Author: Charles Judd

The 2010 Flash Crash wasn’t just a financial hiccup; it was a moment of chaos that sent ripples through the global economy, leaving traders and regulators scrambling for answers. Within minutes, the Dow Jones plunged 1,000 points, wiping a trillion dollars off the value of US companies. Luckily the markets soon recovered. Five years later, Navinder Singh Sarao emerged as one of the unlikely individuals behind the incident. Navinder Sarao, a British trader operating from his parents’ suburban home in Hounslow, West London, was accused of contributing to the 2010 Flash Crash. In 2015, the US Department of Justice charged…

Mental health is being emphasized now more than ever. See The Way I See is a clothing brand that supports this movement. It has become known for its sweatshirts featuring reassuring short messages on their sleeves. They also sell other fashion items of a similar nature. Founder Sophie Nistico, pitched her company on Shark Tank but didn’t get a deal. To date, See The Way I See is worth an estimated $3 million. Sophie Nistico’s Background Sophie Nistico hails from Trumbull, Connecticut and studied health science at Sacred Heart University. Not long after graduating, she started her own business. At…

Bleni Blends has brought something new to the vending machine industry. Instead of the usual snacks and drinks, their vending machines sell smoothies and iced coffees. Founders Peter and Stuart Shapiro got a deal with Lori Greiner and Daniel Lubetzky. As a result, Bleni Blends is now worth an estimated $3 million. The Shapiro’s Brothers Peter and Stuart Shapiro are from Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Peter has an MBA from Temple University, while Stuart holds a BSM from Tulane University. Both had promising careers before pursuing entrepreneurship. At first, Peter was the VP of Enrollment Management at Tulane University, and Stuart was…

Erik Conover is a YouTuber, actor and filmmaker who enjoys documenting his adventures. In addition to travel videos, Erik’s channel is known for the series giving people a glimpse into luxury properties. Previously Conover worked as a real estate broker in New York at Nest Seekers. As a full-time content creator, Erik Conover has a net worth of $2 million. New Jersey Roots Conover was born on October 21, 1989, in Pomona, New Jersey. For college, Erik went to Northeastern University in Boston and studied Communication and Media, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2013. After graduating, he left for New…

Using your phone while doing outdoor activities is a hassle, especially those that require you to wear gloves. Chubby Buttons is a bluetooth remote that allows you to control your phone while wearing gloves. Founders Justin Barad and Mike Cherkezian pitched on Shark Tank but couldn’t get a deal. Clearly their pitch didn’t press the right buttons! Now, Chubby Buttons is worth an estimated $2.5 million. The Founders Justin Barad hails from New York City, and studied chemistry at NYU. Barad has worked in business development at companies such as Rover Diagnostics, Fooda, and Boomerang, Inc. You could tell from…

In Eastern Europe a type of soft-serve ice cream exists that’s unique to the rest of the world. They have rotisserie-grilled dough cones with various toppings and Crispy Cones has brought this concept to the US. Jeremy and Kaitlyn Carlson pitched their product on Shark Tank and got a deal with Barbara Corcoran. Today, Crispy Cones is worth an estimated $2 million. Jeremy and Kaitlyn Carlson The married couple reside in Rexburg, Idaho and both went to Brigham Young University. Jeremy later transferred to Utah State University and finished his education there. The entrepreneurs are members of the Mormon Church,…

If you’re a fan of the outdoors, insect repellent, sunscreen, and anti-itch balms are products you should be using. However, they usually contain ingredients that are harmful to the user and the environment. Powell pitched her business on Shark Tank and got a deal with Barbara Corcoran and Tony Xu. Kinfield was once worth $4 million but the company closed down in March 2026. Nichole Powell Nichole Powell is from San Francisco and graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. After graduation, Powell worked as a marketing associate for Intuit in 2014. Two…

There’s a problem secretly infesting humanity – people procrastinating on the toilet, or as Adam and Katie Stephey like to call them, “poo-crastinators.” To solve this problem they invented the Toilet Timer under their company, Katamco. It’s a gag product with real benefits. After getting a deal with Mark Cuban, Toilet Timer is now worth $2 million. The Founders Story Adam and Katie Stephey are a husband-and-wife duo from Normal, Illinois. Adam has a degree in German language and literature from Truman State University, and Katie completed general studies at Harding University. While in Germany, Adam started his career as…

For years parents have changed diapers in dirty public restrooms. Pluie is looking to shake things up by creating the world’s first self-sanitizing diaper changing tables. Founders Addie Gundry and Brittany Hizer pitched their product on Shark Tank but didn’t get a deal. Post Shark Tank, Pluie is worth an estimated $8 million. Pluie’s Founders Addie Gundry hails from Keller, Texas and was initially a chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant under Christian Etienne in France. She returned to the US and found success as an executive chef. After working as an executive assistant at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she became…

For dads, wearing an expensive tie around children isn’t always a good idea. Ties are made of delicate fabric and can be damaged easily. Kevin Shoemaker and Skylar Bennett realized this which led them to create Tough Tie. They pitched their company on Shark Tank and got a deal with Robert Herjavec. Recent metrics indicate Tough Tie is worth an estimated $3 million. The Founders: Meet Kevin and Skylar Kevin Shoemaker hails from Mesa, Arizona and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Arizona State University. His partner, Skylar Bennett is also from Arizona, but resides in…