Plastic, Reusable, Press-to-Close bags dominate the household food packaging industry – consumers obviously love the ease of use that they provide. And I believe that durable soft goods wanted a way to open and close bags like this. In the end, I believe that all bags – from food packagingRead More…
Category: Military
Switching Costs
I pitched an investor a week or so ago and she asked me about switching costs. I said, “I don’t think any company has switching costs.” She didn’t agree. Now, I realize that I was speaking from my perspective. All of the companies that contact me whether in fashion,Read More…
True? False?
I made this blog so that I could one day look back at all I’ve accomplished or all I’ve tried (failed) to accomplish. I’m humble about it. No one will have to ask me about my startup story…just read my blog. I wanted this journey. I wanted the good andRead More…
Broken Zippers, Business, Fashion, Industry, Military, Packaging, Product Development, Replacements, Technical
YKK® Lobby
Many of the people who email me from the defense side talk about the “YKK LOBBY!” Even at AUSA, someone screamed, “Bring down the YKK lobby!” Everyone tells me YKK® dominates zipper procurement. I think this is why I’m having such a tough time obtaining federal funding for something EVERYRead More…
“Pitch it like a Semiconductor!”
So… I was practicing my pitch in front of a bunch of some people who were asked to destroy my dreams or appease my pain. It was OK. By now, I’m pretty good at pitching. But, I still have/had trouble with relating what zipper technology truly means for the world.Read More…
My Perspective: Techstars Cleveland Report
So, I’m participating in this event next week where I get on stage with people I largely have tried to avoid for my entire startup career. CLE people tell me the scene is changing and actually this Techstars report gives me even more hope. I think I may try toRead More…
SBIR A16-062…Breaking it Down
Disclaimer: Army lab workers/researchers are supposed to be PUBLIC SERVANTS. Yet, it is challenging to obtain support from them for stuff the public is asking me for. If you don’t like my words here then please work to change that. Natick especially has a history of wrongdoing among small businessesRead More…
AUSA 2018!
Zipr Shift exhibited at AUSA in the Innovator’s Corner last week. Zipr Shift has soooo much interest from Army contractors. Army Labs are probably still trying to get around our IP and make a better closure than this, however…haha. NEGATIVE (-ish) Feedback we got from AUSA fromRead More…
xTechSearch
Simply put, xTechSearch gives me renewed faith in the Army and DoD. The program makes me think that future startups with bold new ideas will be treated as productive US Citizens rather than as nearly Terrorists from some non-friendly country to the US. Because, that’s how I felt when IRead More…
Little But Mighty
The power of standardization is that ZS closures are ALWAYS air-tight, water-tight, and gas-tight no matter their size. The shape is constant. The only difference is the dimensions of the shape. The ZS closure can be smaller, larger, or the same size as an old-fashioned closure…such as aRead More…