Necessity is the Mother of Invention — in This Case it’s the Father

Michael McGuire was a finalist in this year’s Stateline FastPitch Competition with his invention, the On-the-Go inflatable potty seat.  Being a wonderful, attentive father, Michael was paying close attention when his then three year old daughter was not her happy, bubbly self during their family trip to Disneyworld. She had no choice but to use an unfamiliar potty seat, thus Michael became the father of invention.

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Manufacturing Technologies Group: Ben Black, Jim Jackson and Randy Warkentien

The formula for a successful entrepreneurial venture often includes the partners possessing an outstanding skill set in addition to having diverse personalities. Manufacturing Technologies Group (MFG), an EIGERlab tenant, has the correct formula. Its niche includes: authorized reseller of top line manufacturing software, total solutions provider, establishing best practices and reengineering of processes for maximum efficiency. For example, they created proprietary software, TMS, which solves the issue of tracking and inventory, for a particular client’s needs.

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Harold Winebaugh, Serial Entrepreneur

In 2007, Harold inquired about what the EIGERlab had to offer businesses like his, Universal Manufacturing. Being a serial entrepreneur, Harold realizes the value of staying connected and networking. In 2007 and 2009 he participated in the Stateline FastPitch Competition and went on to win $10,000 in the 2009 Innovate Illinois Competition; 137 companies competed statewide.

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TerraPlants: Interior Landscaping Solutions

While employed at PG Architecture (PGA), Blake Hamilton, owner of TerraPlants (TP), experienced the impetus for developing his company. He created the concept of TP when he discovered there was a lack of interior landscaping solution options. When PGA completed a project, its way of conveying thanks was to add greenery throughout the building. Discovering that this was not an easy task to accomplish, TP was created. The name TP strongly conveys his offerings—Terra meaning earth/plants.

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ATS Medical: an Entrepreneurial Success Story

The owners of Acute Transport Specialists Medical Services (ATS) made the right decisions from the beginning, and it reflects in their tremendous growth. Like many with the entrepreneurial spirit, Andy Schultz and Brad Bull realized how they could make an existing product better and have never turned back. They also learned to be flexible in executing their business plan. Their product, delivering superior medical assistance through their highly-qualified paramedics and ambulatory service to the rural areas in Northern Illinois, has grown from two employees and one ambulance in 2005 to 75 employees in three states.

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EIGERlab Client Develops Unique Product for Fiber Optics

Most people know that fiber optic cables help make vast amounts of data available with a click of a mouse. Underground fiber optic cables can be found in most communities around the world, just 44 years after fiber optics was discovered in 1966.

Product Saves 30% to 80% | Now people in the Rockford area will know that a Rockford company, Accelerated Machine Design & Engineering, located at EIGERlab, 605 Fulton Avenue, designed and built a unique piece of equipment that moves underground fiber optic cables up to 20 feet for the telecommunications industry. It is the only product that allows these cables to be moved, thus saving between 30 to 80 percent of the cost to install new lines. In a $900 million a year market, that’s serious savings.

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Local Inventor Funnels Ideas into Reality

"No more mess, no more spills," that's the promise a local man is making with his invention, created right here in our own back yard.

The Jugbuddy is a funnel that stands on its own three legs, giving do-it-your-selfers an extra hand; avoiding the frustrations normal funnels may cause.

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