The Next Big Ideas
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From social networking to delivering cookies, the young entrepreneurs named to our annual list are transforming the business world. See our photo gallery of the next big ideas.
Next: Triple Chocolate Deluxe -
Triple Chocolate Deluxe
Insomnia Cookies' jumbo deluxe cookies, which come in triple chocolate or peanut butter chocolate, are even more decadent than the six regular varieties the company offers. College students have really embraced Insomnia's late-night delivery model - founder Seth Berkowitz says some stores receive hundreds of orders per night.
Next: BizChair.com -
Super Mesh Chair
According to BizChair.com founder Sean Belnick, this office chair, manufactured by Flash Furniture, is the site's most popular item. It features a steel frame and mesh seat and back, and like many items on the site, ships free in the continental U.S.
Next: Pimp Cup -
Pimp Cup
Icedoutgear.com is a one-stop shop for the wannabe player. The company's expansive retail site offers personalized dog tags, hip-hop pendants, LED belt buckles, jewelry, watches and more. Co-founder Dan Gershon says he knew there would be demand for the faux-bejeweled chalices after seeing Snoop Dogg and other rappers flashing the real thing in music videos.
Next: Kernel Season's -
Nacho Cheddar Popcorn Seasoning
Like all of Kernel Season's popcorn seasonings, the nacho cheddar flavor was created by a team of flavor specialists using all-natural ingredients. Of the 14 varieties of seasonings the company makes, founder Brian Taylor says the ranch and white cheddar flavors are his favorites.
Next: Kathryn Kerrigan -
Lisa Marcia and Melanie Shoes
These shoe styles are all original designs by Katie Kerrigan, who started her business to help tall women with bigger shoe sizes - like herself - find fashionable shoes. Kerrigan says at least half of her sales are from women with shoe sizes 6-10. In addition to her website, her styles can be found at any of the 40 boutiques she sells to across the nation.
Next: GOOD Magazine -
GOOD Magazine
Putting its money where its mouth is on social issues and the non-profit sector, GOOD magazine donates every penny raised from subscription fees to charity. That's already helped founder Ben Goldhirsh do good by raising more than $380,000 in just three issues.
Next: Inogen One -
Inogen One
The Inogen One oxygen concentrator takes in-room air, filters out the nitrogen, and delivers pure oxygen to the patient. The device can be plugged in anywhere or used on the go. Founders Brenton Taylor, Ali Perry, and Byron Meyers developed the idea after Perry's grandmother complained about the inconvenience of her old machine.
Next: Junior Golf Wear -
Junior Golf Wear
Tiger Woods might've been teeing off as a toddler, but he never looked this sharp. Lil Bogies founder Alexis Demko helps deck out little duffers with knee-high pants, suspenders, and hats - great for ages two to Fore!
Next: Feed Granola -
Feed Granola
Jason Osborn created Feed Granola Co.'s first batch of granola, Raisin Nut Crunch, in the apartment he shared with roommate and future business partner, Jason Wright. They have developed two more flavors: Cranberry Coconut Crunch and Blueberry Almond Crunch. Their product can be found in local health food stores and will soon be on the shelves of Whole Foods Markets.
Next: MyYearbook.com -
MyYearbook.com
Founded by siblings Catherine, Dave, and Geoff Cook, myYearbook.com is attracting 10,000 new members every day by allowing more than 3 million teens to meet online, share their profiles and photos, and sound off on drugs, cliques, dating and other issues of the day.
Next: Just Salad Bowl -
Just Salad Bowl
Stop in to one of Just Salad's two Manhattan locations and you'll walk away with your lunch in one of these colorful, reusable bowls. Just Salad's signature bowls are part of the company's effort to be environmentally friendly and encourage green practices amongst its customers. Just Salad offers two free toppings to those who reuse the bowl.
Next: Fidelity Jeans -
Fidelity Jeans
Alison Barnard, owner of in-jean-ius, stocks about 30 different brands of jeans in her store to accommodate every body type and preference. Barnard and her employees pride themselves on helping customers find that perfect-fitting pair of jeans.
Next: Loopt -
Loopt
Sam Altman's Loopt provides location-based functions for cell phones, allowing users to see where their friends are on a map. There are also a variety of search functions, such as restaurants near your current location or places your friends have tagged as being favorites. Loopt is currently available on Boost Mobile and is expected to launch on Sprint and other carriers within months.
Next: Green Print -
Green Print
Founder Hayden Hamilton wanted to find a way to lessen the amount of paper wasted at companies. GreenPrint software eliminates unnecessary text or pictures - such as Internet ads or big photos - from printouts, saving both ink and paper. There is also a choice to print to a PDF file, thereby creating clean versions of documents to share electronically, without using paper or ink at all.
Next: Mental Floss Magazine -
Mental Floss Magazine
Mental Floss, with a tagline that encourages readers to "feel smart again," is a fun, irreverant look at knowledge and facts. Features range from "10 Cats Who Changed Civilization" to fictional interviews with dead science visionaries. The company, started by Will Pearson and Mangesh Hattikudur, also offers blogs, books, and T-shirts.
Next: iPod Accessories -
iPod Accessories
Mophie's Relo line of slick gear -- headphone splitters, FM transmitters, and remote controls, all of which function with a protective case -- won a Best of Show award in the innovation category at MacWorld last year. A new product, the Bevy, is a combination iPod Shuffle case, bottle opener, and key chain.
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