Riley Csernica, a biomedical engineering graduate, decided to become an entrepreneur after rejecting a job offer, with support from her mother.
Riley Csernica and her classmate Kelsey developed a shoulder brace prototype using basic materials, which was successfully tested on a professional hockey player.
Riley Csernica learned that a single good idea and support from others can provide the foundation to start a successful business, even without extensive experience, money, or resources.
Meeting Notes:
Starting a Medical Device Company
Riley Csernica decided to become an entrepreneur instead of taking a job after graduating college with a degree in biomedical engineering
Despite having a great interview for a quality control engineering job, Riley Csernica realized she did not want that role as it did not align with her passion for inventing and taking new products to market
Riley Csernica got support from her mother to pursue the entrepreneurial path instead of getting a traditional job
Riley Csernica faced challenges of starting a business with: No experience, No money, No resources, No network, No mentors
Developing the Shoulder Brace
Riley Csernica and her classmate Kelsey decided to finish developing the shoulder brace they had started instead of taking jobs
Riley Csernica and Kelsey talked to anyone who would listen to gather information and make connections for their shoulder brace product
They would drive around town and demand meetings at hospitals, pharmacies, physical therapy offices
Many times they were asked to leave, but occasionally got valuable information, contacts, and became experts in the field
They set up a makeshift office and worked tirelessly on developing the shoulder brace prototype
Used materials like elastic, velcro, plastic, cardboard to create the odd-looking red, blue, yellow, black, white, and peach brace
Their coworkers mocked it as an "arts and crafts project"
They found a professional 6'4", 215 lb hockey player from Canada to test the shoulder brace they had created, and it worked
Realizing the Power of a Single Idea
Testing the brace successfully on the hockey player was a huge moment of validation, transforming Riley Csernica and Kelsey from students to businesswomen
Riley Csernica understood that a single good idea is enough to start a business, rather than being distracted by not having experience, money, resources, etc.
Riley Csernica emphasized the importance of support from others like her mom and the interviewer who rejected her
Not letting fear hold you back from pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams is crucial
The Lesson Learned
One good idea and support from others can provide the foundation for starting a successful business, even without extensive experience, money, or resources
Riley Csernica overcame common excuses of not having experience, money, resources, network, mentors to pursue her entrepreneurial dream of inventing products
Riley Csernica encouraged others to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, as a single idea and support can be enough to get started, rather than being distracted by perceived lack of resources