Ben Franklin and His Crazy Socks

  In March, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania announced their winners of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Innovation Awards, naming RADIUS the victor of the Innovative Application of Technology category. The Innovative Application of Technology award highlights a company that strongly demonstrates a “break-the-mold” approach to integrating new or existing technology into its business. Ben Franklin recently published an award press release with the following company description explaining why RADIUS was honored with the Innovative Application of Technology award. RADIUS designs and manufactures premium personal care products including eco-friendly toothbrushes, molded travel cases, dental floss, and organic toothpastes. The completely solar-powered, certified woman-owned company is committed to ongoing R&D to identify innovative and sustainable manufacturing approaches to make everyday products distinctive. Its Source Toothbrush uses replacement head technology with a handle made from recycled dollar bills, paper, and wood, reducing waste by 93%. Through Ben Franklin funding and connections, RADIUS received marketing and strategy support, teamed with the Plastics Manufacturing Center at Penn College to address a breakage problem with toothbrushes, and more recently worked with Lehigh University’s Enterprise Systems Center on facility optimization. Since last year, RADIUS has increased employment from 30 to 35 and in the past five years’ company revenue has increased by 3½ times. RADIUS will soon purchase, renovate, and relocate into a larger building to respond to burgeoning demand. The purposes of the innovation awards are to recognize winners for their success and achievement, to highlight the effectiveness of the Ben Franklin program, and to inform entrepreneurs and established manufacturers about the resources that are available to them in northeastern Pennsylvania. Awards were presented to seven recipients, companies or individuals who have achieved business success through Ben Franklin funding and assistance, have helped others to achieve success, or have improved their businesses through innovation. Each award recipient exemplifies outstanding achievement in that category. [caption id="attachment_1037" align="aligncenter" width="326"] Photo credit: Ryan Hulvat[/caption] Winners were honored at the Ben Franklin iXchange event on Tuesday, May 9th at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA. [caption id="attachment_1038" align="aligncenter" width="433"] RADIUS President and CEO, Saskia Foley, accepting the Innovative Application of Technology award. Photo credit: Ryan Hulvat[/caption] The award presentation was followed by a keynote presentation by Dustin Garis focusing on Disruptive Innovation. Preceded by a surprise (and rather impressive) break dancing performance, Dustin - who after graduating college, decided to turned down multiple job offers and travel the world instead - encouraged guests to break of out their routines to stimulate innovation. Dustin pointed out that autopilot doesn't inspire creativity, which is an interesting idea considering 90% of our daily activity is exactly the same every day. Dustin told guests to rebel and break the mold and one small way to "revolt against routine" was to wear crazy socks. Ben Franklin staff, award winners, and other guests were encouraged to wear the craziest socks they could find to the iXchange event. Wearing a dress? Who cares? Wear those crazy socks with heels and pride. Revolt against the routine. [caption id="attachment_1039" align="aligncenter" width="604"] RADIUS Founder, Kevin Foley, and his daughter and RADIUS President/CEO, Saskia Foley, after accepting the Innovative Application of Technology award. Photo credit: Ryan Hulvat[/caption]