Necessity is the mother of invention, and mothers are the best inventors of all. Not that I’m prejudiced toward mom brilliance; OK, maybe just a bit! I am simply lucky to know so many amazing, talented women who now run successful businesses that started with an idea, typically from a gap in the baby market they had just been introduced to with the birth of a child. The Huggies MomInspired grant program (http://huggiesmominspired.com) has given many of these same moms the resources to move to the next level.
With resources, including advice and best of all, capital, Huggies and Kimberly-Clark have put their money and muscle behind moms, their ideas and products. The 2012 grant application process is now open. I encourage anyone with a unique product (or an idea) in the baby market to apply today. Grants of $15,000 will be awarded to 12 mom inventors. Visit http://huggiesmominspired.com for an application, information and terrific stories from prior winners.
Throughout the month of July, I’ll be highlighting a few of these winning moms and their inventions that have been recognized and awarded with a Huggies MomInspired grant.
- Laura Pilcher, a mompreneur and founder of Gina + George, is a wife and working mom of a 1-year old, and a 2011 Huggies MomInspired Grant recipient. Gina + George is the parent company of two products: the MomInspired winning product Colic Cradler, an infant seat that relieves colic symptoms, which is currently in development, and the Noggin portable play mat, which is in production.
- Lauren Levy is the founder of Magnificent Baby. Lauren and a college friend started Magnificent Baby when Lauren thought there had to be a better, easier way to get clothes and bibs on a wiggling baby. Velcro wasn’t the answer, so the magnetic closure was born. Magnificent Baby’s easy-to-use Smart Closetm fasteners will have your baby dressed in seconds.
I’d love to hear from any moms with a unique product or idea who are applying for this grant. I encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!
