THE PROBLEM
Sweaty hands are embarrassing, inconvenient, and just plain annoying. They get in the way of playing sports, playing instruments, and even shaking hands.
THE SOLUTION
David Spratte and Kasper Kubica created Carpe, an antiperspirant hand lotion, to put an end to sweaty hands.
THE TRANSFORMATION
We invested in Carpe in 2015 and worked with David and Kasper to move the company from formula to production and brand launch online. Sales continue to climb and we are actively pursuing online and offline growth opportunities.
THE PROBLEM
Parents of children struggling with focus, concentration and on-task behavior were seeking an alternative to medication.
THE SOLUTION
The RE-vibe bracelet sends silent vibration reminders to the wrists of kids who may be off-task, to gently remind them to get back to their work, studies, etc.
THE TRANSFORMATION
In 2016, we invested in the company and developed an online retail strategy to get the word out on RE-vibe and gained national distribution through catalogs and educational distributors.
THE PROBLEM
Great cold brewed coffee requires equipment, time and commitment. The ready to drink offerings in the market either don’t taste so great or they are loaded with milk and sugar.
THE SOLUTION
Jenny Bonchak started Slingshot Coffee in order to make fresh, cold brewed coffee that’s bottled, ready to go, and ready to pass the taste test of any coffee aficionado.
THE TRANSFORMATION
We invested in Slingshot in 2015 and have worked with Jenny to bring in new staff, scale production and move into new markets up and down the east coast.
THE PROBLEM
Over 25% of dogs get extremely agitated during thunderstorms, often causing damage to their homes, themselves and to their owner’s happiness.
THE SOLUTION
Phil Blizzard, the owner of a thunderstorm crazed dog, created a compression shirt to help calm his dog’s anxiety. The effect was amazing and transformative for both the dog and Phil.
THE TRANSFORMATION
We started working with Phil in 2009 to take his idea and make a product out of it. After 4 years and millions of Thundershirts sold, Thundershirt was sold to a private equity group and is one of the world’s most recognized pet products.
THE PROBLEM
Scented candles are traditionally made of paraffin wax, which is made from petroleum and can release harmful toxins into the air when burned or melted. Additionally, open flames are potential fire hazards.
THE SOLUTION
Electric wax melters simply heat up scented wax to its melting point, releasing pleasant scents while avoiding the risk of an open flame. Pure soy wax is used to make the tarts, removing the possible harmful chemicals released by other, non-natural tarts and candles.
THE TRANSFORMATION
It started in 2016 at a meeting with Ryan Ingram, a policeman who loved making candles in his free time. During our meeting, he showed us his all natural soy wax gummy bear-shaped melts, and we fell in love. From there, Happy Wax has grown into a multi-million dollar brand found in over 2,000 retail locations including Pier 1 and Bed Bath and Beyond.