Editor's Note: Cupid's Cup is a business competition hosted by the Dingman Center at the University of Maryland. The competition is open to student and alumni entrepreneurs alike who have surpassed the business plan stage and now own and operate their very own ventures. Earth Starter LLC, creator of Nourishmat, is one of six companies competing in the Cupid's Cup finals which will be held on April 5, 2013. To learn more about Cupid's Cup, check out their website here.
Bright, ambitious, and charismatic to boot, Phil Weiner is what we like to call a triple threat in the startup world. A University of Maryland graduate and already a successful entrepreneur, Weiner has developed an innovative and sustainable product that will undoubtedly change how we view food today. Alongside co-founder and fellow Maryland alum John-Randal Gorby, the two have embarked on a mission to build a healthy lifestyle brand by cultivating the next generation of gardeners with their startup Earth Starter and flagship product, Nourishmat.
Though seemingly similar to a garden blanket at first glance, Nourishmat has a variety of advantageous features qualifying it as much more than just a simple backyard fixture. Lack of time, experience, or space is no longer a problem, aspiring gardeners can use Nourishmat to foster the growth of healthy food no matter the outdoor conditions. It also eliminates the need for pesticides while simultaneously warding away the pesky weeds most people hate dealing with. Nourishmat is the future of gardening, a necessity for those that wish to lead a nutritious lifestyle.
How the Team Came to Be
Gorby and Weiner met in Calc II while at the University of Maryland, both invested in their own individual startups at the time. Gorby launched a bouncers-for-hire business, renting out bouncers to bars and fraternity parties while Weiner had his own website dedicated to head hunting for tech companies. Realizing their shared passion for startups, the two joined forces and by combining Gorby's fascination with the environment and technology with Weiner's natural talent for business and math, their partnership became the catalyst for Nourishmat.
Fast forward a year and a half later, Gorby and Weiner have now created their dream product, one they believe and certainly hope will transform the world as we know it today. And if their stellar sales record (they have sold out of the product month after month), it looks like they have the potential to do just that.
How Nourishmat Works
Here's how Nourishmat works: Prepare your garden area by removing weeds and grasses with a rake. Make sure the location you select is level so that the water flows evenly across the plants. Place the Nourishmat on the ground, stapling it with the garden stables included in the kit. Then, with no digging required, place the supplied seedballs into each of their designated plots on the mat. A single seedball needs to be pushed into the soil with your thumb into the center of each hole inside the plant squares. Nourishmat comes with 19 varieties of plants and 82 seedballs in total. To make your life even easier, Nourishmat also comes with a built-in irrigation system. All you do is attach your hose to the Nourishmat and keep the water running for 15 to 20 minutes twice a day. And that's it. You're done. You have your own vegetable garden.
Why Nourishmat Will Take Over the World
Personally, it's the simplicity of Nourishmat that I find so alluring. Growing up, I was fascinated by my grandmother's dedication to her garden, but ultimately disinterested due to how tenuous the process seemed. Now, after my conversation with Weiner, I can see the practicality in Nourishmat. In order to lead a healthy lifestyle, you must groom yourself to be the culivator of your produce, and Nourishmat allows you to do just that.
How They're Making Bank
Nourishmat is also a profitable product. Running for $69.95 in person and $74.95 online, Weiner contends that you really get the bang for your buck. The Nourishmat is due to yield about $200 worth of produce or up to $400 to $500 if you're an experienced gardener.
But it's the mat itself that's truly unique from anything else currently on the market. Nourishmat is UV treated so it can last up to 12 years, depending on how you take care of it of course. The backing of the mat also acts as a sponge, allowing water to go directly to the roots and keeps the ground warm in cooler weather. And the seedballs, they were especially created with chili powder to keep away pests. Add those advantageous features to the fact that every vegetable designated on the mat is placed in a strategic place for ultimate growth potential, and you've got yourself a recipe for success. Literally.
Why Nourishmat is a Hot Startup To Watch at Cupid's Cup
Nourishmat is already prospering in the D.C., Maryland, and the Virginia area, recently substantiating a partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank. Gorby and Weiner's product has also been showcased at the Northern Virginia Hunger Summit, Rooting DC, the Grow Your Health Festival in Virginia, flower and garden shows, school fairs, and of course, farmers markets. What's more, now they've kick started a campaign with Groupon. If 40 people donate $10 each, then the founders of Nourishmat will donate four of their gardening systems to area nonprofits. Each additional $100 raised will then be able to be used to provide Nourishmat, together with a custom-built educational curriculum, to a community that needs it.
Nourishmat will undoubtedly be one of the hottest startups to watch at Cupid's Cup come April 5th. Whether it be the founders' passionate commitment or the unique features of their product that will surely prosper in a field that has enormous potential for growth, Nourishmat's future looks bright, very bright.
As mentioned before, Gorby and Weiner's startup is one of six in the running to win the highly coveted Cupid's Cup hosted by the Dingman Center at the University of Maryland. If you're interested in meeting the founders, see the product in person, or just want to check out the event out of pure curiosity, make sure to RSVP for Cupid's Cup here.
