While the pandemic has introduced a newfound necessity for personal hygiene and sanitation, the disinfectant wipes we use to keep ourselves clean often end up permanently in a landfill. Fortunately, Wipeys has created a clean and sustainable alternative to combat these issues. 

WOW Balloons strives to create a stunning yet affordable setting for life's biggest moments. The day after the Governor of Texas declared lockdown and that gatherings could not be greater than five people, Katherine and Daria began receiving numerous phone calls: “I spent three or four days on the phone with clients canceling and rescheduling their events,” Katherine said, “we were devastated because all of our business is offline and everything that was prohibited was the only things paying our bills.” However, rather than doing nothing, the co-founders used this time to augment their business.

After years of developing durable and eco-friendly coolers for fishermen in the Philippines, the natural next step for Tamara Mekler and David Cutler was to develop a mass-market, sustainable, and easily portable cooler. Determined to build the next generation of coolers out of agricultural waste, Mekler and Cutler turned to Kickstarter to help bring Nutshell Coolers to life.

While streetwear predominately caters towards its male audience, more and more women have been wearing and championing the attire. STREET GRANDMA is a Los Angeles-based fashion brand that centers its ethically and sustainably made designs around women, without sacrificing that classic oversized silhouette and high-quality material.

Eliqs is a company founded by Max Berg, Dave Goldman, and Joe Schwappach, that is dedicated to rebuilding the beverage industry for the digital world by transforming the traditional operations and processes of the beverage space and thereby place the power in the hands of consumers.

Oddli is a sustainable clothing company founded by Ellie Chen and Jensen Neff that diffuses the inherent tension between consumer products and sustainability by placing sustainability at the center of each product and producing beautiful, vibrant pieces of clothing.

The fashion industry is evolving thanks to young entrepreneurs like Abby Earley and Izzy Young. Contemporary consumers are pushing for diversity and inclusion and holding brands accountable for their environmental footprints. Earley and Young are co-founders of TWO BODIES, a New York-based clothing line with a business model that prioritizes these criteria.

Starting a brand with a close friend is something many people only dream about, but few have the determination. For Adrianna Lindemulder and Alysha Kuhn that dream became a reality when they started their Canadian-based floral company Golden August.

For Carlee Snyder, founder of swimwear line CJ Club, the idea for starting her own business came about after weeks of isolation during quarantine, following the postponement of her post-graduation plans.

COVID has made it difficult for many recent graduates to find employment, as companies are laying off employees or closing altogether. MR Label founder Maddy Ritholz saw this declining job market as an opportunity to start her own handbag company, which maintains an ethical chain of sourcing and production.

Founder Steph Hon created Cadence in 2017 because she needed to find it in her own life—from weekend camping trips to business travel, Hon was tired of trying to balance her personal wellness routine with the burden of carrying and keeping track of each of her products and containers. 

In the midst of a global pandemic, people are missing the feeling of togetherness more than ever. For Elle Mawardi it was exactly this notion of people coming together that inspired her to create Beauty & The Board, over two years ago. Beauty & The Board is a company based out of South Florida that creates luxury grazing boards. Her boards provide a beautifully decorated array of cheeses, fruits, charcuterie, crackers, and more - perfect for grazing at small events and gatherings.

PsychoHairapy uses hair as an entry point for wellness. Mbilishaka recognized that the connection between a stylist or barber and their client is often stronger than with someone in the mental health profession. The research lab works to create innovative research approaches to solve mental health problems using hair.

As the pandemic continues around us, and we continue to spend more time in our homes, comfort has become increasingly invaluable. While previously it was inappropriate to show up to work in loungewear, the work-from-home environment has made comfortable clothing the new norm for workplace attire. Richer Poorer, a Los Angeles-based clothing brand is centered upon the mission to generate “confidence in comfort.” For Jenny Alaimo, the company’s Creative and Design Director, “if you are not comfortable in what you're wearing, you're going to be fidgeting or feeling like you're wearing a costume.” 

Attyah is the CEO and founder of Bookit Sports, an app designed to connect the sports betting community through user-generated content and social media engagement. With the help of the R.E.A.L. Startup Accelerator Program in Reno, Nevada and a $500,000 backing from his investors, Attyah launched his app in back September.

Launched by co-founders Doug Hudson, Andy Grover, and Michael Stenclik last October, Tend was created with the goal to address the dentistry experience through the consumer lens. Sitting down with co-founder Andy Grover, he explains, “A lot of healthcare experiences are not built around the consumer; they’re typically built around the clinician, hospital or insurance. We wanted to use design to make a holistic experience of enjoyment for patients.”

Winning the food division of the Big Ideas Challenge Competition made them realize they could turn this hobby into a real business. Thus came Coconut Whisk—a mission drive vegan and gluten-free baking mix company that helps busy families bake healthy indulgences.