Looking for something truly unique this holiday season? Try gifting a wearable hummingbird feeder. Or augmented-reality ski goggles.
You can find those gifts and more in this year's American Inno gift guide, featuring 20 items you can buy from startups across the country.
This year's list features gifts for a range of people on your shopping list, including techies, workout pros, kids and kids at heart. Dive into our list below.
For techies: The latest in AI
Humane AI Pin: $699 + $24 per month subscription
There may not have been a buzzier tech product launch in 2023 than Humane's AI Pin, an artificial intelligence-driven wearable device that aims to replace, or at least partially replace, your smartphone. The device, produced by former Apple Inc. executives, acts as a virtual assistant, allowing you to send texts, take photos, play songs, and even translate a conversation to another language in real time. It's controlled by your voice, or by a laser display that's projected onto the palm of your hand.
For big sports fans: A hat as large as your fandom
Noggin Boss oversized NFL team hat: $120
Noggin Boss, a Phoenix startup that made a splash on ABC's "Shark Tank" and with sports personalities like ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, this year became licensed to sell NFL team-branded gear. Football fans now can get a massive hat with their favorite team's logo. Noggin Boss also offers products featuring college logos, including Alabama, Louisiana State, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas.
For your little cuddler: Plush toys that teach social-emotional learning
Slumberkins' social-emotional learning kits: $30-$48
Slumberkins makes plush toys and books with characters that teach social-emotional learning for children. The Portland, Oregon-based startup offers a range of characters and stories designed to help kids connect to their emotions and express their feelings. The company last year launched a TV show with Jim Henson Co. on Apple TV+ that was nominated for an Emmy this year.
For the workout pro: Weighted gear to boost strength
Apparel startup Omorpho, led by a Nike Inc. veteran, makes a line of workout clothing that incorporates small, weighted spheres into the fabric. The weights add anywhere from 1% to 5% of body mass depending on the garments worn, with the idea that it helps build strength and improve training.
For the caffeine fiend: Caffeinated gum
Caffeinated gum from Rev Gum: $36 (12 pack)
Looking for a stocking stuffer? Austin, Texas-based startup Rev Gum created a caffeinated gum product that's equivalent to a shot of espresso. Designed as an alternative to sugar-loaded energy drinks, Rev Gum also sells an extra-strength pack that's the equivalent of two espresso shots. The startup is backed by several big-name investors, including Lance Armstrong, former Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb and the venture arm of Yeti Coolers.
For a shirt than stands out: Braille clothes that bring inclusivity to mainstream fashion
Aille Design produces fully legible braille beadwork on clothing pieces. Its process involves design sessions with community members both visually impaired and not visually impaired, and it partners with organizations like Visually Impaired Advancement. The goal for the Buffalo, New York-based venture is to create aesthetically pleasing clothing pieces that everyone can enjoy. The beading can be customized or feature standard phrases — like "Fashion is for everyone."
For getting your rambunctious child dressed: Tech-infused children’s clothing
Designed by parents who understood the challenge of getting kids dressed, Wonder Togs makes T-shirts that feature zoo animals that “come to life” on a smartphone with just a tap. Each shirt has a near-field communication (NFC) chip sewn into it, and when users tap their phones to one of those Talkin’ Tees NFC chips, they unlock digital content featuring two original songs and animated fun facts about the animal on the shirt.
For active techies: Augmented-reality ski goggles
Cincinnati startup Rekkie wants to take your ski trip to the next level with its AR ski goggles. The product, which recently appeared on ABC's "Shark Tank" and landed an investment from Mark Cuban, come with a transparent heads-up display that projects information directly on the lens. You can find your friends, check your speed, control music, receive notifications and answer calls — all without needing to take off your gloves.
For fun in the sun: A new twist on cornhole
Skip NN’ Hole, created by Arizona entrepreneur Jaron Lodge, is a backyard game system that combines skipping stones and cornhole for use in the pool or on land. The game, which also has options for a "skeeball meets cornhole" game and floating beer pong, can be found at Dick’s Sporting Goods and other retailers.
For the serious fitness tracker: A wearable for advanced sleep and health stats
Whoop 4.0 fitness tracker: $199
Founded out of the Harvard Innovation Labs, Boston-based Whoop's latest fitness tracker is designed for serious athletes. The wearable helps users track things like sleep, recovery and strain through a smartphone app.
For artsy pet lovers: A paint-by-numbers of your furry friend
Columbus, Ohio-based startup Paintable Pictures allows you to instantly turn a photo into a printable paint-by-numbers template. With a focus on pets, the company developed a kit that can create a paint-by-numbers template of your pet. The template then can be printed, and it can be finished with brushes and acrylics. The company was featured on Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Things list this year.
For rockers: A music-themed hat for a good cause
New Frontier's J.T. Cure Bass Guitar Hat: $30
Eastern Kentucky apparel startup New Frontier, which makes sustainably produced jeans and other gear, recently announced a partnership with Grammy-winning bassist J.T. Cure, a bandmate of Chris Stapleton, to launch a spruce green corduroy hat. All of the proceeds of the hat will go to Outlaw State of Kind, a charitable fund started in 2016 by Stapleton and his wife, Morgane.
For pickleheads: Pickleball gear to step up your game
Nettie Pickleball set (2 pack): $149
Cincinnati startup Nettie Pickleball Co. sells retro-inspired pickleball paddles. The company, which has been features on the “Today” show and was a Cincy Inno Fire Award winner, sells USA Pickleball-approved paddles that come in a variety of styles.
For hoopers: A smart basketball goal
Huppe's smart basketball hoop has functionality for players both individually and collectively. It comes with weatherproof screen for a backboard that tracks players' shooting statistics, offers on-demand training sessions and allows users to play together even if they're across the world.
For staying hydrated: An innovative water bottle
Cirkul Stainless Steel 32 oz water bottle: $35
Tampa, Florida-based Cirkul has created a bottle design that lets users control the amount of flavor in their water. The company, which found early success in viral social media videos, makes a shatterproof, BPA-free bottle that takes in flavor cartridges that can be controlled to dispense more or less flavor with a twist.
For dinner parties: Chef-inspired tableware
Philadelphia startup Felt+Fat makes chef-inspired tableware. The company is known for its hand-crafted ceramic plates, bowls and mugs and has made custom pieces for James Beard Award-winning chefs Eli Kulp and Ellen Yin.
For beach bums: A better beach chair
LowTides Ocean Products high backpack beach chair: $90
South New Jersey beach chair startup LowTides Ocean Products is known for its artist-inspired prints and features like a headrest, rear pouch, cupholders, phone slot and underarm bag hook. The company's chairs also are made from recycled plastic salvaged from the ocean.
For a better laundry experience: A device to untangle your sheets
Wad-Free for Bed Sheets: $18.98
Denver startup Brayniacs developed a gadget to prevent bedding from tangling, balling up and twisting in washing and drying machines. The product, called Wad-Free for Bed Sheets, was featured on ABC's "Shark Tank" in 2021.
For birdwatchers: An up-close encounter with hummingbirds
HummViewer wearable hummingbird feeder mask: $69.95
HummViewer, another startup to appear on ABC's "Shark Tank," has created wearable hummingbird feeders. The product comes with a plastic shield with three hummingbird feeder tubes on the outside and is worn over a user's face to offer a close-up view of hummingbirds.
For a green thumb: A countertop indoor garden
Backed by Amazon, Chicago startup Rise Gardens offers several different indoor gardening options for the green thumbs on your wish list. Its Personal Rise Garden takes up just 18 inches of space and helps you grow herbs, veggies and leafy greens from the comfort of your home.
