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128 Birch Street
Boston, MA, 02131
United States

(617) 390-4076

Invent Boston designs and develops original products to add science + whimsy to  every day tasks at home.   Our first product is a Two Minute timer, Two Minute Turtle, a visual timer. The Two Minute Turtle helps children and adults focus on two minute tasks such as brushing teeth, physical therapy, taking a shower and speaking (practicing a presentation or learning a language).

Invent Boston™, Home of the Two Minute Turtle Timer™

Invent Boston™ blog offers tips and stories by parents, for parents of children ages 4-12 to make toothbrushing and other healthy habits at home, more fun. We write about simple tactics to help kids do what they like to do-touch, seeing, play games and strive for independence. We recommend products to help stay healthy while being kids. We share stories to transform daily healthy habits from something kids resist (for example, toothbrushing, handwashing, toilet training, organizing, taking time-out or pausing, yoga, and taking turns) into something children are motivated to do independently, without parents’ reminders. The original physical product Invent Boston has designed for families is the new light-up Two Minute Turtle Timer, an analog, interval toothbrush timer to make brushing teeth fun for kids. Kids like to press the button, follow the flippers and brush until all the lights blink—the Victory Lap signals to brush the tongue.

12 Steps to Start-up. Step # 2: Ask for Help

Virginia Berman

Step 2: ASK Experienced, friendly people

green plants and tree.JPG

We asked local gardeners for ideas.  

We wanted more eyes to help us see possibilities for our urban plot.  We visited and gardeners. They visited our plot and shared tactics: e.g., plant in threes, keep a garden diary, look at contrasting color-texture-shape, plant an asparagus patch if you plan to stay a few years. They lent us their favorite gardening reference books too. Youtube and Pinterest offer wonderful garden design ideas. Here’s what happened when I asked for help the most recent time!

Virginia with Santiago de Puringla farmers

Photo: coffee farmers from Santiago de Puringla Honduras taught me organic farming

Step #2: For the business, Ask. Network with start-up groups. 

Most towns have helpful start-up groups and events, which I especially enjoy exploring. I’ve met new people at workshops, coffees, office hours in Boston. I’ve connected with the Center for Women in Enterprise, a SCORE mentor (across the USA), E for All, Venture Café, Mass Tech Leadership Center, Bolt Hardware, and the Roxbury Innovation Center. I’ve listened to podcasts with encouraging stories, such as Second Life, My Wife Quit Her Job, The Pitch.  What podcasts have you found? 

I continue to find and ask experienced (and friendly) colleagues at events for their stories. I am interested to hear how they got started, what were their biggest challenges, words of caution, and how their enterprises were going now.  Which start-up networking groups meet in your area or online? Remember, most people enjoy being asked for their advice and giving it.

Source
categories 12 steps to start-up, organic start-up
tags Ask for help, invent boston