Toys :: millennialentrepreneurs.com

Archive for Toys

Mia Monzidelis – Founder of Power Pony

Posted by Sarah Karns

· Monday, October 28th, 2024

· 3 Comments

Mia Monsidelis is a young girl with the mind of an entrepreneur who took something she loved and found a way to help other kids love it as much as her. She is now 13, but she started her business Power Pony when she was just five years old. Mia absolutely loves horses and has always watned to own one, but she lives in Long Island, New York and her family just doesn’t have enough space for a horse. So Mia went to her Dad and explained to him that she wanted to create something that rides like a real horse so she could “ride” without have to own a horse. Her Dad helped her design the horse and bring her idea to life, and so Power Pony was born.

While it’s obvious that Mia’s dad was the one who did a lot of the work to make the business successful, Mia is still a great example of an entrepreneur because she saw a problema nd found a unique and innovative way to solve that problem and create value. She is clearly a very determined young girl and seems to be incredibly social and good with people as well. While it’s possible that a product simillar to Power Pony might’ve been created without Mia, she is the driving face behind the brand which I bleieve makes it more unique and likeable. Overall, she is truly a young entrepreneur and is now running a very successful business.

See the business here.

3 Comments

Categories : Horses/ponies, Toys

Matthew Shifrin, A Blind Artist Increasing the Accessibility of Lego

Posted by morganni23

· Tuesday, October 15th, 2024

· 3 Comments

Matthew Shifrin sitting at a table with several completed Lego sets. He has ginger hair and sunglasses on.

Matthew Shifrin with some of his Lego creations

Matthew Shifrin is a remarkable figure who has been a positive force in the world despite his lack of something that most people take for granted. Though he was born blind and is only 26, he has already written several musicals and acted in a film. He can speak four languages and is learning another two currently, as well as sing and play the accordion. He created Braille for the Yiddish language. Though he has built himself quite the portfolio of accomplishments, the innovation I am here to discuss was not solely his invention.

On Matthew’s thirteenth birthday, he received a Prince of Persia Lego set from his friend Lilya Finkel. With the set came a binder Lilya made containing hand typed braille instructions. These allowed Matthew to build the set despite his inability to perceive the standard instructions. Before this point, he had played with Lego, but he mostly kept to the Bionicle line. He had a lot of fun following the braille guide to put his set together. Matthew and Lilya would proceed to translate more instructions and standardize a method of communicating exactly what blocks to put where. Here is a sample of what these guides come out sounding like.

9.1. Place a red 1×2 plate, vertically and centered horizontally,

on the front two pieces from the previous step.

9.2. Place an orange 1×1 plate behind the previous piece.

In 2017, Lilya Finkel passed away from cancer. Matthew has continued the project in her absence, working with other blind and sighted folks to create accessible instructions in greater numbers. The work is done by pairs of people, a sighted translator and a blind or partially sighted tester. They have currently translated one hundred and eighty four sets, and are constantly putting out more. The largest set they have conquered is the Tower Bridge, at a grand 4295 pieces. The tactile experience of feeling every surface of a Lego sculpture can be very enriching for blind children who cannot otherwise experience the world as we would. You could tell a blind child that the roof of their home slants downward at a gentle angle, but that concept becomes far more realized when they can pore over a model of a home and feel it for themselves. Matthew Shifrin was able to speak directly with members of the Creative Play Lab at the Lego Group, and in 2019 they piloted official audio and braille instructions for four sets. There have since been dozens of official blind-accessible Lego instructions released.

I find the story of Matthew inspirational because it demonstrates that through hardship, through perceived limitations, we can become greater than the people others may judge us to be. In addition, Lilya Finkel demonstrated the traits of an excellent friend, and served others the way Jesus tells us to serve: Generously, thoughtfully, and lovingly.

My Sources:

bricksfortheblind.org

Seeing LEGO Differently

Lego Group to Pilot Lego Audio and Braille Instructions

3 Comments

Categories : Accessibility, Cancer, Creating, Gen Z, Great Ideas, Male Entrepreneurs, Positivity, Toys, Volunteer

Mia Monzidelis and her Power Pony Toy

Posted by giuntanr22

· Monday, September 30th, 2024

· 1 Comment

Could you imagine developing a new toy idea at age 5 and having it turn into a product that is now sold in stores like Target. Well, that’s exactly what Mia Monzidelis did. Mia lives in Long Island, N.Y., which is not an ideal place for having a horse live with you, however, she created a toy that would be just like having your pet horse live with you.

At age 10, Power Pony is the toy that Mia came up with. It is a powered toy horse with a saddle for kids to sit and ride on. Mia’s dad helped her figure out the details for the new toy and was a major supporter of her new innovation. The toy has a ZuME engine and can connect to iOS through an app making the toy very interactive. The toy has fun sounds and light features that make the toy even more attractive for kids. Once Power Pony was launched, Mia was invited to be on the Kelley Clarckson Show and introduced her company to world.

The 2021 holiday season really helped the company take off and Mia sold 5,000 units. That year after having so much success, she donated $5,000 to Garden City, L. I.’s Family & Children’s Association. Power Pony now has multiple versions of the toy on their website which is helping the brand expand their customer base. So not only did this young innovator find some great success with her new toy, but she is also giving back to the community with the profits she is making.

Mia took her love for horses and ponies and ended up creating a brand new and innovative toy horse that was unlike any other toy horse on the market. With the engine inside of it, riding on the toy is extremely similar to riding around on a pony. It is Mia’s hope that Power Pony will continue to grow and be successful, a toy that children love and can have so much fun playing with, just as she loves it too.

1 Comment

Categories : Toys

Children of Passion – Pocketti Plushies – Sydney and Toni Loew

Posted by bonaquistmr23

· Sunday, September 29th, 2024

· No Comments

Meet Sydney and Toni Loew, two sisters whose lives changed right in Middle School. Their product was inspired by an entrepreneur class Syndey had in 7th grade, which allowed her to write out a business, even create a prototype, and then she got to pitch the idea. Her target was 11-14 year old kids, so she chose to go down the toy route, where she created her business, Pocketti Plushies! She wanted something that would differ from other plushies, and decided to add something functional to the plushie by giving it a pocket to hold a phone in. Because her product did so well, she was able to get her plushies launched into a business.

With a rocketing business, Sydney and her sister Toni began their career, creating unique plushies, with powers as they called it. Each plushie was uniquely designed and made with different personalities. They were able to attend several sales events and create television commercials, as well being able to pitch their ideas to schools. They were also awarded several prizes such as Wonder Girls by Women in Toys in 2016. They were also able to get Walmart as a client!

While their business is run by them and their mother, they also attended school. Sydney is now a graphic designer intern at Disney’s Yellow Shoes internal advertising agency. While her sister goes to USC’s Thornton School of Music, where she is in two music bands! Their love for all things creative is truly inspirational as they continue to grow their business across the world.

Despite their successes, even they have had rejections. They participated on Shark Tank 3 times and got a no each time, but that hasn’t stopped them from continuing their business!

With their creativity and passion for innovation, they have created a business they hope to grow across the world. For now, we can appreciate how young these girls were when they began their journey, representing that even in Middle School, anything can be done if you put your mind to it. Success isn’t defined by the number of statistics, but by the satisfaction it gives to the customers and to you.

No Comments

Categories : Business, Business, Advertising, Business::Entrepreneurs, Creating, Entrepreneurship, Great Ideas, Kid Entrepreneurs, Teen Entrepreneurs, Toys, Women Entrepreneurs, Young Entrepreneur

Tags : Kids, plushies, Toys

Cassidy Crowley & “The Baby Toon”

Posted by fiscuseg21

· Sunday, October 29th, 2023

· 1 Comment

Cassidy Crowley was only 7 years old when she identified a problem that sparked the beginnings of her company, “The Baby Toon.” She had entered a Science and Engineering Fair at her school and needed to find a problem in order to enter the fair. At home, she noticed that her baby sister had a tendency of chewing on the hard back end of her spoon. This would always concern her mother; she didn’t want the baby to choke or hurt herself.

To solve this problem, Cassidy came up with “The Baby Toon,” a 2-in-1 baby spoon and teething toy made of soft FDA silicone and designed to eliminate the long, hard spoon back. Instead, The Baby Toon comes in a variety of animal shapes with rounded corners and edges, making it safe for babies to chew on as well as a helpful teething device. This newly-patented shape also allows parents and/or younger siblings to easily hold the spoon and feed the baby without the spoon accidentally going too far into the baby’s mouth.

Cassidy notes that The Baby Toon is also educational for babies, as it comes in a variety of colors (blue, pink, and green), shapes (rectangle, square, and circle), and animals (elephant, alligator, and koala). The Baby Toon is a new, fun, safe baby spoon and teething toy with various benefits.

At age 10, Cassidy appeared on season 11 of Shark Tank (2019) to pitch her business idea. She received a deal with Lori Greiner for $50,000 and 50% equity. Today, “The Baby Toon” has grown into a successful company with around $1 million in revenue each year. The Baby Toon is now sold through several major retailers, including Munchkin, Target, Walmart, and Amazon.

Cassidy Crowley’s entrepreneurship story is truly astounding, especially given that she started her business and appeared on Shark Tank at such a young age. Cassidy should be a reminder to all young entrepreneurs that the key to a successful business is finding a problem or need in an extremely niche area, and then solving the problem in a way no one else has before while providing several benefits.

1 Comment

Categories : Babies, Kids, parent, Shark Tank, Toys

Barking up the Right Tree: Carly Strife

Posted by Anna Scott

· Saturday, October 28th, 2023

· 3 Comments

How much do you love your dog? Enough to pay for a monthly subscription for dog toys and treats? Bark Box has found plenty of people willing to spend money to see their dogs happy.

Treats for man’s best friend.

When Carly Strife started Bark Box with Henrik Werdelin and Matt Meeker, she never imagined how successful it would become. Each month Bark Box sends thousands of boxes with curated themed dog toys and treats.

Although the founders were obsessed with their dogs, they never realized how many other dog lovers were equally obsessed with their pets. The company started with Carly selecting items from pet stores and Amazon. When Bark Box continued to grow, Carly began bulk-ordering special toys from artisans.

Customers began to respond, which inspired a unique marketing tactic. Carly realized that real videos from customers of their dogs tearing into the boxes were the best testimonies. Few can resist a video of owners laughing at their ecstatic dogs. So, Carly created BarkPost: a place where dog lovers receive curated posts and articles.

Bark Box eventually grew into Bark & Co. They have a second property called BarkCare. Customers pay $199 to connect with veterinarians at any time.

But how exactly did Carly Strife become involved with Bark Box and how did the company start? Carly was searching for a job. A friend referred her to Henrik Werdelin and Matt Meeker. They came up with the idea but lacked the ability to execute it. Werdelin and Meeker decided to invite Carly to help them start the business.

“I think it was because I was eager to do whatever… it took. I have a lot of energy and I’m kind of like a bulldozer when it comes to doing things. I don’t have a ton of experience but I like to think that I learn from my mistakes quickly and am risky enough to take them.”

The founders took their love of dogs and built Bark Box. It provides similar services as other subscription boxes but caters to dog lovers. Strife found the special niche enthusiastic and capitalized on customers’ emotions.

BARK: Shop BarkBox, Food, Toppers, Treats, Dental, Toys and more!

3 Comments

Categories : Dogs, Toys

Debbie Sterling & “GoldieBlox”

Posted by fiscuseg21

· Saturday, September 30th, 2023

· 2 Comments

Debbie Sterling (now 40) started her business “GoldieBlox,” at age 29 in 2012. GoldieBlox creates toys that introduce children (especially girls) to STEM at a young age. Their website includes categories of toys targeted at various ages ranging from 0-10 years.

As an engineering student at Stanford, Sterling couldn’t help but notice that she was one of the only girls in the department. Even worse, when it came to the hands-on part of her engineering classes, she struggled a lot more than the men did. Sterling realized the problem: boys grow up playing with hands-on, STEM-like toys (such as construction toys), but girls don’t. So, Sterling wanted to find a way to introduce young girls to STEM.

To solve this problem, Sterling created the first-ever girl engineering character: GoldieBlox. The “GoldieBlox” toy included a girl-targeted construction kit paired with a book that told a story about Goldie while guiding in the use of the toy.

Early on, Sterling faced rejection of her “GoldieBlox” toy at the International Toy Fair in NYC. Many people told her that girls “only want to play with princesses;” a STEM-related toy wouldn’t sell. However, Sterling truly believed in her idea, so she posted it on Kickstarter–and it was met with huge support. GoldieBlox received large amounts of funding and media coverage.

As GoldieBlox gained more sales and popularity, it received astounding recognition. GoldieBlox had a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, won a free Super Bowl commercial, and was honored by the President.

Debbie Sterling is an incredible example of a young entrepreneur. She encountered a true problem and realized that it doesn’t just affect her, but also all little girls everywhere. Then, she applied a unique solution that no one else had discovered. Even after facing initial rejection, Sterling didn’t give up; she stayed true to herself and persevered, as all young entrepreneurs often have to.

2 Comments

Categories : Education, Engineering, Female Empowerment, Kids, STEM, Toys

Mia Monzidelis: Power Pony (posted by Rebecca Svendsen)

Posted by SvendsenRK22

· Friday, October 21st, 2022

· 2 Comments

Wanting a pony is very typical for little kids, yet not every one of them can have a pony, especially those that live in urban and suburban areas. Therefore, when a young, five year old girl named Mia Monzidelis asked for a pony and received no as an answer, she refused to give up on her dream and instead started up a business that sold big, interactive toy ponies. The business is called Power Pony and in addition to the pony toys, there is also an interactive iOS app. The toy ponies (and unicorns!) could even travel around any area while the child using it was in the saddle, riding it. Her father also helped her with this idea by exploring other toy ponies with her until they got an idea of what they wanted to do.

Source: https://www.investopedia.com/10-successful-young-entrepreneurs-4773310

Mia on her pony

2 Comments

Categories : Horses/ponies, Kids, Toys

Tags : kid entrepreneurs, Kids, Toys

Mia Monzidelis: Ponies for City Kids

Posted by nuzumrk22

· Monday, September 26th, 2022

· 1 Comment

Mia Monzidelis wanted a pony. But for kids like her who lived in the city, that dream wouldn’t soon be fulfilled. With a strong passion for horses, she invented the idea for Power Pony after having received a Hoverboard for Christmas. The young inventor noticed that if she set her stuffed pony over the hoverboard and sat down, her feet on the hoverboard foot pads, she could ride the pony around. What started as a child’s simple idea to pass the time, soon became a thriving business with the encouragement of her parents and the guidance of designers and patent attorneys.

In structure, the Power Pony is nearly identical to her original idea, plus some bells and whistles. It is a small plush pony attached to a chargeable Hoverboard-like motor. The child then puts his/her feet on the engine’s foot pads and can ride the plush horse around. The pony is even iOS compatible with its own app and boasts lights and fancy sound effects. The Power Pony became first available in the summer of 2021 and has turned out to be a fantastic solution for children who live in the city. The company has since sold almost five thousand mechanical ponies around the nation and in response to her success, Mia Monzidelis has donated part of her profits to the Family and Children’s Association of Garden City.

As an entrepreneur, Monzidelis is brilliant because she decided to capitalize on what young children do all the time… make do with what they have. By using her childlike creativity and putting two of her favorite possessions together, she invented a great business, thus teaching other entrepreneurs that great ideas don’t have to be something brand new, it can be a combination of things that already exist, things that you love.

1 Comment

Categories : Horses/ponies, Technology, Toys, Young Entrepreneur

Maddie Rae: Slime Queen

Posted by gallagherjr21

· Saturday, September 18th, 2021

· 1 Comment

There is certain types fun as children that you never grow out of…well at least that is true for me. I loved (and still love) mixing things together and creating some sort of ‘unique’ concoction which is probably why I enjoy baking because it is the grown-up way of mixing ingredients together to form beauty and deliciousness. But enough about sweet and treats, and let’s do full one eighty and talk about slime. Slime? Is it that disgusting looking thing that can turn up in who knows where or can it be that pretty sparkly thing that you can find in the store? Children’s slime is a simple way to have endless fun. Playing with it can be a blast and that is exactly what a young girl named Maddie Rae discovered.

Maddie started making her own slime but as time passed, the interest in slime increased and she found it difficult to find slime glue. But the shortage in glue did not stop Maddie. She decided to try and create her own original slime glue. Finally, after hard work and many experiments, the perfect glue emerged which became Maddie Rae’s Slime Glue. The slime glue was a success and the business decided to expand to an array of slime items that aid in the process of making of slime.

There was a problem when there was not enough slime glue, but Maddie took her twelve-year-old passion for slime glue to that problem and found a solution. Her solution turned into a business which produced Maddie Rae’s Slime Glue. Since then, Maddie had the honor in breaking the Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Slime in 2017 for thirteen thousand eight hundred and twenty pounds. (The record has been broken by someone else) The joy of making slime combined with solving a need caused a young girl to become an entrepreneur.

1 Comment

Categories : Business, Handmade, Kids, Toys, Uncategorized, Women Entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, Youngest Entrepreneurs