By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
Engineering and electronics weren’t exactly bread-and-butter fields for inventor Anne Griffin, but that didn’t stop this would-be entrepreneur from taking a ”there should be” idea to fruition with her solar-powered pocket phone charger.
Prime reached out to Griffin for insight on the entrepreneurial process. Here’s what she said:
Q: Everyone has had that “there should be a …” moment. How did you go from “there should be a” to deciding to design your solar powered light and device charger?
“I distinctly remember looking out the window of my home in Florence, MA several years ago, watching a powerful storm outside, having been warned by the news to prepare for a likely power outage. But even before the seven-day power outage that followed, I wondered: ‘Why don’t I already have a solar powered light and phone charger to use in such a situation?’ I wanted to comfort my elementary school-aged children (and myself!) with something we could count on safely for light that we didn’t have to burn (e.g., candles, kerosene, gas, etc.) I wanted something that would give my phone or tablet power, without relying on an electrical outlet or fossil fuels.
“The idea of a portable, personal solar tool came to me and I couldn't let it go! The last time I remember having my own solar powered gadget was a calculator from the ‘70s that still works. Solar panels are one thing, but I believe there is room for more solar gadgets we use every day.
“After talking about it everywhere I went, I was able to meet and assemble a team with a master machinist and electrical and design engineers willing to help me get a prototype in hand. I had to go outside my sphere of knowledge and comfort to rely on people whose discussions of intricate model parts, features and electronics sounded like Martian talk to me at first!”
Q: Entrepreneurship is fraught with risks. What are the challenges you’ve faced in launching your company, Charge Ahead, and product, the Solar Foldy?
“There are plenty of challenges that have come up over the years throughout this process. “Technically, I had never patented or manufactured anything before. My original design was in the shape of an icosahedron, then a dodecahedron (so it could collapse flat and ship more easily). The early prototypes proved to be of an impractical shape and unnecessarily complicated, so I had to pivot, update and simplify my designs. I actually had a pocket-sized working prototype that gave four modes of light back in January of 2014!
“The business people of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) liked my idea, but sent me back to the drawing board, pointing out that I should launch with a product that could give light AND charge cell phones first. (They might as well have asked me to retrieve the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West!)
“I had to borrow money to pay my dream team to help me craft and develop the products I have today. Finding skilled people who were willing to work with me in their spare time was key. These professionals are busy with full schedules and many with family obligations of their own. The whole business and legal aspect of starting a company has its own learning curve, as well. Incorporation, patents, trademarks, design, prototype production, manufacturing– all this costs money and requires upkeep. All this culminated in a one-month Kickstarter campaign starting Sept. 13, which is very important to the development of my product.”
Q: As an entrepreneur in the trenches, what advice can you give to others who have an idea and a desire to pursue it?
“My advice: stay true to yourself. If you know you have a good idea, don’t let others who don’t “get it” discourage you. Surround yourself with people who know more than you do about any and all aspects of the business. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. How else are you going to learn? Don’t take “NO” for an answer. If you believe in the idea, stick to it! Everything takes longer than you want it to take. Be patient. Be persistent. Do something every day, even if it’s a small action. Research. Meet up with people who are in the same boat, like the Valley Venture Mentors (“VVM”) in Springfield, MA. Listen. Tap into the knowledge of others who have gone before. VVM, SCORE and the SBA are great resources and have experienced people who are willing to share valuable information. Above all: hold onto your dreams and don’t give up.”
Support the Solar Foldy Kickstarter campaign at www.kickstarter.com/projects/solarfoldy/solar-foldy-a-pocketful-of-possibilities. See it at: www.solarfoldy.com
