The Dayton region continues to brew with innovative ideas from young entrepreneurs.
Dayton Inno is releasing its 2023 Inno Under 25 list to recognize the top founders, entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders under the age of 25 in our local ecosystem.
This year's list are creating innovative products to serve customers across health care, people with disabilities, recreation, cooking, aerospace and shipping and logistics.
The list includes current startup operators, budding founders working to get their own companies off the ground, student entrepreneurs balancing college courses and building a startup, and those pursuing advanced degrees.
2023 Inno Under 25
Melanie Barrett, age 24, Bailey Bug
A Springfield-based startup owner, Melanie Barrett, started her company in 2018 while a student at Wittenberg University.
Bailey Bug manufactures capes specifically for wheelchair users. The cape is designed to wrap across the wheelchair, promoting warmth, comfort and safety for its users. Plus, each user can add their personal touch to these capes with unique designs and patterns.
In 2024, Barrett will appear on an episode of The Blox, an entrepreneurship competition docu-series. Barrett will utilize the opportunity to give exposure to her startup and build connections to boost inclusivity in the region and beyond.
The startup – which has an Amazon storefront — is preparing to add two more adaptive use products to its lineup, set to launch next year.
Bailey Bug manufactures its products through Columbus-based Vocational Guidance Services – who hire people with disabilities and give them personal and vocational rehabilitation services.
Barrett says she’s working to introduce Bailey Bug products into school systems, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adaptive sports and more.
“My 10-year goal is to one day open up a Bailey Bug section of Dayton Children's Hospital to aid in Epilepsy research for the neurology department where Bailey was taken care of,” Barrett said.
Bailey Bug was started in memory of Barrett’s late sister, Bailey. Bailey had Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, and was legally blind, deaf and used a wheelchair her entire life.
Brian LeCocq, age 20, Kitchen Kanvas
A collaborative group of college students got together earlier this year to create an innovative product for the spice and cooking industry. The Kitchen Kanvas team was led by Brian LeCocq, a student at University of Dayton.
“Our group of seven college students across four universities focused on revolutionizing the spice industry with an innovative packaging method,” LeCocq said. “We pitched the winning concept (at 2023 LaunchHack Startup Weekend) for single-serving spices contained in edible, compostable, tearable rice sheets.”
The group presented a physical prototype, community collaboration and digital mockups.
Along with Brian, the original team of seven included: Annie Alexander (Cedarville University); Army Sutanningsih and Nurrul Fitriani (Sinclair College); Christian Burlison and Micah Hermiller (The Modern); and Loring Leitzel (University of Dayton).
“Since startup weekend, we trimmed our team down to five key members and submitted a provisional patent to protect our work,” LeCocq said. “We have also focused our efforts on exploring manufacturing routes we can take to realize our startup's vision.”
The group is working to launch a website this fall.
LeCocq says since he was in high school he’s had an entrepreneurial spirit. He used to sell electrical engineering rulers through a Chicagoland/Milwaukee distributor. This summer, he launched a revised version of his product through his Amazon store to teach himself Business-to-Consumer sales and understand how to market products through Amazon.
The computer engineering major also has minors in technical entrepreneurship and computer science.
“I believe this new minor will help me gain the fundamental understandings of innovation, venture creation, and IP law needed to better launch and grow future projects,” he said.
On campus, LeCocq is president and co-founder of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Association club.
Bryan Baker, age 20, Flyer Stand Coolers
Bryan Baker began his micro-business Flyer Stand Coolers during a class at University of Dayton. It was one of the highest-earning businesses in the class, said Whitney Barkley, director of UD’s Greater West Dayton Incubator.
The entrepreneurship and finance student was joined by four other students in running the cooler business.
“We marketed and sold our product on campus from September 2022 to April 2023, when the class concluded,” Baker said. “The business is still being run to some extent, as we take requests and orders through our social media sites and word of mouth.”
The coolers can be ordered on Instagram: flyerstandcoolers and Facebook: Flyer Stand Coolers.
Baker said he’s also launching a blog called “Start With You” this fall around personal development for teens and college students.
“The premise behind the blog is that as young adults we want so many things: happiness, success, strong relationships, fulfillment, and a sense of achievement, but many don't realize that obtaining all of these things starts with yourself,” Baker said. “My hope is that the blog's articles will give its readers the tools to make a continuous effort to improve all aspects of their life, from relationships, physical health, mindset, spiritual focus, diet, habits, work, and financial stability.”
Kara Combs, age 24, Air Force Institute of Technology
Kara Combs is described as an “exceptional young leader who has already made a significant impact on both the Air Force and the Dayton community,” said Subhashini Ganapathy, a professor at Wright State University.
Combs is an associate research engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory while concurrently pursuing a Ph.D. in operations research at the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Ganapathy said she met Combs during her undergraduate studies in industrial and systems engineering at Wright State.
“Later, I had the honor of co-advising her on her M.S. thesis, which led to the invention of a new computer vision recognition system,” Ganapathy said. “This method is currently patent-pending and has been featured in three conference papers.”
In her current position, Combs focuses on developing tangible solutions to real-world Air Force challenges related to uncrewed aerial vehicles, autonomy, and artificial intelligence.
“She achieves this through her own innovations as well as collaborations with research institutions, contractors, and small businesses,” Ganapathy said.
In the Dayton community, Combs is involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) volunteer work. She helps to coordinate TechFest Dayton, the largest K-12 STEM outreach event in the Miami Valley.
“With her visionary leadership, drive, and passion, Kara is poised to continue making remarkable strides in the Dayton community,” Ganapathy said.
Combs also mentors high school students. This fall, she will serve as a WPAFB Job Shadow Day mentor and on the 2023-24 advisory board for the MVCTC STEM program at Milton-Union Schools.
“Kara's advocacy efforts extend to raising awareness among young professionals about the Engineers Club of Dayton, achieved through a networking event in 2022, and advocating for reduced membership rates for students and recent graduates,” Ganapathy said.
Miles McClurg, age 24, J&L Wood Products and ShopPallets.com
Miles McClurg and his twin brother Mason are sons of entrepreneur Kevin McClurg. The family business is J&L Wood Products in Tipp City, a custom wood product company.
“Working many summers, coming in on weekends to help on urgent orders, and getting to know everyone throughout the whole shop throughout the years,” McClurg said. “We learned this business like the back of our hand.”
While at college at University of Cincinnati, Miles and his brother worked on various programs and ideas for the company.
McClurg drew on his co-op experiences at Faurecia and Medpace to understand how large corporations run, and what makes them so highly valued.
The two brothers have since created a piece rate calculator for employees of J&L Wood Products to have the potential to earn much higher wages. They also developed a new costing system that saves hours of time; started their own website management and marketing; and implemented a new Business-to-Business sales software system.
“We are in the process of finishing a new subsidiary company selling pallets online, ShopPallets.com,” McClurg said. “We (will) operate as an e-commerce site so customers don't have to waste their time waiting on a quote. Customers can order their pallets quick and reliably.”
The two brothers graduated this past spring.
“We want to grow and help Dayton become a great new innovation hub for young entrepreneurs,” McClurg said.
