepreneur’s best day is always to come. There is always an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to circumstances and unfolding events—or a permanent state of optimism. This drives a constantly evolving expectation that tomorrow will always be better than today.

This is true at TEN DIGIT Communications, where we have identified a very large problem to be solved. These undertakings take time and persistence. Hope is a tremendous guiding light, and in our case, we hope businesses ultimately wish to communicate with customers the same way these customers communicate with their friends—using smartphone solutions and intelligent messaging.
— Gary Brandt, President & Co-Founder

READ: Hartford-Based Innovative Telecommunications Startup
VISIT: www.tendigitcommunications.com
FOLLOW: Facebook

Startup Launches Natural Beauty Product Line

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Entrepreneur Sami Jo Jensen is Founder + Chief Beauty Maker at florapothecarie. The Middletown-based startup is participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator, a program designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

Sami Jo Jensen is Founder + Chief Beauty Maker at florapothecarie, a Middletown-based startup participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator.

Sami Jo shared what she hopes to gain from the Impact Accelerator and the advice she’s received about being a business owner.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When did you start your company and how did you develop the business concept?

SAMI JO JENSEN: I launched florapothecarie in 2016, but I began making natural beauty products long before that.

It all started in 2009, when I discovered my favorite body wash contained a host of ingredients I couldn’t pronounce. In researching these long-winded chemicals, I found many of them were linked to skin ailments from rashes and irritation to cancers and birth defects. I immediately tossed all offending cosmetics and got to work whipping up my own natural beauty concoctions in the kitchen.

IDH: What makes your startup innovative?

SAMI JO: florapothecarie is a line of 100% natural and cruelty-free beauty and skincare products, all handmade in small batches by me. I use hypoallergenic, vegan, organic, and fair trade certified ingredients that come straight from the earth and are safe for even the most sensitive skin—nothing artificial or toxic. My motto? You’re a natural beauty; keep your beauty natural.

IDH: Why did you become involved in reSET Accelerator program?

SAMI JO: Currently, florapothecarie is my side hustle, and I need help turning it into my full-time business. I didn’t go to business school, so there is a lot I have to figure out for myself and it’s not always as easy as Googling!

I know being a part of the reSET Impact Accelerator 2018 cohort will help me add structure to my business, define my growth strategy, network with fellow entrepreneurs, and learn, learn, learn!

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

SAMI JO: First, florapothecarie is built around the simple idea that we are already beautiful, we don’t need to “cover up,” and everything we need to care for our skin can be found in nature. The average adult woman uses 12 personal care products every day and teenage girls use even more. Between all of these products, our skin absorbs approximately 170 different chemicals per day, many of which have been linked to birth defects, cancers, and other developmental disorders. I want to help women embrace their natural beauty and ditch chemical-laden products.

Greater Hartford startup florapothecarie launched a line of natural beauty products.

Second, I wanted to create a product line that is truly vegan and cruelty-free: no animal testing of ingredients or final products and no animal-derived ingredients. More than 115 million animals each year are tortured in experiments conducted by or for major beauty brands even though humane alternatives exist. florapothecarie is certified cruelty-free and vegan by Leaping Bunny and PETA.

And third? florapothecarie is committed to the future of our planet. Ingredients are sustainably harvested and certified organic whenever possible. All bottles and jars are glass, so they are easily reusable, recyclable, and (unlike plastic jars) are impervious to chemical breakdown by essential oils. Gift boxes, tissue paper, marketing collateral, business cards, and shipping boxes are made from/printed on recycled materials and post-consumer paper.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

SAMI JO: Navigating tax codes and legalities of running a business has been the most challenging for me, as well as understanding funding options. Like many startups, I fell into the trap of pouring every penny back into the business rather than getting into the habit of paying myself right from the get-go. (I do now!)

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

SAMI JO: Knowledge and funds, of course! Understanding how to navigate those tax liabilities, legal obligations, and the funding landscape will surely help me gain a firmer grasp on florapothecarie’s growth potential. As mentioned in my initial pitch at the reSET Accelerator kickoff, my goal is to become self-employed and get out of my spare bedroom so I can open a retail location where products will be made, sold, and distributed through wholesale and e-commerce.

IDH: What is the best advice you’ve received?

SAMI JO: Last year, I was a guest on the Being Boss podcast with Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson. When I revealed to them that I wasn’t paying myself, they said, “If you never make it a priority to pay yourself from your business, you’ll never make it a priority to pay youSrself from your business. Even if you just start writing yourself a check for $50 a week…writing yourself a check from your business is an absolute must.”

Learn more about florapothecarie

VISIT: www.florapothecarie.com
FOLLOW: Facebook, Instagram florapothecarie Twitter @florapothecarie

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:

Silicon Valley Mental Health Startup Creates a Presence in Hartford

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LARKR CEO and Co-Founder Shawn Kernes has established a presence in Hartford for his Silicon Valley-based startup.

Silicon Valley -based LARKR is one of many innovative startups in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator. The program is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

LARKR CEO and Co-Founder Shawn Kernes talked about the importance of establishing a presence in Hartford and what it really takes to launch a startup.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When did you launch the startup?

SHAWN KERNES: We officially launched LARKR in November 2017. The app is now available on the Apple App Store and will be coming soon to Android.

IDH: How did you develop the business concept?

SHAWN: For more than 20 years, I’ve had the pleasure of leading burgeoning companies like StubHub, eBay, and Beyond The Rack, which all disrupted their respective industries for the better, utilizing the best of new technologies. Although the work was enjoyable and I was successful, after a while I began to feel as though something was missing.

Meanwhile, I saw my wife Chris Kernes, a licensed marriage and family therapist, gaining personal satisfaction and joy by helping hundreds of people overcome their personal challenges through therapy.

I knew I wanted to do something that had a social good component. Then, I learned that an estimated 30 to 50 million Americans aren’t getting the mental health care they need. Closing this service gap using modern technology became my passion project, and the idea for LARKR was born.

IDH: Tell us more about LARKR and what makes it innovative.

SHAWN: LARKR is an on-demand mental health app seeking to close the massive service gap that currently exists in mental health care. Through an easy-to-use-platform, the app connects patients across the country with certified mental health care professionals in real time from the convenience of their smartphones. In addition to therapy sessions, the app provides free tools for everyday mental wellness, including a daily mood tracker “My Story,” a daily good deed suggesting feature “Be the Change,” and guided meditations.

IDH: How does the app work?

The LARKR app connects patients across the country with certified mental health care professionals in real time from the convenience of their smartphones.

SHAWN: LARKR provides a convenient alternative for people who may not have access to or may not be comfortable with traditional therapy. Once users create a free profile with LARKR, they can be connected within minutes to licensed clinicians via live streaming video for 50-minute sessions. The platform also allows for multi-user sessions from different locations, which means couples can schedule a therapy session together while on their lunch breaks or parents can join their child’s session during the discussion of a particular topic.

In short, the app ensures that mental health care is readily available for anyone in need, anywhere and anytime.

IDH: Why did you become involved in reSET Accelerator program?

SHAWN: Typically, reSET’s Impact Accelerator works exclusively with local businesses, but its leadership team was so excited by LARKR’s mission that they invited us to participate.

The program’s thought-provoking workshops and powerful network, combined with its passion for changing the world through innovation and entrepreneurship, fit right in with LARKR’s company values.

Also, since Hartford is known as “the insurance capital of the world,” it is a valuable location for healthcare companies like us to establish a presence.

We are excited about the opportunity to utilize the Impact Accelerator’s tools and insights to help us reach more people in need of LARKR’s on-demand therapy services.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

SHAWN: As many as 50 million Americans who suffer from mental illness currently go without needed healthcare due to cost, lack of access to qualified local practitioners, or because of the outdated stigma that exists around seeking mental health care.

By minimizing the barriers that keep people from receiving care and making it easier for people to get the help they need, LARKR will not only improve the quality of life for millions of Americans, but ultimately save countless lives.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

SHAWN: All startups are hard. They are lonely, scary, and psychologically stressful. Great startups aim to change the world in some way, and resistance to that change can be daunting.

Our biggest challenges are related to awareness and stigma. People can’t use something they don’t know about, and won’t use something they are afraid will cause them embarrassment or even humiliation.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

SHAWN: Top of mind right now are: capital to accelerate growth, help navigating the insurance and medical establishment, and, of course, media support to raise awareness.

IDH: Any advice for other startups?

SHAWN: There are many important don’ts:

  1. Don’t get discouraged.
  2. Don’t fear competition.
  3. Don’t lose track of what’s important.
  4. Don’t get married to your own ideas.
  5. Don’t forget to breathe.
  6. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do it all yourself.
  7. Don’t expect others to do the things you don’t want to do (take out the trash, clean the kitchen, drive people home) and don’t be late for meetings—be the first person in and the last person out.
  8. Don’t pay yourself more than you really need. If you are a founder and are able to squirrel away money for a rainy day, you’re doing it wrong. Your equity is your savings plan.

I would also add that no one will ever care more about your business, your customers, your success, or you, than you do, so roll up your sleeves and make it happen.

When asked what it was like to be an overnight success, I think it was Reid Hoffman who said, “It’s nice to be in the daylight after years of darkness.” Remember, startups don’t just happen, they take years of hard work, sleepless nights, fights, failure, and tears. But succeed or fail, they will be some of the best years of your life.

LARKR Co-Founder Jon Dabach also noted that the best advice he ever received was actually from me: Just do it. There are a million reasons not to create a startup and there are a million people who will tell you you’re crazy for even trying. But if you have an idea you really care about, something you can live and breathe day-in and day-out for years and not get bored, then just figure out a way. Beg, borrow, and steal and just start. There’s no template, no business plan, no mentor who knows everything—you just have to start.

Learn more about LARKR

VISIT: larkr.com
FOLLOW: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter @LARKRCOM

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:

 


Startup Grind New Haven to Host March 5 Event

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Rob Bettigole, Founder and Managing Partner of Elm Street Ventures will join Startup Grind New Haven at The Grove in New Haven Monday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m.

Learn more and register for the upcoming Startup Grind event.

New Haven-based Elm Street Ventures is a seed and early-stage venture capital firm in which Yale University is the largest investor. Founded in 2006, Elm Street Ventures has invested in 21 companies to date and co-founding many.

Rob served on the Operating Board of the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute (YEI) from its inception in 2007 through its absorption by Tsai CITY in 2017. He is on the Investment Committee of the YEI Innovation Fund, which Elm Street manages. Rob has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Applied Science from Yale University and an Master of Public Policy and Management from the Yale School of Management, where he is an Executive Fellow and helps teach courses on entrepreneurship.

Rob serves as Chairman of P2 Science and is also a board member of SeeClickFix. He is Elm Street’s observer on the boards of Arvinas, Inc. and Device42. Previously, he served as a board member of AxioMx, ShareGrove, and Retail Optimization Inc. and served as an observer on the boards of Affomix, BioRelix, and Metagenomix.

Prior to Elm Street Ventures, Rob ran an infrastructure business and helped found several startups. Earlier in his career, he was a venture capitalist with Rothschild Inc. and Investor AB.

Rob will join Startup Grind to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he’s learned.

Find out more about Startup Grind

READ: Startup Grind Develops a Presence in Connecticut
VISIT: www.startupgrind.com/new-haven
FOLLOW: Facebook StartupGrind, Instagram startup, and Twitter @StartupGrind

 

CT Company Provides Co-Parenting Tools

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Entrepreneur Traci Whitney is Founder of Two Happy Homes, which is participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator.

Two Happy Homes Founder Traci Whitney is participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator, a program designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

Traci joined the accelerator to get support to help grow her business. She told Innovation Destination Hartford about her startup experience and future goals.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When did you start your company and how did you develop the business concept?

Traci Whitney: The concept of my company came to me after my divorce in 2008. I quickly realized that, as a single mother, I could use some help organizing everything that goes on with my kids, and how to best communicate those with my ex-husband. I looked for a product on the market but was not able to find anything. It took some time to gather my ideas and enough funding to make it a reality. The website launched in 2012.

IDH: Tell us about the company.

TRACI: Two Happy Homes provides co-parents tools to help successfully parent between two households and communicate better on a day-to-day basis. The tools include a customized shared calendar and a note board that helps track expenses and payments and enables the sharing of vital family-related information.

IDH: Why did you get involved in reSET Accelerator program?

TRACI: Two Happy Homes has been growing, but at a slower pace than I would like. Now that my children are a bit older, I am focusing on growing the business so I can take it to the next level. The reSET Accelerator program seemed like a natural progression for me, and the support it provides has already proved invaluable.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

TRACI: Our goal is to create a more peaceful coexistence for co-parents and their kids. Many of these families deal with stress and anxiety following a divorce or separation, and kids often feel the effects. We want to simplify daily life for these families, so they can move on to the important job of raising and nurturing their children, without the added stress of organizing life between two homes.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

TRACI: My biggest challenge has been the battle of time and money, as I’m sure many startups often feel. When I started as a single mother I had little of both, and getting the company off of the ground was certainly a challenge. I still face some of these same uphill battles, but now that I’m able to focus on the growth of the company I’m working harder to procure more of both.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

TRACI: My future goals include adding new features to Two Happy Homes as well as modernizing the user interface to keep up with constantly changing technology. Marketing is also a focus for me. In the United States alone there are roughly 38 million co-parents, so reaching my core audience is a big task. I am currently seeking investments to fund these projects.

IDH: What lessons have you learned in your entrepreneurial journey?

TRACI: Being a part of this program has made me realize that I’m not alone in this process. Other startups have taken some time to get to where they are, and not everything in entrepreneurship works at light speed. My business is at a point where it’s ready to grow—and I’m ready to grow along with it—which I am very much looking forward to making happen.

Learn more about Two Happy Homes

VISIT: www.twohappyhomes.com
FOLLOW: Facebook and Twitter @TwoHappyHomes

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:

 

How Connecticut Became the Least Likely Innovation Hub in the U.S.

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This blog originally appeared on the PE Hub Network, February 15, 2017.

Matt McCooe is Chief Executive Officer at Connecticut Innovations.

Think back to where Connecticut was 20 years ago.

A National Hockey League franchise had just left the state, it was one of the only places in the country where incomes were actually falling and we were known more for David Letterman’s speeding tickets than anything resembling innovation.

On the national economic stage, Connecticut was a punchline.

Yet, since then, Connecticut has steadily flown under the radar, evolving from a state that most investors would bypass to a place that saw exits for two homegrown unicorns—startups valued at more than $1 billion—in the past few months.

How is Connecticut suddenly topping lists of the most desirable locations for tech startups? It wasn’t easy, requiring that 20 years plus just the right combination of ingredients.

We’re pleased that AOL Co-Founder Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest fund is promoting venture capital investment in areas bracketed by the East and West Coasts. But Connecticut, quietly, is already there.

Here’s how things turned around.

AN ENGAGED UNIVERSITY IS A LINCHPIN

Boulder’s startup success doesn’t happen without the University of Colorado. Austin’s doesn’t happen without the University of Texas. And the New Haven startup scene doesn’t happen without Yale.

But it’s not just a matter of having a major university in town. Plenty of college towns have very smart people and don’t have startup ecosystems. The university needs to be engaged in the process as well. In New Haven, Yale has embraced its role as the city’s biggest economic driver, offering mentorship and funding to seed new companies.

This has given Yale graduates new options when they look for fun, innovative places to work, enabling them to stay in town after graduation instead of leaving for nearby cities like New York or Boston.

Startups need passionate, forward-thinking talent willing to take lower salaries in riskier business models. Recent college graduates are the ideal candidates to fill those roles. As recent graduates gain experience, they may move on to roles at larger companies in the region.

It’s a cycle that benefits startups, established companies and universities alike. It can even revitalize entire cities: New Haven was once crime-ridden and virtually deserted in the evenings, where now it has lively nightlife.

But for this type of economy to thrive, universities must be willing to embrace and encourage it. Yale’s leadership in healthcare research has provided a beachhead for the region in the life sciences.

ENTREPRENEURS CREATE A NETWORK EFFECT

Startup ecosystems need critical mass, and today more than 130 startups are in Stamford alone. Connecticut had to reach a point of startup density where investors and founders would recognize it as a viable location to start innovative businesses. Startups beget more startups, and there seems to be a point at which the floodgates open.

Connecticut has quietly become home to nearly 1,000 tech startups, and we expect that number to grow over the coming years.

BELIEVE IN UNICORNS

Achieving unicorn status is what every founder and investor dreams of. Yet, it’s extremely rare. Some 57 startups joined the unicorn club in 2017, which was down from the peak two years ago, but two of those companies are based in Connecticut.

Datto, of Norwalk, was acquired in late 2017 after hitting a billion-dollar valuation, and New Haven’s Biohaven consistently trades near a $1 billion market cap following its IPO last year.

Success stories like these are attracting new attention to our state, with more investors and founders considering locating here.

QUALITY OF LIFE MATTERS

It might sound simple, but being a nice place to live matters, and in this area Connecticut shines. The state offers easy access to several major cities at a fraction of the cost, a waterfront lifestyle and downtown areas that are bustling with activity.

The math is easy: New York City home prices average over $1,500 per square foot. But 45 minutes away in Stamford, that price drops to less than $270 a square foot. Startups can spend less and employees can enjoy a higher outdoor quality of life in Connecticut.

As more students stick around and new talent comes to Connecticut’s cities, local economies are also being rejuvenated. Anyone who visited 15 years ago would be surprised to see the number of restaurants, bars and other small businesses that now accompany the influx of tech companies.

IT TAKES AN ECOSYSTEM

We’ve come a long way, but there’s still plenty of work to do in Connecticut’s startup scene. Local government and business leaders recognize that investing in development, whether directly related to startups or not, will keep the momentum going. It takes everyone, from large companies to founders to local brew pub owners, for a place like Connecticut to turn into a thriving technology hub.

Connecticut will continue to need the guidance and support of all of its leaders, in all spaces, to ensure the state remains an affordable, attractive destination for technology innovators.

Will that bring the Hartford Whalers back? We’re still working on it.

About the Author
Matthew McCooe is CEO of Connecticut Innovations, Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and support for innovative, growing companies. Learn more about Connecticut Innovations in our interview: Connecticut Innovations: Contributing to Growth in CT.

Startup Provides Risk Management Software for Businesses

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Mark L. Barry recently co-founded FieldOwler LLC. The Connecticut startup is participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator, a program is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

Mark L. Barry is Co-Founder of Connecticut startup FieldOwler LLC.

Mark told Innovation Destination Hartford about what he hopes to gain from the Impact Accelerator and his plans to become more involved with the Connecticut entrepreneurial ecosystem

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: How has your background shaped you to launch your startup?

MARK BARRY: My background as a business advisor, management consultant, and executive has given me unique perspectives on worker classification and matters involving compliance with labor standards.

Businesses that classify employees as independent contractors—knowingly or unknowingly—are not only out of compliance with labor law but are engaged in a high-stakes game of financial and operational roulette. In the event independent contractors are determined to be employees by a government agency or in the courtroom, businesses can face significant expenses due to back pay that may be owed to employees, associated back taxes, interest, and any imposed penalties.

IDH: When and why did you start your company?

MARK: FieldOwler was formed in June 2017. We created our software to specifically solve this problem, so owners and executives can proactively make more informed and holistic worker classification decisions that promote long-term success of their unique businesses.

IDH: How did you develop the business concept?

MARK: The idea grew out of my collective experiences and began to take shape following a series of client-related worker classification experiences while performing in a business advisor capacity.

I spoke about my business concept with a cross-section of business owners, attorneys, CPAs, and advisory professionals and conducted research about the market. It soon became evident that the combination of my varied business background, first-hand experience with multiple worker-related audits, and deep interest in labor compliance matters could bring significant value to businesses that are currently utilizing or thinking about utilizing independent contractors.

I brought the concept and requirements to my friend, Kam Heydari, a former CTO. That day, Kam became my co-founder and we agreed to collaborate on developing a software solution.

IDH: Tell us a little about the products and services you offer.

MARK: FieldOwler currently provides two software products and an array of high-value professional services. Our offerings enable businesses, organizations, and agencies of all sizes and industries with heightened risk management capabilities that foster enhanced worker classification compliance.

The FieldOwler ARM (Audit and Risk Management) platform provides a secure, hosted environment, a rules-based engine, multi-factor assessments, unique risk scores, and estimates of misclassification exposure.

FieldOwler ARM Light is a risk assessment tool that provides a high-level cross-section of a select number of risk categories that is helpful to owners and professionals in human resources, finance, and compliance disciplines.

IDH: Why did you become involved in the reSET Accelerator program?

MARK: I was referred to reSET by the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC). The next day I found myself at a meeting with reSET’s Jeremy Szechenyi and Hibba Meraay to get an overview of their offerings for startups like FieldOwler. I was excited to learn about the Impact Accelerator opportunity, in part because of the high-quality programming and support network provided, but also because being a part of the Connecticut entrepreneurial ecosystem is very important to me.

I was raised in Manchester and attended schools in Connecticut and realize that now is the time to step up and help create new jobs. We are also in the process of developing an intern program at FieldOwler, which is a rewarding way to give back and provide opportunities to students at my two alma maters—University of Connecticut and Trinity College.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

MARK: By enabling businesses across the United States to make more informed and holistic worker classification decisions, FieldOwler helps heighten labor compliance efforts. This is important because, for every business we serve, we contribute directly to helping create a more level playing field among the business community.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a startup?

MARK: Preparing ourselves sufficiently to approach and pitch effectively to potential investors has been our biggest challenge to date. We are excited about our acceptance in the Impact Accelerator because the four-month program will help us accelerate our readiness to take this important step on our business journey.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

MARK: Referrals and investment capital are critical to moving our company forward.

First, FieldOwler is working to build partnerships with law firms, CPA firms, and members of the advisory community. It’s imperative for us to become a trusted, independent resource for these firms, which can refer their clients our way. It’s also important for us to reciprocate and refer our clients to our partners.

Second, finding the right investment partner to join our team and help us execute our growth plan is a big and essential step for us. Being a part of reSET’s Impact Accelerator and rich entrepreneurial ecosystem of potential clients, investors, advisors, and mentors is a significant part of our efforts to accelerate in both areas.

IDH: What is the best advice you have given/received?

MARK: Given: Developing those around you to become comfortable with being uncomfortable will help them better embrace change and increase performance during challenging times.

Received: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” – R. Buckminster Fuller

Learn more about FieldOwler

VISIT: fieldowler.com
FOLLOW: LinkedIn and Twitter @FieldOwler

Find out more about startups participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator:

Are Entrepreneurs Solving Real Problems?

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Entrepreneurship evokes a “How did they do that? Why didn’t I think of that?” mystique. Perhaps it’s the ingenuity and artistry to identify a problem and devise an elegant solution. Perhaps it’s the elusive glamour—the leadership, the self-empowering potential, the euphoric message that dreams come true. Perhaps it’s because we are oblivious to the messy process with frustratingly tedious effort that comes before glowing success.

While we celebrate the intrepid entrepreneur, the litmus test for success is product/market fit or, to quote University of Cincinnati professor Mary Elizabeth Debs, “So what? Who cares?”

Those blunt four words are a brutal indictment against a belief that something is important. No matter how well-crafted the sentence, it is a victim of a red ink edit if it doesn’t add to the story or argument—likewise entrepreneurs must choose the right words to explain their product.

In the startup world, Silicon Valley success story and academic Steve Blank addresses product/market fit with his now legendary four-step Customer Development process.

He makes it clear that a startup is not a small version of an established company, because established companies execute proven business models, while a startup is a temporary organization searching for a repeatable, scalable, profitable business model.

As such, the first step in the Customer Development process is Customer Discovery, which answers two basic questions:

  1. Do I, the entrepreneur, fully understand the nature of the problem I am trying to solve?
  2. Do people care about my solution?

 

THE ENTREPRENEUR’S SEARCH TO TEST ASSUMPTIONS

Successful entrepreneurs offer better solutions than the competition and compelling reasons why their mousetrap is better.

It seems obvious; but to do that, entrepreneurs must discover if their perception of the problem and solutions aligns with their customers’ perceptions and if enough people want the entrepreneur’s mousetrap to justify a business venture.

Blank advocates customer discovery using the scientific method where entrepreneurs create a series of hypotheses to test beliefs about their business venture. He them tells them to “get the heck out of the building” and engage in a face-to-face, listen-to-learn meeting with potential customers.

If hypotheses about the nature of the problem and customer sentiment about existing solutions are proven correct, the next round of “get the heck out of the building” is to discover if customers want the entrepreneur’s solution and why—or why not.

When hypotheses are proven wrong, entrepreneurs discard them and rethink possibilities (different solution, different features, different audience, different price point, different explanation, etc.). Then they form new hypotheses and repeat Step 1 Customer Discovery until their potential customers confirm each hypothesis.

Step 2 Customer Validation—the second half of the Customer Development search—puts those confirmed hypotheses to the test with real sales to validate if the business model has a fighting chance of success.

HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING…

Writing hypotheses is a shortcut to flush out perceptions versus reality by forcing entrepreneurs to encapsulate reasoning in single sentences with true/false verdicts.

  • Hypothesis: People who can’t or shouldn’t drive prefer riding in their own cars driven by private chauffeurs to taxis or Uber. True or False?
  • Hypothesis: Students with mental health problems find college services inadequate and will welcome phone call therapy. True or False?
  • Hypothesis: There is global food insecurity/illiteracy and aquaponics alleviates those concerns. True or False?

Chauffer vs Taxi. A likely first impression of chauffeur service would be “that’s an extravagance reserved for the wealthy.” If pricing overcomes that perception, the value proposition might be “You can afford to live the luxury.” But will elitism persuade enough people to validate the business?

If customers could request the same driver the way they request the same hair stylist, the value proposition shifts to trust. If taxis have issues with germs and bed bugs, another different target audience might be the person who values hygiene and the business might have a cyclic peak during flu season.

Phone Call Counseling. If students need mental health support, what makes existing services inadequate? Do students need help on an impulsive rather than a scheduled basis or late at night? Will students open up more easily in the comfort and privacy their own room? Does it matter unless insurance companies cover counseling via phone?

Customer discovery brings out the Sherlock Holmes in entrepreneurs because they have to listen, assess what they hear, and tweeze out the right questions. The resulting insights create the product/market fit.

“Counseling when you need it, where you want it” is a different value proposition than “Counseling to survive college.” And if there are, let’s say, three major problems, the mission could be “Counseling for depression, anxiety, and addiction.”

Global Food Shortage. The average person might think solving the world’s food shortage and illiteracy is a daunting goal for idealists. But that could be reframed so the value becomes personal: We are solving the world’s food problem one kitchen at a time with local, organic produce—or an easy aquaponics system if you want to grow your own—that can help reduce poor health, lost wages, and medical costs.

REFINING THE ENTREPRENEUR’S MISSION

Time and again, too many entrepreneurs misunderstand or misstate their mission. The question is why. Are entrepreneurs conflating their personal passion with value to the customer? Is there a failure to understand the nature of the problem? Or are they simply not finessing the English language to communicate their value proposition?

Customer Discovery with its hypotheses building and customer feedback lets entrepreneurs test their beliefs and harvest insights—which may be delivered as an off-the-cuff comment (too bad this is green, because if you had blue, we’d buy 1,000).

Customer Discovery helps ensure entrepreneurs have a viable business model before they pit the ticking clock against burn rate (the rate at which money is spent) in their race to success. Their ability to choose the right words and decipher customer responses can trip them up or push them over the finish line.

About the Author
Erikka Brickey has a master’s degree in English, diverse small business and non-profit experience, and a relentless curiosity to probe ideas in search of insights that drive meaningful solutions. Currently in publishing, she recently created educator materials for entrepreneurial customer discovery.

Entrepreneur Creates Sustainable, Reusable Fabric Gift Wrap

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Glastonbury, CT-based startup Regift the Wrap created sustainable, reusable gift wrap out of colorful stretch fabric.

Entrepreneur Linda Longobardi recently launched Regift the Wrap, LLC. The Glastonbury-based startup is participating in the 2018 reSET Impact Accelerator program, which is designed for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development.

Linda discussed her involvement with reSET and the ways in which her startup is making a social impact.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and why did you start your company?

LINDA LONGOBARDI: I launched Regift the Wrap in January, 2017

The inspiration came to me several years ago when I was watching my niece’s children wrapping and unwrapping random objects in the house. At the end of the night, there was a large crumpled up heap of wrapping paper on the floor. I knew as a society, we could do better. I started making tubular “sleeves” out of colorful stretch fabric that could easily slide over a gift box and tuck itself in without tape or scissors. As a bonus, it was reusable for many years to come.

IDH: Tell us about the startup and what makes it innovative.

LINDA: I import and custom make tubular colorful stretch fabric sleeves, coordinating stretch bands and accessories to wrap a gift in seconds. The product can be “gifted forward” and reused by the next 50 people who are lucky enough to receive it. It’s the gift around the gift!

IDH: Why did you become involved in the reSET Accelerator Program?

LINDA: I was urged to apply to this amazing program from three different people who were working with me in different capacities. Each one couldn’t say enough about the accelerator and felt my business would benefit greatly from it. I am thrilled to be accepted in the 2018 class.

IDH: In what ways is your company making a social impact?

LINDA: When I researched statistics about wrapping paper, gift bags, bows, and other accessories, I found out that we spend approximately $3 billion a year on these products. In the month of December 30 million trees are cut down to produce paper wrap. And, right after the holidays, four tons of the discarded paper gets tossed into our over-burdened landfills.

Using stretch fabric to wrap your gifts eliminates waste and simplifies your life. And the recipient of your gift gets two gifts—the one inside the box and one outside the box. Everybody wins!

I am committed to this wonderful business because we must start being more mindful of what we are doing to the planet. We must come together and create solutions to the problems we are facing. This is not a hard thing to do.

IDH: What has been your biggest challenge as a start-up?

LINDA: My biggest challenge is getting my product and its message out. No one really knows reusable stretch fabric is an option, so they are not searching for it online or in stores. I believe once they understand their choices, they will begin to “shift the way they gift” and purchase fabric gift wrap instead of wrapping paper.

IDH: What resources do you need most to move your company forward?

LINDA: I am more of a “concept” person and absolutely love creating things and solving problems. Having said that, I would benefit from people who have brought products to market and understand business better than I do. I would love a business partner at some point and may also seek investors.

IDH: What is the best advice you have given/received?

LINDA: The best advice I can give is to not be afraid of getting out of your comfort zone to fulfill a dream.

The best advice I have received is much harder to answer because so many people have given me such amazing advice. I would have to say my three wonderful daughters have encouraged me to pursue this because of its positive impact on the planet (as well as its ease of use).

Learn more about Regift the Wrap

VISIT: regiftthewrap.com
FOLLOW: Facebook, Instagram regiftthewrap, and Twitter@regiftthewrap

 

 

CTNext Higher Education Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund

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CTNext recently opened the Request for Information application process for the second round of its Higher Education Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund program.

Administered by CTNext, the program seeks to fund initiatives that foster collaboration among higher education institutions and strengthen institutional capacity as it relates to innovation and entrepreneurship.

“The first phase of the Higher Education program resulted in the funding of a number of promising new programs across the state that, we are confident, will foster innovation through improved collaboration and cooperation among our higher education institutions,” said Glendowlyn Thames, executive director of CTNext. “As we begin the second round, we are eager to maintain the momentum and welcome new proposals and ideas that further expand the role higher education plays in Connecticut’s economic growth.”

Applicants can submit proposals that fit within one (or more) of the following strategic priority areas and themes:

  • Mentor Network: Programs that build alumni volunteer networks with appropriate business skills capable of assisting faculty and students in developing new ventures, building business and vetting deals
  • Industry Verticals: Programs that focus on technology, talent and services that fall into one or more of Connecticut’s main industry verticals, including financial services, insurance, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, digital media, aerospace, green technology, information technology and software
  • Proof of Concept: Programs that fund customer discovery, market viability and idea vetting before going to market
  • Talent: Programs designed to identify and retain high-caliber talent in Connecticut

The deadline for RFI submissions is Friday, March 23.

For more information and to submit an RFI, visit ctnext.com/higher-education.

About CTNext
CTNext is a resource for for entrepreneurial support in Connecticut. The goal of the program is to build a more robust community of entrepreneurs and to accelerate startup growth by providing access to talent, space, industry expertise, services, skill development, and capital to foster innovation and create jobs for people in Connecticut. CTNext launched in 2012 and has more than 2,000 members in its network. To learn more, visit www.ctnext.com.


It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For

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WHY EVERY EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS IS DRIVEN BY PURPOSE

This book is designed to help business leaders and entrepreneurs discover and define the purpose of their organization.

Over the last 35 years, author Roy Spence has helped organizations including Southwest Airlines, BMW, the University of Texas, Wal-Mart, and the Clinton Global Initiative achieve greatness by obsessing about one big idea: purpose. Focusing on purpose benefits employee engagement, reduced the threat of competition, creates more customer loyalty, and helps organizations be more innovative.

According to author Roy, “Purpose is a reason for being that goes beyond making money-and it almost always results in making more money than you ever thought possible.”

The first part of the book Purpose Principles, helps leaders define purpose and then walks them through discovering and articulating their own purpose.

Subsequent parts cover:

  • Building an Organization That Makes a Difference
  • Becoming a Leader of Great Purpose
  • Bringing Your Purpose to Life in the Marketplace

It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For provides relevant information for leaders of every type of business, from corporations and membership organizations to nonprofits and higher education.

As Roy writes, “In a company without a purpose, people have no idea what they’re really there to do. There may be a flurry of activity and an abundance of “busy-ness,” but it all seems frenetic, disorganized, and leading in no particular direction…Contrast this with a company that has great purpose. You can usually feel it when you walk in the door. You can sense it in the confidence and clarity with which employees go about doing their work. You can see it in the remarkable ways they do business.”

Praise for It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For

“If there is a secret to success in business, Roy Spence has gotten to the heart of it: that the most winning organizations exude a genuine and truly distinctive sense of purpose—a powerful set of ideas that neutralize the competition, click with customers, inspire employers, and reshape the sense of what’s possible in the marketplace.”
—Polly LaBarre, coauthor Mavericks at Work

“Roy Spence’s book demonstrates the purpose of power in building successful organizations. He shows how to discover your purpose, cultivate it, and use it to make a difference as well as to make profits. If this book doesn’t inspire you to create a purpose-driven organization, nothing will. It sure inspires me.”
—Bill Novelli, CEO AARP

It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For: Why Every Extraordinary Business Is Driven by Purpose is available at Amazon.com.

CT Serial Entrepreneur Talks Mentorship and Launching Startups

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Onyx Spirits Co., Highclere Castle Cigar & Highclere Castle Spirits Co-Founder & CEO Adam von Gootkin delivers a Ted Talk.

It’s almost hard to imagine Adam von Gootkin having time to kick back and enjoy a glass of whiskey and a cigar. The serial entrepreneur is Co-Founder of Onyx Spirits Company, CEO of Highclere Castle Cigar Company, and currently founding Highclere Castle Spirts, with plans for a global launch of Highclere Castle gin in late 2018.

Innovation Destination Hartford Website Curator Nan Price originally interviewed Adam in late 2015 (read the interview: Onyx Moonshine: Reviving the American Spirit In Connecticut). The two caught up to discuss Adam’s entrepreneurial journey and his latest startup venture.

NAN PRICE: You mentor, your run companies, you launch startups. How do you balance all these different facets of your business life?

ADAM VON GOOTKIN: Really good people. Good teams. That’s the answer. Because without people who are smarter than me, without people who are better organized than I am, and without people who are equally as passionate, none of this would be doable.

I do what I’m good at. My hope is to engage in projects with people who are good at what they do. When that happens, everything runs well.

And I often find very non-obvious, cross-collaboration opportunities with things. You never know where things will go. But all these opportunities are growing.

My forte is really in kind of setting these things up, building them, putting the life and energy into them, and helping put financing in place. Then it’s keeping everybody on track and with the vision.

NAN: Is that sort of your modus operandi—to help and then step away?

ADAM: Exactly! I like to help people where I can. I’m too busy engaging with everybody. I try to set things up, light a little fire, and hopefully it catches and goes.

NAN: You’re smart enough to know you can’t do it all.

ADAM: I’m not good at very much! But what I am good at seems to work!

NAN: It certainly does! But it’s important to know your strengths—and know when to delegate.

ADAM: In all startups or relatively small companies with less than 50 employees, you wear a lot of hats. So, I do have to do weird things sometimes because they must get done. And I love that kind of stuff too, because every day is fresh and exciting and invigorating for me.

Admittedly, I am weak when it comes to tedious repetition. I can be three times more effective if you’re throwing all sorts of different things at me. And again, it’s the team.

I have to block my day out very precisely now, so I can focus throughout the day. I may get four hours here, an hour here, 15 minutes on this, a whole day on that. If I didn’t focus that way—and if I didn’t have the team support—I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything.

We always look at these projects as huge mountains to climb. I always say: What’s the task at hand right now move us forward? What’s the one thing? Then, every day, we just do the one thing. That’s how you get somewhere. Otherwise you’ll be overwhelmed.

NAN: When we first met, I asked what being an entrepreneur meant to you. Now, with a little bit more time and a few more projects under your belt, I’ll ask again.

ADAM: I think entrepreneurship is the most amazing thing. You’re creating the blueprint for a reality. Every single thing we’re enjoying right now—from your glasses, to your phone, to that notebook, to that chair, to that car, to that house—every single reality in this virtual world is there because of an entrepreneur.

NAN: That’s almost exactly what you said when I first asked you. I have a feeling this is not the last startup you’ll be involved in. Any idea what’s next?

ADAM: I’ve got to focus! And I’m hyper focused right now. Sometimes I have to say no to opportunities, and it’s challenging for me to do that. That’s something I’m trying to improve upon.

Steve Jobs said: It’s more valuable to know what to say no to and what to say yes to.

Learn more about Adam von Gootkin

READ:

FOLLOW: Twitter @AdamvonGootkin

CT Entrepreneur Develops Web-Based Platform

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George Constance is CEO of Kronicity.

George Constance is CEO of Kronicity, a web-based platform for simplified data collection, organization, validation, and value enhancement from any source. George told Innovation Destination Hartford about how he developed his business, shared startup challenges he faced, and provided advice for other entrepreneurs.

INNOVATION DESTINATION HARTFORD: When and why you launch the startup?

GEORGE CONSTANCE: I began building Kronicity in 2013 to continue my love of history and paleontology. As a 25-year veteran micropaleontologist in the oil industry, I developed correlation tools that facilitated analysis of my work and allowed me to communicate this technical information with other professionals and non-technical oriented stakeholders.

The oil crash of 1999 coupled with the Exxon-Mobil merger brought that career to an end. Hurricane Katrina then found me in New England. Determined to return to the field of paleontology, I obtained a Master’s in Technology Commercialization from Northeastern University and began to build Kronicity.

IDH: How did you develop the business concept?

GEORGE: I took note of the successes and failures I experienced as a paleontologist and applied them to data analysis in general. I decided the internet needed a better way to collect, arrange, and display data—one that allowed for enhanced understanding and added value through perspective and data validation. It was pretty much what I did for geologists, but on a much larger scale with a much broader market.

IDH: Did you rely on any Connecticut resources as you were starting out?

GEORGE: I set up shop at Axis901 in Manchester for critical business building assets. The co-working space provided a place to work, like-minded entrepreneurs, and access to a much broader network of talent.

IDH: How are you marketing and building a customer base?

GEORGE: Technology directors in schools, which is my launch market, are well networked and easily reached through trade shows and conventions. Likewise, my collaborators are in publishing and complementary markets. It’s important to work with networks that will benefit from your success.

IDH: What’s the biggest challenge your startup has faced?

GEORGE: Like all others, lack of cash and lack of talent. But, also, as a new concept, my real challenge was finding collaborators and investors who understood the concept.

Consider how many investors took a pass on early Microsoft and Apple prototypes. It’s easy to be discouraged by having so many doors slammed in your face. Persistence, so often, is the difference between success and failure.

IDH: Tell us about your best day as an entrepreneur.

GEORGE: After failing with four developers, an executive at a major development firm took notice of what we were doing and introduced me to my current developer and partner. Like the previous four, he promised the world and on delivery date for the alpha, I expected the usual—delivery of what they could develop rather than what I wanted developed. That early prototype was much more than I asked for. He was developing version 5.0 with features I didn’t think were possible. Persistence had paid off.

IDH: Any advice to others who are thinking of launching a startup in Connecticut?

GEORGE: You’re in it for the long haul. Do your homework. The best product doesn’t always succeed. Sometimes the adequate one that’s best aligned with the market is the one that makes it.

Work with a vetted business strategist who is unbiased. You’re going to have to build a plan that is good enough to attract the right people and slay your fears allowing you to risk it all—home, retirement, savings, time. And your spouse has to buy in too. It’s going to be really hard.

When seeking investors, don’t take the first one that rolls into your lap. Look for an investor in your industry or one that will benefit from your success. A lot of so-called investors are clueless. You want one that will not only provide working capital but also advice.

Talk to everyone for advice. Most entrepreneurs, including me, are happy to meet for coffee and share their experience and help others avoid the mines they’ve discovered.

Learn more about Kronicity

WEB: kronicity.com
EMAIL: George.constance@kronicity.com

 

Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator

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Additive manufacturing startups are encouraged to apply for the Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator. A partnership with Techstars and global digital industrial Stanley Black & Decker, the accelerator aims to identify 10 additive manufacturing startups to come to Hartford, CT in Q3 2018.

This partnership will connect the Techstars worldwide network to Stanley Black & Decker’s breakthrough innovation ecosystem. The mentorship-driven accelerator program will connect entrepreneurs with additive manufacturers, who have the experience of delivering products at scale using 3D printing technologies.

A 3D printed neurological implant from South Windsor, CT-based advanced manufacturing company Oxford Performance Materials. (Photo courtesy Innovation Destination Hartford)

The Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator focuses on additive manufacturing, which are technologies that build 3D objects by adding layer-upon-layer of material. The materials include plastic, metal, and concrete. Technologies range from 3D printing, rapid prototyping, generative design, tooling, direct digital manufacturing, layered manufacturing, and additive fabrication.

The accelerator is seeking companies with innovations in software, material, or hardware solutions.

Entrepreneurs accepted into the program will relocate to Hartford, CT for the program’s duration. Hartford is thriving with early-stage startups ranging from companies focused on science, technology and software solutions, B2B and small business services, marketing agencies, fitness and wellness providers, and medical device developers.

Applications are open until April 8, 2018. Learn more and apply to the Accelerator.

 

CT Entrepreneur Shares Updates and Hiring Tips

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Brenda Mierzejewski is Founder of Mizzi Cosmetics.

Where Are They Now? Follow Up with Mizzi Cosmetics Founder Brenda Mierzejewski

Innovation Destination Hartford met with Mizzi Cosmetics Founder Brenda Mierzejewski in November 2016, when the startup was building success and a team of advisors (read the interview: Cosmetics Entrepreneur Creates Startup Success).

Since its launch, Mizzi hired two new employees. The startup is also moving out of its home-based office into a new facility in Portland, CT that will house distribution, manufacturing, office space, and retail.

In July 2017, Brenda was featured as one of Hartford Business Journal’s “40 under Forty” and Mizzi was recently nominated for a CT Entrepreneur Award as Best Venture.

Brenda notes that one of the challenges to running a successful startup has been finding the right consultants and contractors. Here, she provides some advice for business owners or people thinking starting their own businesses.

Interview multiple people.
Everyone will want a piece of your pie when you start becoming successful and known in your community and nationally. Everyone will want you to hire them because they are the “best” in the industry. They will woo you and promise you the world. Remember, some people are in it for themselves. Be smart, and interview multiple people.

Do your own research.
Get five or more references from your potential hire. Call the references and ask them about their experience and most importantly, if they received return on investment (ROI). I don’t care if this person was referred by your mayor, your priest, your president, Gandhi, or JLo, it doesn’t matter. Do your own research. You are a small business and your capital means everything to that business to stay alive! When you spend money on a service, you should be getting a return on your investment.

No ROI = no hire!
You’re in your business to succeed, not to become friends with people who want to suck you dry of your capital. Business is business.

Let them show you their worth.
In the beginning, do not pay employees until they actually provide their services. If they want to work for you so badly and they are so confident they can give you what you ask for, let them show you. Do a three-month trial. Then offer compensation. You are the one shopping around for a service. You can give anyone the job. Stay in control of your money. The right person will come along and prove themselves, and you will both be very successful. Good, honest, people are out there and truly want to help you!

Trust your gut.
Also, trust in yourself. Listen to your gut—it’s 97% accurate! If you’re smart enough to open your own business, chances are you’re smart enough to run it with the right kind of people. Need help and advice? I found the best help and advice I got came from my husband, my sisters, my parents, my family, friends, my staff, local help within my town in Portland and state of Connecticut. Use those resources first. Bigger isn’t always better.

Keep your advice “circle” small.
Too much advice will drive you insane and you can make bad decisions. Get a mentor, build your board of directors with people you trust, and look up to those who are successful and loyal—people who want to see you grow and succeed.

Starting out, if someone told me these same exact tips, I would have done things my own way and learned the hard way. But then, I never would have grown or learned some very valuable lessons. It makes you smarter—and more successful.

Learn more about Mizzi Cosmetics

VISIT: mizzicosmetics.com

FOLLOW: Facebook, Instagram mizzicosmetics, and Twitter @MIZZICOSMETICS

READ: Cosmetics Entrepreneur Creates Startup Success
Innovation Destination Hartford interview with Brenda Mierzejewski

LISTEN: The Beauty of Entrepreneurship and Startups
A Pulse of the Region radio show from the MetroHartford Alliance featuring founders from Mizzi Cosmetics, Tainted, and Field to Face Organics

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