Oh the great and wonderful commitment of tattoos. We all know someone with a tattoo, and a great amount of people have them and regret them, along with people who want them without the commitment. Tyler and Braden Handley came up with the “temporary bad decisions” when they came across the problem of wanting something to express themselves while also realizing their tastes and styles are forever changing. To solve this they made Inkbox tattoos, unlike those flaky, quick fading tattoos we had as kids, Inkbox lasts longer and stays fresh, while achieving the same concept of having a design, pressing a wet cloth to it, and having the tattoo appear. They also help solve more issues buy sending a portion of their profit to tribes in panama who helped them come up with the formula. They also support independent artists by using their designs and giving them a portion of the profit.

I have been seeing advertisements for Inkbox for a long time now, and until I researched it, I never realized how much this company does. This is something I have always wanted to buy, but when I originally looked they had nothing that would suit my style, but they have really grown since then. They also have a count down to new designs so you know when you can search for new designs. I really think these young men found an interesting market. As kids we grew up with these fake tattoos, and now we can have them again, but better. They also hit a variety of consumers by picking up designs from multiple artists and also selling free hand bottles. They found a way to take something taboo and made it classy and fun without having the worry of not liking it one day. I believe we are a generation of independence and expression, so this is a great market for us. It also gives people who are not artist the chance to express themselves. I think this business will continue to grow for years to come.

https://inkbox.com/

Have you ever been at an event and all you want is your drink to stay at the perfect temperature? Of course we all carry around some form of insulated cups, but what about our classier drinks like wine? Brumates has the solution with the winesulator, it is a triple insulated cup, shaped like a wine bottle or wine glass. This is a perfect solution for outdoor celebrations and people who simply want their drink to stay cool or warm.  They also provide hopsulators that can hold cans to keep them cool while also providing you with a drinking cup. 

Dylan Jacob was only 21 when he started the company in 2016, as he was looking to improve the drinking experience of people who enjoy the outdoors, or who in general want to have the perfect sip every time. Jacob has recently signed deals with big companies like Cabela’s who’s customer base is centered around people who enjoy the outdoors and a cold drink, such as fishermen. the project revenue in 2017 was over 2 million, with Jacob owning 100% of the company.

I found this product interesting because Dylan took something that already existed and modified it to make it better. I especially am fond of changing the insulated cup into something that can hold a cans of different sizes, but can also be used as a cup. This is actually a perfect gift for someone I know who likes to hike and pick a spot to paint with watercolors, who is also a wine enthusiast. I think initially this was a risky idea, shooting into a market that was already filled. Would people just put their drinks in normal insulated cups or do they want modified versions? Do enough people take their wine on the go? I think Jacob has done an amazing job developing this idea and not letting it come out half-baked. The fact that he also owns 100% of the company at his age is a major accomplishment, this shows he has skills in a variety of fields in order to get his start up off the ground and successful.

If knowledge is power, why do so many people lack the ability to grasp this power and reach their full potential. Made in Brownsville is a company started by long term Brownsville resident Quardean Lewis-Allen. Growing up Quardean lacked a strong academic foundation, and after receiving a bachelors and masters degree of his own, he made it a goal to change this. Driven by passion, he created Made in Brownsville, a youth and mentorship program that provides youth to STEAM education and access to post secondary education.  Kids are able to learn marketable skills such as graphic design, 3D printing, and coding. They are also provided with another important factor, a mentor.

You may be thinking, why is that such a big deal? As a former education major and a person who has taken a human development course, I can say mentors change lives. Many kids who grow up in poor SES (socio economic status) areas lack the one thing they need, a mentor. Their parents are always working, or they move homes frequently, and most often do not live in a stable home. The difference a mentor makes is that once a child has a stable adult who stays in their life, it gives them a foundation and support for success.

I believe Quardean is an entrepreneur driven not only by passion, but details and knowledge. He had a problem, and even when that problem was past him, he wanted to make sure it was not going to continuing happening to others. But above that he did not just let it be a half-baked slow hunch, he developed it, used knowledge to help it bloom and grow to the point where it was ready to be let out into the world. This went from being an area struggling to having technology that people desire to have and learn about. He also created a business that lets people become independent and grow outside of the environment.

He gave them power over their lives and future, and that is priceless.

As young people in the entrepreneurship class, most of us are hoping to own a business in the future, but do we know everything it takes to run business? I know taking over my own business at 20 years old, I knew how to operate the business itself, but book keeping and tax season are not only a pain, but time consuming and frustrating. However, young entrepreneur Jessica Mah came up with a solution to this problem. She had her first start up at age 13, and through her experiences she created InDinero.

InDinero is a website that connects you with a team of accounting, tax, and business experts. These experts give out honest feedback so that your business can make necessary changes. The unique aspect of this business is a cloud-based system that allows you to reach out to customers across the world to run your business smoothly. You can use it on your phone or computer, and since it has automatic updating the information will be accurate to date anytime you check.

I personally admire Jessica because she recognized her struggles as a business owner and did not let it stop her from pursuing business. She was able to recognize the root of what her struggles were, and create a solution. I also think their team demonstrates a imperative aspect of entrepreneurship, “We encourage our team members to poke holes in stale processes because “but we’ve always done it this way” is a great way to repeat age old mistakes.”