Kenny Sipes is an innovative entrepreneur that I hope one day be like. He is the founder, and owner, of the Roosevelt Coffehouse in Columbus Ohio. With so many people needing their coffee fixes in the morning, or just for enjoyment, there was much room to be creative within this growing industry. Sipes from the genesis of this shop thought of this business to be one that give back the community in Ohio, and for much greater social causes.

The Roosevelt Coffeehouse is a Non-Profit coffee shop that gives all of its earnings to social justice issues. In his own words “it is a coffee shop that was built for the purpose of redeeming the injustices of unclean water, hunger, and human trafficking.” They connect with organizations that line up with those key issues that there are trying to positive impact. Along with their passion to redeem these broken parts of the world, the also are looking to make the best cup of coffee. The term of this type of shop is called a “third-wave” coffee shop. They are making drinks using some of the best apparatuses (Chemex, v60, aeropress), with some of the best coffee roasters (Stumptown), to bring the customer the best cup of coffee possible for them every time they walk in. There coffee is also brought in by roasters are only ethnically sources, and are able to connect the customer with those who grew their coffee for them.

Personally, this shop hits so many of the things that people are looking for when purchasing everyday items. Sipes is able to grow his company (Non-Profit) while providing incredible social impact on many different levels.

Although co-founder, Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard, are not young their running shoe company very much young. Hoka One One was founded in 2009. In the same year the book “Born to Run” was published. This book highlighted the origins that every human being has to run. After years, and years, of trying all different kinds of shoes we have lost our roots of running bare foot. With this book, many runners flocked to wear “minimalistic” shoes or even run barefoot. Mermoud and David went the opposite way.

Their brand has been made popular for being the exact opposite of minimalistic running, instead being referred to as maximalist running. The two looked for a way to make running down hill faster, and more comfortable. They were able to do this by provide first a large sole. But more importantly providing additional cushioning that does not add extra weight to the shoe. This allows for a shoe that both protects your feet over long miles, and feeling flightless when running. Thus Hoka’s were born. There shoe first was greatly embraced by ultramarathons, but has since found popularity with a variety of runner types. For the shoe industry they were able to break into a completive market filled with brands like Nike, Adidas, Saucony, etc… because they found a new perspective at an age old problem for runners.

https://www.hokaoneone.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-HOKA-US-Site/default/Home-Show