Bre Pettis is very well known in the growing community of 3d printing. He has had a major impact on how new companies have shaped their products and services. Born in 1972, he is not considered a young entrepreneur but a key example of first mover advantage. First Mover Advantage is when a company is first in bringing a new service or product to the market. In November of 2008, Bre Pettis and Zach Smith cofounded an online 3d printing community driven interface named Thingiverse. Thingiverse was designed to be open to all and would allow users to design in 3d software and post it for others to download. Its success grew Pettis’s resume and rapport in the 3d printing community and helped him fund his dream. By 2009, Pettis and Smith had started their own 3d printer business Makerbot. MakerBot would soon become one of the first and most popular at home 3d print build kits where everyday users could design and develop their own ideas in physical prototypes.

Although highly successful, being one of the first major companies to implement DIY printers came with its downsides. MakerBot was a pioneer in a new industry and had to suffer from first time mistakes. At first, the 3d printers were marketed towards a niche customer base who already had a minor understanding of soldering and mechanical assembly. In the meantime, other companies saw this problem and began introducing prebuilt 3d printers which needed little to no assembly. It helped market to a much larger group of prospective customers who ideally favored simplicity. While MakerBot took a hit in sales they still had a strategic advantage in their rapport and overall consumer base. MakerBot got to work designing new printers which would become some of the most user friendly and convenient products in the 3d printing community. With the help of Thingiverse, a large online platform grew that did not discriminate against users of other 3d printers. I believe this helped MakerBot in the long run as myself and many others who have acknowledged the higher product standard which MakerBot’s machines are able to produce is worth its higher price in the long run.

Over the past 5 years I have used Thingiverse to help build everything from a simple camera lens adapter to a working guitar. I currently own a MakerBot and Ender style printer which have helped me create just about anything my heart desires. Thanks to entrepreneurs like Pettis and Smith, I and millions of other tinkering minds are able to put almost any idea in the palm of our hands.

Check out this awesome Netflix Documentary on 3d printing if you have the time. It covers the history of 3d Printing as well as Pettis’s shark like outlook on taking over the 3d printing world.

Print the Legend | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Luke Gilligan is a Grove City Entrepreneur alumnus with a vision to help create a better life for those struggling with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Gilligan was selected as one of the Pittsburgh Regions Rising Stars in the startup sector. Around six million Americans deal with these issues and Gilligan states that Dementia and Alzheimer’s “Touches everyone in one way or another.” This quote truly resonates with me as I have seen dementia firsthand. I lost my grandfather in 2021 mainly from natural causes. He lived a beautiful life and accomplished a multitude of things such as coaching and playing in the National Football League. Unfortunately, his many years in active play led to some issues later on in life. As his time was dwindling, I remember the pain throughout our family as things became foggy. I have always and continue to know my father as a strong man who would rarely let his emotions affect others. As his father’s memory declined, his pain grew. The thought of speaking with a close loved one as they slowly forget is something that no one should have to go through. Gilligan also states that patients were treated “like children” which is a sad truth in many nursing homes which I have witnessed firsthand. To mitigate such problems, Gilligan created the Connect and Comfort Kit. This kit is a toolbox of items and activities which target each of the “five senses to utilize a nuanced approach to therapy aimed at increasing brain health and eliciting long-term memories.” His vision to implement this approach is not only innovative but a necessity for patients and family who suffer from these issues. Gilligan’s story has succeeded in pulling my heartstrings and I would strongly advise you to check out more about his innovation.

Resense | Dementia Friendly Engagement Tools – Resense LLC (helloresense.com)

Today I had the opportunity to hear from a Grove City graduate on her entrepreneurship adventure. Amy Mucha is a young entrepreneur who graduated from Grove City College with a focus in mathematics. After graduating, she decided to create her own business, Daisy Pops. Daisy Pops is now a growing business with a main focus in Kent, OH.

In their beginnings, Daisy Pops focused on producing cake pops for local consumers. They started with a traditional round ball of cake dough which was given a flavor, placed on a popsicle stick and wrapped up for sale. Amy created a list of innovative and delicious flavors for her customers to choose from.

After a while, business was profitable, but Amy knew there was more to achieve. She turned her focus towards innovation. Traditionally, cake pops are made by hand and rolled into a ball. Amy noticed a flaw in the quality control of cake pops, as it was tough to stay consistent in size. To fix this issue, she innovated the cake pop business by introducing a sister company named DaisyMakes. While learning more about DaisyMakes, my interest inclined.

For years I was blessed with the opportunity to work with 3D printers and have owned two for about 4 years. As Amy explained the mission of  DaisyMakes, my view on 3D printing was reestablished. Amy began using 3d Printers to design a product that would be similar to a cookie cutter for precise cake pops. It also allowed making custom designs on the cake pop much more feasible. Soon after implementing 3d printing technology, customers reached out asking to purchase the 3d printed items.

A new business proposition was established, and Amy ran with it. Now, DaisyMakes is turning over the majority of profit and Amy has done a phenomenal job at creating consumer relationships. DaisyMakes is now using around 30 3D printers including Enders and Bamboos to keep up with demand. 3D printers are not exactly the fastest way to create products, but they are one of the cheapest which leads to a high profit. I am beyond blessed to have purchased my first 3d printer in 2019 and now own two. Amy’s success has persuaded me to stay involved in 3d printing and search for problems that need to be fixed. Please check out her website and support a former Grove City graduate and now entrepreneur!!

Daisy Makes