New world record cyclist used Dayton-made bike saddle

There’s a new cycling world record-holder in India, & he completed his journey on a bike saddle created by Dayton startup Edge Cycling Technologies.

Bharat Pannu, 36, biked the 3,604 km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in 8 days, 9 hours and 48 minutes, breaking the 10-day, 3-hour, 32-minute Guinness World Record set last year, the Times of India reports.

Pannu spent nearly the entire ride on a PhysioSaddle, the patent-pending, anatomically-correct bike saddle designed by Edge Cycling Technologies Founder & CEO Dr. Shane Page.

“We set out to create a more comfortable bike seat because we know soreness is a real problem. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine elite athletes like Bahrat would be breaking world records on our PhysioSaddle,” Page said. “We’re thrilled to know our saddle is helping to push new bounds in the sport.”

The PhysioSaddle combines cycling with biomechanics and anatomical knowledge to improve comfort and decrease pain. Four specifically placed concavities reduce the pressure points that are created by conventional bike seats.

“I was on the PhysioSaddle for more than 98% (of the) time,” Pannu messaged Page this morning. “I somehow wasn’t comfortable on any other saddle this time.”

Page is a licensed physical therapist and board-certified sports specialist, as well as a cycling enthusiast.

Edge Cycling Technologies won the University of Dayton’s Flyer Pitch competition in 2018. The startup has been a client at The Entrepreneurs Center in Dayton for the last two years.

About Edge Cycling Technologies: Edge Cycling Technologies is the creator of the PhysioSaddle, combining cycling with biomechanics and anatomical knowledge to improve comfort and decrease pain. We aim to make your ride pain-free and enjoyable. We didn’t reinvent the wheel, just the seat!

About The Entrepreneurs Center: The Entrepreneurs Center (TEC) offers solutions to all Miami Valley entrepreneurs by assisting small businesses, scalable high-tech startups, and research institutes ready to commercialize. Mentorship, connections, business planning, professional services, and technology commercialization programs are available at little-to-no cost to local entrepreneurs. TEC also manages multiple properties offering affordable, flexible space solutions such as co-working, shared space, and private offices. In partnership with the University of Dayton, TEC drives innovation in the region as an anchor tenant at The Arcade revitalization project in downtown Dayton, scheduled to open in late 2020.

Springfield Hustles organizers have announced the 10 finalists who will pitch for a $75K+ prize package at John Legend Theatre at 6pm on Nov. 6.

• Eric Mata of Substance Abuse Prevention Institute, a startup offering DUI/OVI intervention programs in Springfield, Xenia, Piqua and Centerville;

• Roark Thompson of PIPE AG, a cloud based platform allowing farm operators to connect with their entire fleet;

• Carlos Portis of Inveloped Cards, a text messaging-based greeting card company;

• Melanie Barrett of Bailey Bug LLC, a startup providing apparel for wheelchair users.

The Springfield business community joined forces for Springfield Hustles, a Shark Tank-style business plan and pitch competition with a grand prize of $75K+ in cash and services to infuse into a startup.

Included in the grand prize — worth $76,350 total — is $5K in startup capital from SpringForward, $5K in startup capital from entrepreneur & angel investor Blake Shaffer and a three-year, and a $5K City of Springfield micro loan from The Small Business Development Center; a one-year membership to COhatch; branding and logo services from Hucklebuck Design Studio; website development from Launch Runner; tax/accounting and outsourced CFO services from LWS tax and Accounting; legal consultation from The Stuckey Firm; radio advertising from iHeart Media; social media marketing from Shift•ology; video services from Champion City Media; photography services from Hatch New Media; printing from Box King; signage from MacRay; and a one-year membership in the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

Only new business concepts and startups that have been in business less than three years were eligible. Ventures must be headquartered in Springfield or willing to relocate company HQ to Springfield. Ventures had to be for-profit, and one owner had to be at least 18 years old. Applicants were also required to see a business coach from the Springfield Small Business Development Center before submitting their final business plan.

In this new monthly feature, we’re celebrating milestones big and small with our entrepreneurs and founders! See what our awesome startups have been up to this month, in no particular order:

Daniel launched the Kickstarter for business #7, theStartHere Challenge notebook. Congrats, Daniel!

Today, La-Z-Boy announced a partnership with Dayton startup company Marxent, leader in 3D product visualization for retail and ecommerce.

La-Z-Boy has already launched several major 3D experiences powered by the Marxent® 3D Cloud, including Augmented Reality, 3D product configuration, and 3D room planning. La-Z-Boy is now expanding the Marxent partnership by making virtual reality available to its sales associates and professional designers.

“La-Z-Boy is famous for innovative product design and an unmatched furniture buying experience. It is our firm belief that the customer should get exactly what they envision. 3D visualization applications have become essential to delivering on that promise,” Eli Winkler, Chief Marketing Officer for La-Z-Boy said.

“3D is woven throughout the La-Z-Boy customer experience, both online and in-store,” Winkler said. “When we saw that 3D was becoming central to our customer experience, we knew it made sense to build all of our 3D experiences off of a single platform. Marxent’s 3D Cloud has allowed La-Z-Boy to successfully launch and manage several game-changing 3D content initiatives with remarkable efficiency by deploying the same 3D assets across multiple customer touchpoints and applications.”

“The adoption of multiple 3D applications by La-Z-Boy is further evidence that the age of 3D Commerce in retail is upon us,” Beck Besecker, Marxent CEO and Co-Founder said. “But more importantly La-Z-Boy understands that taking advantage of a unified 3D platform prepares them for what’s still to come. 3D Search, 3D advertising, object recognition, social 3D, and many more 3D-powered consumer experiences are right around the corner. La-Z-Boy is executing perhaps one of the broadest implementations of 3D Commerce in retail. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such an iconic brand and outstanding partner.”

360 Product Viewer with 3D Product Configurator: The La-Z-Boy 360 Product Viewer with 3D Product Configurator allows consumers to customize and explore products with 360 Product Spins. Intuitive and easy to use, shoppers visit the product page of the chair style that they prefer, then add or change upholstery selections and details in real time. The final configured product can be added to cart.

3D Room Planner: Reusing the same 3D assets as the 360 Product Viewer with 3D Product Configurator, La-Z-Boy has worked with Marxent to deploy 3D Room Planners on the web, for home use, and on iPads for store associates. La-Z-Boy designers use these applications to develop and deliver interior design concepts to clients. La-Z-Boy has hundreds of designers, and is one of the largest providers of interior design services in the U.S.

Virtual Reality: La-Z-Boy has also begun installing Virtual Reality. This solution enables store associates and designers to link 3D rooms designed on the iPad to a virtual reality headset with the touch of a button giving customers the opportunity to walk around and experience their space.

La-Z-Boy AR iOS App: Launched in 2019, the La-Z-Boy AR app, available exclusively in the Apple App Store, allows customers to preview a wide variety of La-Z-Boy furniture in Augmented Reality. Users see exactly how their new furniture will fit in their home, and can save images for texting, email or social media posting. The La-Z-Boy AR app is fun, easy to use, and a free download at the App store.

Marxent® is the leading 3D visualization platform for furniture and home improvement retailers. The most innovative retailers depend on Marxent to help them reduce returns, sell more merchandise, and enhance the customer experience. Marxent’s patent-pending Photo to Floorplan™ feature helps customers design how they shop – directly from inspirational photos. Marxent offers 3D applications for every point in the customer journey including Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, 360 Product Spins and 3D Room Designer with Photo to Floorplan™. Innovative retailers and manufacturers such as Macy’s, Bob’s Discount Furniture, John Lewis, AZEK Building Products, and American Woodmark use Marxent’s solutions. Learn more at marxent.com.

The U.S. Air Force wants to attract non-traditional, innovative startup firms to research & develop products to meet the challenges and needs of the modern warfighter. Its local offices are hosting two pitch days designed to reach industry partners and speed up the contracting process.

Nov. 13-14 is the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center event at Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd, Dayton. Nov. 13 is a government-only venture capitalist networking event with the opportunity to meet small business entrepreneurs, investors, VCs, and members of industry. The showcase event on Nov. 14 is open to the public — hear directly from senior Air Force leadership on how they are redefining the very nature of what’s possible in rapid procurement, then see invited small businesses pitch their SBIR Phase II technology capabilities. The event will award Phase II SBIR contracts of up to $750K on-the-spot to companies seeking contracts with the Air Force based on a streamlined evaluation of written proposals and in-person presentations. Register here by Friday, Nov. 1.

Friday, Nov. 15, catch the Air Force Technology Executive Officer (AF TEO) Pitch Day, & hosted by the Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) at The Steam Plant, 617 East Third St., Dayton. This event addresses current technological challenges by bringing together enthusiastic small technology businesses holding active SBIR/STTR Phase II contracts, Air Force leadership, and outside investors focused on the betterment of our warfighter. Companies who have identified additional sources of matching follow-on investments will be pitching the AF for $250K to $3M in additional funds, to be awarded on the spot. Register here.

Both pitch days are powered by AF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR).

Applications are open for CO-OP Dayton’s new Cooperative & Social Enterprise Incubator, launching in 2020!

“For the past two years, we’ve been assisting co-op entrepreneurs on case-by-case basis,” CO-OP Dayton Project Manager Rachel Meketon said. “This gives us the opportunity to serve more co-op entrepreneurs more effectively.”

Entrepreneur teams of at least three members are invited to apply to participate in this new incubator, which aims to support the creation and launch of new cooperative businesses or social enterprises. Potential founders will complete market research, create a business plan, pilot their product or service & seek funding to launch. Between five & 10 project teams will be accepted.

“Co-ops are more accountable to the community,” Rachel said. “There is no outside stakeholder that has power over the co-op or can reap profit from the co-op. There is both accountability and shared wealth and wealth-building.”

The incubator will launch in January 2020 & run for seven months. Teams will attend two workshops per month — one Saturday intensive workshop and one weekday evening workshop — to develop the business plan & complete market research. Teams will also schedule at least two team meetings to complete workshop assignments.

Throughout the incubator, participants will receive guidance from experts, access to mentors, and assistance from local college students. As teams launch their enterprises or pilot programs, they’ll have continued support from the CO-OP Dayton team. Participants will also have a chance to pitch their new co-op or social enterprise at a community celebration & compete for cash & in-kind services from local business development organizations.

To qualify, projects must meet either one cooperative criteria — be a worked-owned business, community land trust or real estate cooperative, or community loan fund — or two social enterprise criteria — provide employment to disadvantaged people, offer transformative products with measurable social impact on disadvantaged communities, partner with a nonprofit, or revitalize a distressed neighborhood.

Projects may be at the ideation or startup stages. If at the ideation stage, founders must already agree on the mission, industry, target market and potential product or service of the enterprise.

Each team member must pay a $50 commitment fee up front — this fee will be refunded if the individual attends at least 75 percent of the sessions and participates in program evaluations.

Applications are due by midnight on Friday, Nov. 8. Applicants will be scheduled for 30-minute meetings with Co-Op Dayton and its partners between Nov. 11 & Nov. 20. Participants will be notified of acceptance on Monday, Dec. 2.

The Dayton Business Journal has named its 2019 Business of the Year honorees, and one local Dayton food startup has been recognized in two categories — Mutt’s Sauce, founded by Charlynda Scales, has been tapped as both the Woman- and the Minority-Owned Business of the Year.

The U.S. Air Force veteran entrepreneur was stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base when she received her late grandfather’s secret sauce recipe in 2013. Charlie “Mutt” Ferrell Jr., namesake of Charlynda’s company, was also a veteran, serving in the Korean & Vietnam wars.

Charlynda launched Mutt’s Sauce after connecting with a mentor through the Dayton chapter of SCORE, a nonprofit organization that provides free services to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Daniel Huiet has owned six different businesses & read 50 different books on building habits.

On Sunday, he’ll launch business #7 with a Kickstarter launch party for the StartHere Challenge notebook, a vegan leather-bound pocket journal designed to enable the user to accomplish a new goal in 30 days.

Daniel developed the Challenger notebook in partnership with his sister, Heather Harrall & his mother, Kathy Kreis.

“I wanted to get my sister & mom involved in entrepreneurship,” he said. “I don’t want to work for anyone else, and I don’t want them to, either.”

Heather has a masters degree in mental health and stepped away from her career in nursing to raise her three children, Daniel said. She was deciding how to go back to work.

She loves bullet journals. Daniel is a self-described expert at tackling goals. So it was only natural to combine these two worlds, he said.

On the right page is a daily planner — the user must write out what obstacles they’ll face and how they intend to handle those obstacles. On the left page is a technique or strategy to help the user create new habits in order to reach their goal. These tactics range from focusing on being grateful to shutting off digital notifications to learning how to say no — the most valuable tips & tricks he gleaned from those 50 books on habit-building he read while traveling the world last year, he said.

“The whole point of the Challenger is to help you start. You have to get up the hill to get that momentum,” he said. “Even if you just master one technique, you’re on your way.”

There are over 100 different questions built into the Challenger notebook, which will be printed right here in Dayton, Daniel added.

Join Daniel Sunday, Oct. 20, at Wild Axe Throwing, 3251 Seajay Drive, Beavercreek, to help him kick off this new business. Doors open at 11:30a, and the Kickstarter will launch at 12:30p.

Daniel’s goal is to get the pocket notebook in backers’ hands by Jan. 1, 2020 to help them slay their New Year’s goals, he said.

We’re excited at the lineup of entrepreneurs slated for this month’s Early Risers!

Please note the new time & location — pitches will start promptly at 8a in the BarryStaff Community Room, 230 Webster St, Dayton, on Friday, Oct. 25.

& Bryan Hunter & Paul Schwab, cofounders of Nebula HQ, an HR software management platform.

Our September edition of Early Risers is sponsored by Don from Smart Data, a Dayton-based software development company. He’ll bring the coffee and treats to kick off the 8a event.

Early Risers is a morning pitch series that connects entrepreneurs to the things they need most, like first customers, key employees, mentors, funding, and more. Each startup gets 10 minutes to pitch, then the audience gets 5 minutes for Q&A.

In the last two years, 90% of startups have gotten their ask granted through a connection made at Early Risers. So grab a cup of coffee & a donut and find a place you can plug into Dayton’s startup community!

When a rep from Dayton Children’s Hospital approached entrepreneur Katie Hall about having a coin jar at her 2nd Street Market booth, Katie saw an opportunity to make a much larger impact.

Next month, the founder of Fox in Socks Soapery will release a new line of storybook soaps to support the institution’s work.

Katie Hall, founder of Fox in Socks Soapery, is launching a storybook line of soaps to benefit Dayton Children’s Hospital.

The soaps — locally made and sourced, true to Fox in Socks’ mission — will be packaged to look like children’s books. Katie will open up sales Nov. 2 with a faux book launch party at 2nd Street Market that will feature face painting & a scavenger hunt through the market.

Katie will also be accepting children’s book donations during the launch party — and she’ll match every book donated with a bar of storybook soap that will be delivered to a patient at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

“I knew I wouldn’t make an impact with a coin jar,” Katie said, reflecting on her foot traffic. “I said, ‘I want to make you a specific line.’”

The solopreneur made the jump from hobbyist to small business owner about five years ago. She tapped the knowledge she gained studying biotechnology to create her formulas, then she set off visiting Ohio Proud farms to locally source as many of her ingredients as possible.

“I want to build community one bar at a time,” she said. “When you buy a bar of my soap, you’re supporting up to 15 small businesses. My dream for my business is to source enough product that I can impact other small business owners to reach their dreams, too.”

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