miniMIN

The first ever mini Mass Innovation Nights event (miniMIN) took place on Thursday night at Staples Studio in Danvers, the latest thing in coworking space. So, what's a miniMIN? A smaller, quieter version of MIN. The event featured only 5 products instead of the usual 10 (or sometimes more) so everyone got to do a presentation and there was plenty of time to check out every table.

Staples Studio

Part of the Coworking Space

CareAline aims to change the standard of care for patients with implanted vascular access lines. This  story is a great example of innovation that came out of the founder's response to a real and personal need. Founder Kezia Fitzgerald encountered a need to make line management safer and more comfortable when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer and had to have vascular access lines for chemo. The CareAline sleeves and wraps keep the access lines covered and off the skin while still being fully accessible for treatment. Both the sleeve and the central wrap are FDA registered. Since presenting at MIN 106 they've become integrated into more hospitals. This innovation just makes so much sense! Hope it continues to be adopted more widely.

CareAline

Lawn Serv's Do-it-Yourself lawn care subscription box is customized for your lawn's particular needs. You provide a soil sample and Lawn Serv selects the right mix of lawn care supplies for you based on the soil analysis. Their  monthly box provides all the supplies you need for your lawn for each season.  Even though I don't have a lawn, I enjoyed talking with them. Especially since when they showcased at MIN118, their table was so busy I couldn't get near it. If I did have a lawn, I think I would subscribe.

Lawn Serv

It was great to see Karen from Keysie again after meeting her at MIN123 in Lawrence. The Keysie Key Wallet a whole new kind of accessory that holds your keys and credit cards and hooks right onto your purse or your belt. Who hasn't had the "where are my keys?" experience? Keysie keeps you from misplacing your keys in the first place. Best of all, you don't have to unhook it to put the key in the lock. No digging in purse or pocket. No fumbling around trying to unlock your door. Keys, frequently used credit cards, and your ID all within easy reach. All that and it is extremely cool-looking too.  It got my vote for Audience Favorite and not surprisingly it won!

Keysie

Atomic Coffee Roasters, a popular North Shore roastery (and Beverly coffee shop) that supplies a number of cafes and restaurants in the area, has recently put more of their focus on wholesale and on cold brew. They have a facility for cold brew and nitro cold brew in Danvers and are selling these beverages to grocery stores and cafe chains. They are also available for business offices to purchase. Imagine your office coffee room having carefully crafted cold brew ... mmm mmm good. They were distributing samples and I drank a delicious bottle of plain black cold brew (I'm not big on the sweetened and milky coffees). It was very smooth and full-flavored and I really enjoyed it. I can see how this would be a hit in offices and coworking spaces.

Atomic Coffee Roasters

AliGo Mobile is a mobile orthodontic office specializing in Invisalign treatment and whitening services. I spotted their elegant-looking Airstream (hitched to an orange pickup truck) in the parking lot as soon as I pulled in. They partner with businesses and office parks to provide on-site Invisalign consultation, care, and management (and whitening service too). I took a look inside and it is indeed a well-appointed orthodontic office. With the way commutes are going in the Boston area these days, it's getting harder and harder to get to and from an appointment during the work day.  AliGo Mobile makes it worthwhile for companies to provide access to high-quality orthodontic care as an employee benefit that saves employees both time and money while helping them look and feel their best. And, yes, they do serve companies in the Seaport District. Ask your HR department about AliGo Mobile.

AliGo

Inside AliGo

This being a mini MIN, there were only two prize winners. The prizes from Staples Studio went to AliGo Mobile, which won the online voting, and to Keysie, which won the Audience Choice voting.

Prize Winners AliGo and Keysie

The Expert Corner featured marketing/social media/PR phenomenon  Bobbie Carlton, founder of Carlton PR and Marketing and Innovation Nights, Ken Perlow from Staples Studio, and Carol Costello from Staples. For the traditional Experts Looking Expert shot it seems perfect to feature BobbieC and one of her MINions launching the miniMIN concept.

Experts Looking Expert and Offering Fabulous Prizes for Tweeting

The next Mass Innovation Nights event, #MIN125, is a full-sized MIN on Tuesday, August 13 at District Hall in Boston's Seaport District.  Register, check out the products, and vote for the 4 you want to hear.