30 Under 30 Makers + Shakers: Tech

We’ve teamed up with PayPal to introduce you to 30 makers under 30 who are shaking up their respective industries. First, you read about makers in the fashion, beauty and jewelry industry. Then, we intro’d you to folks in the home and food industry. Now, it’s time for the last installment of our Makers + Shakers series! Before we dive in, be sure to check out PayPal’s Voices video, in which they highlight what they’ve described as the new People Economy. Watch closely and you might spot me. ;)

Okay, on to our final batch of incredibly talented makers. This post is all about folks in the tech industry. Read on for the full scoop.

Lisa Fetterman, 27

Lisa is the co-founder and CEO of Nomiku. Nomiku is the world’s most compact immersion circulator AND one of our favorite high-tech kitchen gadgets. It lets home chefs (like us!) easily sous-vide their way to a five-star meal. Foodies, rejoice!

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Connecting with other passionate makers.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I’m inspired by everyone who is true to themselves and creates what they want to see in the world, and they’re not limited to chefs like Joshua Skenes, Rene Redzepi, and Dominique Crenn. It’s amazing to see a product made by someone who used every ounce of their energy and creativity to make it. Seeing others do it makes me believe I can do it for myself.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

The Maker Movement is radical: it’s changing the economy from the bottom up. Take an example like crowdfunding, which goes pretty hand-in-hand with makers. Only 1-6% of VC money goes to women-lead companies. On Kickstarter, women’s projects are more likely to get fully funded, especially in tech. Now there’s some hope! Makers can make anything because they are willing to learn: change is coming so quickly from our front we’re getting impossible to ignore. (Photos: Lisa Fetterman, Nomiku)

Jesse is the founder of Lumi. We’ve been obsessed with Inkodye, her sunlight-activated fabric dye, since it came out. It’s an innovation in dyeing and screenprinting that is totally bananas… in a good way!

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Jesse Genet, 26

Understanding the world around me.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I am a voracious reader, mainly classics and biographies. Reading historical fiction and biographies from incredible individuals helps me spot patterns in human nature and inspires me to live my own lifetime to the fullest. One of my favorites is Buffalo Bill’s autobiography: he eloquently recounts a life of adventure, beauty and cultural upheaval that we can only get a glimpse of through text. I’m inspired by what those who’ve come before me have experienced and achieved.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

We live in a very special time. If you’re ambitious you can educate yourself on nearly everything online (e.g. Skillshare, Kahn Academy), prototype your ideas with rapid prototyping or a local makerspace (eg. Techshop), and test how well your idea sells (e.g. Kickstarter, Etsy). All of this can be achieved by spending hundreds of dollars, not the hundreds of thousands required in the past. The technologies now exist to fuel the people economy, but what the Maker Movement adds that is sometimes overlooked is the amazingly supportive community. The hardest part to launching a new idea sometimes isn’t finding the right way to prototype, but overcoming your fear of doing something new! (Photos: Lumi)

Ben is the founder and CEO of Quirky, an invention-crowdsourcing startup. How does it work? People submit ideas to Quirky for consideration, and the most popular ideas are turned into real-life products. Pretty freaking cool!

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Ben Kaufman, 28

I actually love to break first (then make).

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

It empowers creative people. We have over a million people in our community collaborating to bring their products to life. (Photos: Quirky)

Ezra is the Director of Community at Other Machine Co. OMC is making design and manufacturing easy (and fun!) with their desktop CNC milling machine. Their Othermill is a portable 3D cutting machine perfect for making intricate crafts, from jewelry and engravings to block prints, stamps, and wood carvings.

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Ezra Spier, 28

Making things means understanding things.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I like to know how things work, and the best way to learn is to try to make them myself. When I see things broken around me, I dig in, work through my ideas, make mistakes, and learn as much as I can.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

The better people understand, and can adapt to, the world around them, the better they can solve their own problems and improve their own communities. The Maker Movement is all about reclaiming ownership of the world around us, and getting our hands dirty. This kind of creative, direct problem solving will strengthen and propel the economy forward. (Photos: Ezra Spier, Other Machine Co.)

Aaron is the co-founder of Electroloom. He and his business partners, Joe White and Marcus Foley, are the inventors of a 3D printer for fabrics. One day soon, you’ll be able to push a button and print the outfit of your dreams thanks to these guys. #weliveinthefuture

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Aaron Rowley, 24

Making connects and empowers us.

Where do you get your inspiration?

A lot of it comes from geeky things: science fiction novels, video games, things I learned in academia. I am also a huge spoken word poetry fan: it’s such a vulnerable and honest medium to tell stories with. And while not explicitly related to tech, I find that empathizing more with the human experience is the best form of inspiration for making a positive impact in this world.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

I think the most important and impressive thing about the maker movement is that it has created such a powerful community. We are our own cheerleaders, enthusiasts, and backers. I think the community thrives because ultimately, each small success that people have in this space is a leap forward for us all. The fact that I can be in a maker space and watch a preteen and someone over 70 years old talk and collaborate on a project is incredibly unique. The movement transcends age — borders, even — through accessible technology. I think that is the fundamental key to all of this. People can create, no matter who they are, without the need for special training or courses. They have the confidence that they are part of a supportive and global community. (Photos: Aaron Rowley)

Ben is the founder of Whistle, a company that makes activity trackers for dogs. With Whistle, you can monitor your pup’s exercise, sleep and overall health. PLUS, you can track it all on your smartphone.

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Ben Jacobs, 27

Improving the lives of pets

Where do you get your inspiration?

I’m constantly inspired by the team at Whistle — humans and dogs alike. In our office there are always people designing, crafting, coding, innovating and fine-tuning new ideas. Watching talented experts collaborate on a platform like Whistle is energizing. Everyone pushes themselves to their creative limits each day, and I never want to cut corners or settle as I know our entire team is striving to deliver their best.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

Invention begets invention. It’s easier than ever before to connect with other creators and get your ideas out into the wild. As you see the maker movement continue to bring new ideas and concepts to life, it acts like a snowball rolling downhill. The Maker Movement helps individuals realize they have the ability to actively participate in the people economy by adding their own spin on an idea and introducing it to a creative community. In our case, that community involves veterinarians as well as consumers — not to mention all our beloved canine companions. (Photos: Whistle)

Tanya is the co-founder and COO of Maker’s Row, an online marketplace for American manufacturers. She and her business partner, Matthew Burnett, are revolutionizing factory sourcing as we know it and helping small businesses along the way.

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Tanya Menendez, 26

It’s about pushing creative boundaries.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Talking to customers.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

Individuals are able to create products that solve problems, for their own communities. (Photos: Tanya Menendez)

Ryan is the founder of BOOM Movement, a SoCal-based company that makes quality sound products. Their portable waterproof speakers are a hit at Brit HQ… and the perfect stocking stuffers! Just sayin’. :)

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Ryan Minarik, 26

Explore my brain. Pursue passions.

Where do you get your inspiration?

All aspects of life and adventure inspire me. At BOOM we focus on creating products that are Ready 4 Anything (durable, flexible, & in some cases waterproof), so it is important to accept and try as many new things/activities as I can get my hands on. Besides that, I utilize surfing, skateboarding, creating art and music to help clear my mind, get inspired and break away from the constant hustle.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

Makers drive the economy through their passion to create from original ideas, deemed desirable by people. These ideas formulate the foundation of businesses, goods or services which in turn create jobs by stimulating production, distribution, trade and consumption of end products. Makers can either create and drive business on their own, or integrate their secret sauce as a part of other businesses. Ultimately, makers’ creations fuel the economy by delivering value to people’s desires and needs, which stimulate all aspects of the economy. (Photos: Ryan Minarik)

Liz is the co-founder of 38th&Wick. We’ve been head over heels for her party-proof dress ever since the concept debuted on Kickstarter. It’s a next-level LBD made of high-performance, moisture-wicking fabric. It’s equipped with pockets for your smartphone, and it’s nearly impossible to stain. Um, how soon can we get one?!

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Liz Lian, 21

Making things makes life better.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My co-founder, Sanibel Chai, and I originally started our company after being inspired to fix an everyday problem. That problem was how normal, mass-produced clothing we were so accustomed to wearing wasn’t being made with the lives and needs of their wearers in mind. In response to this problem, we decided to make our own line of little black dresses, skirts, and tops made from moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, performance fabric. We worked with our designer and patternmaker to create a line that is flattering, comfortable, and responsive to women’s needs. We get our inspiration from our friends and customers. They know what they want.

How do you think the maker movement fuels the people economy?

After seeing all the work that was put into our first line and people’s responses to it, I realized how important each individual person is to the creation of a really worthwhile and lasting product. We love being able to hear what our customers want and turn it into a product because we are directly involved in every step of the making of a product. More importantly, it makes people happy because it brings us all one step closer to solving a problem and making life a little easier. (Photos: Liz Lian)

Yuki is the founder of AgIC, a Tokyo and Silicon Valley-based tech startup. The company helps you easily make your own electric circuits at home. They sell a rad at-home circuit printer kit and just created the world’s first erasable conductivity marker.

In five words or less, tell us why you love to make.

Yuki Nishida, 25

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


Last year, some of us celebrated the holidays apart from our families for the first time. COVID has brought with it many changes, some of them arguably positive (like increased flexibility to work from home), some difficult (such as the realization of vastly different political and social views between family and friends), and some horrible (obviously, the health implications of a global pandemic). However, for some of us, celebrating the holidays without family members isn't exclusively due to COVID. In addition to so many of us living in different areas than our families of origin, some of us simply don't have close bonds with the people we grew up around. Sometimes, this can cause loneliness.

If you're not close with your family members, the holidays can be a difficult time. This is doubly true if you don't have a close circle of friends to call upon. But make no mistake, if this sounds like your situation, you're not alone — there are thousands of other people going through the same struggles you are. We sat down with Irad Eichler, founder of Circles, a website that connects people who are sharing similar struggles, like heartbreak, grief, or loneliness. Here are some of Eichler's tips for coping — and even thriving! — during the holiday season when you're not planning on spending it with your family, for one reason or another.

Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media

Laura Chouette

The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.

"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."

In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.

"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.

Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.

Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections

Joel Muniz

While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.

"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.

Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.

Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?

"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."

Give Back

Priscilla Du Preez

The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.

Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.

"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."

Connect With Others Online

Thought Catalog

Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.

"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."

If you're struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Connect with our digital community of makers and creatives here at Brit+Co by following us on IG and signing up for our newsletter!

This post has been updated.

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry

On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."

He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."

To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"

The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"

Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"

The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."

Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA

Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."

After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."

Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."

Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.

And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations

On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:

After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again

Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.

I figured it was about time I released it.

Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.

Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.

High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"

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