sustainability : Innovation + Job News

Moving wheels: Mt. Airy electric bike shop expands to larger quarters

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, February 15, 2011

It all started over a disagreement about who was going to use the car. Mt. Airy resident Meenal Raval and her husband Afshin Kaighobady had proudly downshifted from two cars to one, and that's when the couple purchased their first electric bike to navigate the hilly terrain of the neighborhood. But a two mile ride to work took an hour, reports Meenal, because people kept stopping her along the way to ask about her unique form of conveyance.

"We realized no one was selling electric bikes in Philly," says Meenal, who purchased that first bike out of state. Meenal and Afshin put their life savings into Philly Electric Wheels, or PHEW!, and opened their first store at the corner of Carpenter Lane and Greene Street, right across from Weavers' Way Co-op. The response was even greater than anticipated. Not only was PHEW! selling new bikes, but all those people who had bought bikes elsewhere dusted them off and brought them in for repairs within the first month.

With continued support for the only bike shop, electric or manual, in West Mount Airy, Meenal and Afshin soon grew out of their original space. Today is the grand opening of their expanded shop at 7102 Germantown Avenue, which boasts a larger retail area with both electric and non-electric bikes for sale, more storage, more space for repairs, and increased foot traffic. Meenal says that because the new shop is on two transit lines, bikers can hook their wheels onto a SEPTA bus, drop in for repair, and then ride on home. The new shop also serves an expanded clientele, as Germantown Avenue is the dividing line between East and West Mount Airy.

Source: Meenal Raval, Philly Electric Wheels
Writer: Sue Spolan

FLYING BYTES: PHL to QUE, Drexel and Boeing, and Mutual Funds from Hedge Funds

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Flying Bytes is innovation nuggets from around the region:

CALLING ALL FRANCOPHILE JETSETTERS
Get your beret and cafe au lait. This summer, US Airways starts direct flights from Philadelphia to Quebec City. The daily, year round service begins June 2 and offers three nonstop round trip flights. The quick trip to the Quebec capital is under 2 hours each way.

THE LONG AND $HORT OF IT
Turner Investments of Berwyn announced the launch this week of three alternative mutual funds that employ hedge fund strategies. The Medical Sciences Long/Short, the Market Neutral and the Titan Fund all rely on diversified long and short investments. Matt Glaser, who manages the Market Neutral, says the funds seek to deliver superior risk adjustment return for clients. "Post financial crisis investors are looking for ways to mitigate risk and lower volatility, so hedge funds, and mutual fund vehicles are here to stay."

EARLY TAKEOFF
Drexel University engineering students will be working on Boeing projects, thanks to a long term agreement signed this week between CDI-Aerospace and Boeing. Through the school's co-operative education program, students will be working on structural designs, software conversions and stress analysis for the CH-47 military helicopter, the V-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and the Boeing 787 commercial transport aircraft.

STEAMPUNK ACTION
The Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby is back for its 5th year, and organizers have put out a call for entries. Last year, participants crafted a bicycle powered steam engine, a conveyance that catapulted paint filled balloons onto a canvas, pirate ships and dragons, all foot powered. If your passion lives at the intersection of biking and art, visit the Sculpture Derby's home page for guidelines and registration forms. The event takes place May 21, and submit your entry form by April 15 to get free T-shirts for your team.

Source: USAirways; Henry Pyatt, Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby; Matt Glaser, Turner Investments, CDI
Writer: Sue Spolan

My baby ate a dingo: Vegan dessert tales from PureSweets

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Take a big bite out of that Hippo. Nibble on the Panda, and save some Ladybugs for later. Andrea Kyan has named her PureSweets product line for all the animals she loves. "I turned vegan in 2007. I'd been vegetarian since I was a kid, but a visit to an organic dairy farm opened my eyes. Organic is not necessarily humane." Kyan says she developed PureSweets to satisfy her own sweet tooth.

She found existing vegan treats lacking in depth, with no butter, cream, or eggs to carry flavor. Kyan solved the problem by using nut flours, which provide "protein content, a nutritional boost, and are gluten free." The second main ingredient is coconut butter, and Kyan also relies on coconut oils as well as nut butters made from cashews and almonds. The sweetening comes not from refined cane sugar but from maple syrup, date sugar, palm sugar, and organic brown rice syrup. "Everything else is flavored with dried fruit and nuts, espresso, and organic dark chocolate."

Kyan was on her way to medical school with a goal of practicing preventative medicine, and she was working as a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, studying the way mindfulness meditation affects weight loss, when she decided to go for a career in sustainable baking. Last fall, she got an account with Whole Foods, and they are currently piloting her products at their Center City location. She's in talks with the seven regional stores, and her goal is to place products in all 250 Whole Foods. "The only way this will work is through volume," says Kyan. "Some of the ingredients are so expensive." Items have eco-friendly packaging. PureSweets operates out of an old church in East Falls, and there's no storefront at that location, so Kyan delivers all online orders to Philadelphia area homes and offices for a reasonable fee.

About that Dingo: it's the name of PureSweets' chocolate-dipped almond butter cookie. All PureSweets' products bear animal names, and Kyan donates five percent of sales to animal rescue organizations, including PAWS and the Camden County Animal Shelter.

Source: Andrea Kyan, PureSweets
Writer: Sue Spolan

ServePhiladelphia connects volunteers with opportunities

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, January 25, 2011

You've got to serve somebody. That's the message of newly launched ServePhiladelphia. It's an easy to use database that connects free people with places in need. Pick an area of interest from a pull down menu: Community Building, Education, Health, Leadership, Sustainability and more, and choose from dozens of projects that need your help. Selections run the gamut from gardening in the Wissahickon, to food distribution, to helping the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia translate English language guides into Vietnamese.

A city-led initiative, ServePhiladelphia launched this past Saturday, kicking off at the Free Library of Philadelphia with a project to get books to children learning to read. The initiative has a three part mission: to "create or elevate volunteer opportunities that impact educational outcomes and contribute to community vitality, to make it easier for citizens of every age to volunteer, and to support both public and private sector efforts to engage more volunteers in ways that have the greatest impact," according to Mayor Michael Nutter's kickoff message.

Nutter also announced the 2011 Volunteer Impact Challenge, with a three-time-a-year recognition ceremony for participants. Registration for ServePhiladelphia is simple, and allows citizens to bookmark interesting assignments as well as track hours. The initiative also has a Facebook page.

ServePhiladelphia is made possible by a Cities of Service Leadership Grant, allowing the hire of Catie C. Wolfgang, the City's first Chief Service Officer, and the establishment of the Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service. Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition founded in New York City by 17 mayors working together to increase volunteerism. From its inception in 2009, Cities of Service now counts over 100 mayors in its ranks.

Source: Mayor Michael Nutter, ServePhiladelphia
Writer: Sue Spolan

Fare organic restaurant coming to Fairmount

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, January 25, 2011

You've got to give attorney David Orphanides a lot of credit. He's come up with an alternative to "artisanal," one of the more awkward-sounding terms in the English language. Jettisoning the word, but not the concept, Orphanides uses the more classic "crafted" when describing the four tenets that make up the philosophy of Fairmount's soon-to-open Fare restaurant, which also relies on local, organic and sustainable practices.

Orphanides eats organic and shops sustainably at home, so it makes total sense, he says, that Fare mirrors that lifestyle. "It's second nature for us. We couldn't see doing it any other way." Also on board are Savvas Navrosidis, who owns Fairmount Pizza, and attorney Andy Siegel.

Fare, which opens to the public in "early spring," eschews heavy creams and sauces for "food that's still very satisfying and filling." The projected 85-seat bar and restaurant located at 2028 Fairmount Avenue, across from Eastern State Penitentiary, is fit out with completely green, locally sourced furnishings. The black walnut bar comes from Pennsylvania trees. Wine, beer, and liquor served on that lovely expanse of local wood aims to be "biodynamic and organic, from local vineyards and distilleries," according to Orphanides.

Fare's menu evolved from an original concept of smaller snacks to include dishes for all appetites. Small plates and snacks range in price from $2-$8; salads are $6-$9, and main dishes range from $11-$18. Fare "started out more as a place for people to have a drink and socialize, more of a lounge" for Fairmount locals, but when chef Tim Bellew signed on, the menu expanded. Bellew's previous engagements include Fire in Cherry Hill, Black Eyed Susan in Long Beach Island, and MANNA catering in New York.

Source: David Orphanides, Fare Restaurant
Writer: Sue Spolan

Flying Bytes: Penn's power, Basecamp app, and vegan lunch

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Flying Bytes is a weekly roundup of innovation news nuggets:

TGIVF: Miss Rachel's Lunch Pantry announces The Downtown Lunch Club, a new uber-healthy weekly lunch delivery service for Center City. Choose from three vegan options, pay just $10 via PayPal, order by Thursday, and get delivery to home or office on Friday. Coming soon: The Navy Yard Lunch Club.

Penn Players: The University of Pennsylvania plays a significant role in the growth of Philadelphia and the region, according to an upcoming report. This week's Penn Current newsletter highlights the statewide economic impact of Penn in 2010, Philadelphia's largest private employer, which "translates into $14.1 billion, and that number reflects a 46.5 percent increase since 2005," when the last report was issued.

Back to Basecamp: Basecamp Business has released the Business Calendar Network app for Android. Joining recent mobile app releases for iPhone and iPad, the Android app allows entrepreneurs to search for upcoming networking events by location and type, and lets users know if they can get their grub on.

Nutter for the Arts: Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has long been a proud supporter of the city's art scene, with strong ties to the Mural Arts Program and Philly's music community. This week Nutter received the 2011 Public Leadership in the Arts Award, hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Americans for the Arts. Mayor James Brainard of Carmel, Indiana and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson also received the award.

Cultural Cash Flow: The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance announced 40 winners of Project Stream seed grants, totaling more than $95,000. Local nonprofit arts groups and performers include Crossroads Music, Delaware County Community College and The Youth Orchestra of Bucks County. Recipients receive up to $3,000 each, and the initiative is funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts' (PCA) Partners in the Arts program, with additional support from PECO.

Writer: Sue Spolan

RecycleNOW to help communities garner real Recycling Rewards

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Go ahead. Drop that yogurt container into the recycling bucket. You know you want to. The City of Philadelphia has made recycling far more worthwhile with the Recycling Rewards Program. If a vague sense of helping the environment doesn't pull you in, discounts at local businesses will. In an effort to increase residents' compliance with the recycling program, Philadelphia has partnered with RecycleBank to create the Rewards Program, which is now available to residents citywide. But there are questions. Christine Knapp of the local office of the state's leading environmental advocacy organization, PennFuture, says every time she talks to communities about the city's recycling program, someone asks about yet another item. Yes, says Knapp, all plastics with numbers 1-7 are now eligible. But not plastic bags. "They jam up the sorting system."

So many questions coupled with so little compliance: only 18 percent of all Philly's trash is diverted into recycling. Colleen Meehan is a program organizer for Clean Water Action of Pennsylvania, one of the groups involved with RecycleNOW Philadelphia, a coalition of individuals and organizations working to promote recycling. She says one of the barriers is that the Recycling Rewards Program is primarily online. Additionally, the program can be somewhat confusing. What is eligible for recycling, and how does a whole neighborhood benefit from the used soda cans of an individual household? The way the program is structured, an entire community shares in the benefits of individual families' recycling efforts. Each family gets its own rewards, which can be any of thousands of options, from supermarket discounts to minor league baseball tickets.

RecycleNOW hopes a series of four community activist workshops will spark interest in the program that was originally piloted in West Oak Lane and Chestnut Hill before citywide rollout. The gatherings are billed as training sessions for those who want to spread the good word in their communities, but, says Knapp, anyone with questions about the process can attend. Experts will answer commonly asked questions, and provide information and materials residents need to help sign up others in their communities. The first session is scheduled for this evening at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Center City. Workshops will follow in South Philadelphia, the near northeast, including Kensington, Fishtown and Northern Liberties, and the greater northeast.

Source: Christine Knapp, PennFuture; Colleen Meehan, Clean Water Action
Writer: Sue Spolan

Van Aken: Philly's SA VA Fashion "most socially sustainable apparel company" in U.S.

Flying Kite Media Monday, January 10, 2011

Philadelphia clothing designer Sara Van Aken, president of SVA Holdings Corporation, remains resolute in offering high fashion at a low impact to the environment. In fact, Van Aken says her company is the most socially sustainable apparel company in the United States. The formula is working, as Van Aken hints that SA VA Fashion is poised to go regional in 2011, and she's already offering a selection of ready-to-wear for purchase online. SA VA's flagship retail store is located at 1700 Sansom Street, and every item sold in the store is created in a garment factory directly upstairs from the retail operation.

SVA offers four exclusive clothing lines: SA VA, which is available to the public at the SA VA retail shop, as well as three others: Van Aken Signature, Private Label and Custom Shirts. The Signature line specializes in celebrity chef uniforms, having designed for culinary luminaries such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Van Aken says hers is the only fashion company that's completely vertical. It's all made right on location. "Everything is done internally. We make patterns and manufacture in house, and sell at the same place."

While many other clothing companies outsource to manufacturers outside the US, where labor is cheap, Van Aken remains committed to hiring locally. Her goal is to create 22 jobs over the next three years. Currently there are 15 employees in the SVA garment shop in Center City. In an effort to provide community outreach, SVA runs a semi-annual clothing drive to benefit local groups Career Wardrobe and People's Emergency Center. SA VA's upcoming customer events include the Reflect, Rejuvenate, Reawaken series, featuring programs focused on health and wellness.

Van Aken reports that while she is not able to create the fabric on site, her source materials are always locally made, fair trade, sustainable, made in the U.S., recycled or organic. Van Aken terms her style slow fashion, with an eye to the entire life cycle of a garment, from how it's made, manufactured, shipped and sold, to its destination beyond the closet.

Source: Sara Van Aken, SVA Holdings Corp.
Writer: Sue Spolan

Food for health and the soul: Alive Kitchen opens in Mt. Airy with organic, seasonal fare

Flying Kite Media Monday, January 10, 2011

Denise Straiges Warkov, founder of recently opened Mt. Airy food business Alive Kitchen, is a practicing homeopath and professionally trained chef in health supportive and allergy safe cuisine. Deciding to start her own culinary endeavor, which provides seasonal, local and organic prepared foods for weekly pick-up at its storefront kitchen or for delivery, was easier than most of the recipes she uses.

"I was making suggestions for my clients' diets, and at some point, they began asking me if I could make the food for them," says Straiges, who joined forces with Ane Ormaechea, owner and executive chef of the now shuttered South Street tapas restaurant Apamate. Ormaechea, who is of Spanish descent and raised in Venezuela, provides a continental flavor to Alive, which offers "the freshest possible local, organic and sustainable" ready-to-eat food. For example, this week's menu offerings include Tortilla Espanola, Winter Greens and Potato Soup with Cannellini Beans, and Braised Short Ribs.

Straiges explains that in prescribing a probiotic diet for her clients, the health of one's gut is key to healing a number of systemic problems. She cites the GAPS diet, which stands for Gut And Psychology Syndrome, a way of eating popularized by pediatrician Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. GAPS addresses food sensitivities and allergies, and the related illnesses that may follow, as well as damage done to the intestinal flora by overuse of antibiotics. Alive's menu always includes nutrient rich stocks and fermented foods.

Straiges, who lovingly recalls her Italian grandmother cooking classics in the family kitchen, says, "If we do what's right for ourselves, we're doing what's right for our families, and ultimately for the planet." Straiges says Alive Kitchen food tastes good, but more important, it feels good. "It's nutrient rich, yet delicious for everyone." She hopes to serve conscious but busy foodies who are looking for a little help in the kitchen. Straiges teaches cooking classes and workshops, does menu consulting for restaurants and corporations, and will offer cooking classes this spring.

Source: Denise Straiges Warkov, Alive Kitchen
Writer: Sue Spolan

PNC awards $100,000 to United Way's Asset and Workforce Development Initiatives

Flying Kite Media Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Here's a surprising statistic: a family of four needs an income of over $60,000 a year to survive in the city of Philadelphia, according to United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. That leaves 20 percent of the city's households without adequate earnings to pay for basic necessities like food, housing, health care and child care. That's where The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Asset and Workforce Development Initiative offers a hand. United Way's goal is to educate, increase literacy, and help promote low income earners to higher paying jobs, not with handouts, but with financial self-reliance training, adult literacy programs, and assistance with tax preparation. In the past three years, United Way has provided nearly $2 million in funding and garnered over $50 million in tax refunds for local families.

To maintain and grow the Asset and Workforce Development Initiative in 2011, The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania has just received a $100,000 grant from PNC Community Development Banking, a division of PNC Bank. Jill Michal, CEO of United Way Southeastern Pennsylvania, says in a news release: "PNC's grant will help us reach our goal of finding jobs for more than 900 out-of-school youth and homeless veterans, and (help) some 500 individuals obtain an academic or vocational credential."

The Asset and Workforce Development Initiative is responsible for providing thousands of area residents with increased savings, leading to the potential for new home purchases and avoidance of foreclosure on existing mortgages.

Source: United Way
Writer: Sue Spolan

Wireless Energy Solutions partners with Bulogics to help commercial buildings battle PECO rate hikes

Flying Kite Tuesday, December 14, 2010

This holiday season, commercial building owners in the Philadelphia area will be receiving a gift that they would love to return. This January, PECO is set to announce its first rate hike in 14 years. This expiration of the rate caps is likely to mean big increases for commercial buildings, where utilities are often the biggest expenditure. But one Glenside company wants to replace this lump of coal with energy savings, connecting cutting edge technology with complex building systems.

In 2009, long-time business owner and entrepreneur Tony DePaul created Wireless Energy Solutions (WES) as a marketing and distribution agency for Bulogics, the Philadelphia-based energy monitoring technology firm. Bulogics has created smart plugs that monitor energy usage for each device and transmit that information wirelessly. Partnering with Bulogics, DePaul's team has created an internet-enabled network allowing business owners to control energy usage and monitor devices from an iPhone or laptop off-site and from any computer in the building. This solution has helped commercial buildings across the region reduce usage before the rate caps expire.

"There are three major areas impacted: HVAC, lighting, and parasitic power," says DePaul. "By keeping your building the appropriate climate, managing the parasitic power and the lighting, it comes up to anywhere from 15 to 30 percent of the energy bill each year. And depending on where the power companies are, some offer rebates for these devices. And we do all the applications. These things pay for themselves in a very short period of time."

WES promises a 100 percent return on investment within three years through savings and rebates. In Pennsylvania, while rates may be going up, PECO offers a 21-cent-per-square-foot rebate, helping building owners avoid the rate-cap woes.

"There is nothing else like this on the market," says DePaul. "The alternative is dumb, low-tech devices. Or you can use this, a wireless capability that is highly intelligent, programmable and reports and monitors the site completely."

Source: Tony DePaul, Wireless Energy Solutions
Writer: John Steele

Pure Fare marries online diet software with fast, casual dining in Rittenhouse

Flying Kite Tuesday, December 14, 2010

These days, most businesses fit into one of two categories--brick-and-mortar businesses and online cyber shops. And from the look of Pure Fare's 21st Street location, the Rittenhouse neighborhood is soon in for another sustainable cafe. But partners Kriti and Kunal Sehgal and have something far more innovative in mind.

With PureFare.com, the Pure Fare team hopes to help customers monitor their eating habits and keep track of local food. The My Fare program would allow customers who live and work in the neighborhood to use a swipe card, keeping track of meals at Pure Fare. PureFare.com then offers detailed nutritional information for all purchases. Customers can also enter food items from other places into this online food log, helping Pure Fare's health nut customers have a more intuitive view to encourage healthy eating.

"Our goal right now is to cater to the breakfast and lunch crowd," says Pure Fare co-managing partner Kunal Sehgal. "It is a place where you can come to get a sandwich or a cup of coffee but we also offer these other features."

The owners say they have plans to make the building more sustainable as well, using low-impact lighting and composting in the kitchen. But the web tools are what set them apart. Sehgal says they even held up the opening until early 2011 to make sure they got the website just right.

"We are working on the design of the space but also making sure that everything we do is supported by the website," says Sehgal. By very effortlessly tracking what you are eating, we can track your (body mass index), health metrics and we are able to engage the user in a way that has never been done by a fast-casual brand."

Source: Kunal Sehgal, Pure Fare
Writer: John Steele

UgMo Technologies introduces a wireless soil sensor for small irrigation systems

Flying Kite Tuesday, December 07, 2010

In 2009, Tampa, Fla., experienced the worst drought in its history, causing quite a stir in the city's water department. From January to March, water enforcement officials had issued six citations a day for improper water usage. The situation became so dire that the city issued a ban on sprinkler systems, until the drought was under control.

King of Prussia sprinkler firm UgMo Technologies is helping Florida business and home owners protect against drought without throwing the baby out with the lawn water. They created ProHome, a wireless soil sensor that detects when soil has been adequately saturated and automatically shuts the water off, saving customers an average of 53 percent on water bills. Along with Florida, the company has sales teams in drought-plagued areas in Texas, California, Florida and Georgia. This week, Ben Franklin Technology Partners announced $500,000 in investment to help UgMo expand ProHome to larger, more commercial projects across the country.

"This is a true green product that allows you to cut down on your water usage and provides real savings," says UgMo CFO Joe Cahill. "That is something you don't see much in the green tech market."

After launching in 2004, UgMo began developing ProTurf, a version of ProHome marketed to sports facilities and golf courses. After releasing ProTurf in 2009, UgMo was well along developing its second product, ProHome. The Ben Franklin investment will help UgMo launch a new commercial version of its technology. The company looks to expand drastically in the next year, hiring in every department and expanding into home and commercial markets.

"The next generation of UgMo will address larger irrigation systems; everything from office parks to municipalities and strip malls," says Cahill. "As we spend the next year developing this product, the investment will help us continue our growth."

Source: Joe Cahill, UgMo Technologies
Writer: John Steele

Ride-sharing platform Ridaroo debuts at Drexel, looks to hitch a ride with other schools

Flying Kite Tuesday, November 30, 2010

It's holiday time again and students at college campuses across the U.S. will be huddled around their local ride board looking for a convenient carpool to drive them over the river and through the woods. As former Drexel University business students, Andy Guy and Aksel Gungor were in that rabble once. But thanks to their new internet platform Ridaroo, a digital answer to the college bulletin board, university students may soon be able to bypass this holiday huddle and get on the road a little faster.

"We built Ridaroo here at Drexel initially as an answer to the co-op office's ride board," says Guy. "But we quickly realized there was a wider market for a product like this at universities, corporations and a lot of other entities and when we started expanding our horizons, we realized there was an opportunity to make this a real business."

Using Facebook and Google Maps, Ridaroo allows students to connect, share routes and meet up out on the road. Guy and Gungor hope to expand accessibility with smartphones, optimizing the site for mobile phones. As they get the word out through Drexel and other universities, Guy and Gungor are examining other applications, working with businesses and government agencies to start carpool programs for workers. Businesses and universities pay a subscription fee and Guy and Gungor admit that they are still learning how to bring the service to a new location. But once the pilot program is complete, they are confident they will be hitching a ride at college and business campuses across the country.

"Our goal is to go out to the local universities and get somewhere in the range of a dozen schools," says Guy. "At that level, we would feel confident knowing we had proven ourselves in the market. Then it's time to really go after a nationwide effort."

Source: Andy Guy, Ridaroo
Writer: John Steele

Phoenixville's Arctic Ease plays it cool at Philadelphia Marathon

Flying Kite Tuesday, November 30, 2010

In Philadelphia in late November, keeping cool has never been a problem. That is, unless you run the Philadelphia Marathon. The annual race, which took place on Sunday, Nov. 21, attracted a field of over 11,000 runners, all battling for the finish line. When they got there, runners were greeted by the folks at Arctic Ease, a Phoenixville company specializing in cryotherapy wraps and pads proven to reduce swelling and stay cool for hours. The wraps require no time in the freezer and can be attached for more mobility.

A veteran of the health care industry and avid athlete, CEO Carol Forden founded Arctic Ease in 2009 after creating a chemical compound in her garage. Designed to remove heat from injured tissue, Arctic Ease keeps affected areas at a safe 60 degrees, reducing swelling and pain.

"If you are a weekend warrior and you overdo it or you are a runner in a marathon, on Monday, it is going to be a little tough to move around," says Forden. "What this product does is removes that swelling so you don't have that pain on Monday."

Along with offering wraps to runners at the finish line, Arctic Ease added a product sample to each marathoner's registration info and sponsored a massage tent. The company has appeared at marathons across the country and, after hiring four top-level positions in October 2009, is looking to expand into new markets in 2011. Along with expansion into other sports, Forden says the product may soon help osteoarthritis sufferers return mobility to creaky joints.

"If you have ever twisted an ankle and wound up in the ER, you know that until they reduce the swelling, they can't do much," says Forden. "If you have nerve damage or a sprained ankle, they will tell you to come back three weeks later and they want you icing that whole time. Arctic Ease makes this process a little easier."

Source: Carol Forden, Arctic Ease
Writer: John Steele