Fire 
Do you know of organizations or individuals that set the innovation scene on Fire? Tell us about them by completing a nomination for Inno on Fire.
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Rhode Island is the home to of a bevy of creatives. After all, it has the third-highest amount of in-state creative jobs in the nation, right behind California and New York. Then, there's the fact that giant toy company Hasbro (and related organizations, like Joy for All) call the Ocean State home.
These innovators, are, well, making a whole a lot — in some cases, as you'll see below, creating tools, tech, clothes and other products that have garnered attention across the state and beyond (we're looking at you, Sproutel and BedJet), or are just so cool or noteworthy we at Rhody Inno want to make sure you're taking a look.
If this roundup of Makers to Watch still has you craving more creative content, make sure to tap into one of the many groups and programs across the state for builders like you. A good place to start? AS220, Providence Mini Maker Faire, Ocean State Maker Mill, Tinker|Bristol, the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network, RIVR and DESIGNxRI (to name a few!).
In the meantime, let's take a look at this year's list of Makers to Watch.
Ameri/Sewn
This Cranston-based company, Ameri/Sewn, designs “protective gear for the military, law enforcement and the mental health industries.” Currently, creator John Caito III is developing his next-generation Riot Suit in a R&D lab developed in part with the help of a state-granted Innovation Voucher. Most recently, the company was named a 50 on Fire award winner for its work.
INDO-
Meet INDO-, the multidisciplinary design studio with roots in both Providence and New Delhi, India, that was born when founders Manan Narang and Urvi Sharma met during their time studying at RISD. The company produces everything from rugs to furniture, made with "traditional craft processes [that are applied] along with modern manufacturing methods to create contemporary objects," its website states. It's most recent headline was in February, when INDO- was named one of nine local companies chose to participate in the 2019 Providence Design Business Program.
Kezari
A minimalist travel and lifestyle brand, Kezari launched in Rhode Island in 2018, with insight and advice from both contemporary fashion label Theory and a RISD professor of fashion. Pre-sales for its first pair of pants have already begun — and the company was recently named a Rhode Island Inno 50 on Fire Award winner.
Taylor Box Company
More like "Makers to CONTINUE to Watch," as this entity, Taylor Box Company, boasts working with partners sine 1885. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. What is Taylor Box Company? "We design and manufacture rigid paperboard boxes for all types of products and industries," its website states. "We are passionate craftspeople dedicated to delivering 'Wow!'" It's done this for companies like HBO, Sony and Kind, and its boxes are truly cool.
Tellart
Tellart has offices in Providence, San Francisco and Amsterdam, and just like it has many locations, it has many offerings. "We are an international team of industrial + graphic designers, electronics + software engineers, filmmakers + architects," its website states. "Tellart specializes in turning opaque, intangible technologies into materials for sketching, experimenting and prototyping." Some of its most illustrious projects? "The Chrome Web Lab: Making the Internet Physical" with Google and Science Museum London; an "immersive experience" for the film "Alita: Battle Angel" and "an emotionally intelligent autonomous car."
The Fehn
Ever found yourself incredibly uncomfortable in your work chair? Well, the Tom Derecktor-created piece —dubbed The Fehn — wants to get rid of that. In fact, it uses an ergonomic seat titled at an angle to take stress of your spine, allowing users "to rock, move, and stretch while you sit— without thinking about it," its website states. "These small movements increase blood flow, relieving muscle strain and fatigue." The Fehn will be heading to SXSW in Austin this March.
VadatiVR
We can't get enough of Sree Dasari, a high school senior, and her innovative maker work. For the uninitiated, she developed VadatiVR, a startup that looks to quell public speaking nervousness by giving the user a chance to practice in a VR classroom or on a stage. Since teaching herself how to code the VR software and undergoing case studies on the work, she’s gotten a lot of attention. VadatiVR won both the “Best in Fair” award at the 2018 R.I. Science and Engineering Fair and first place at the state’s first-ever Lt. Governor Entrepreneurship Challenge in August; she was also named to Rhode Island Inno’s 25 Under 25 and its 50 on Fire list. Dasari is still hustling, “currently working on funds, developing the website and app and reaching out and trying to get more help.”
Ximedica
Providence-based Ximedica is another "continue to watch" entity, as its a 1985-born product development company established after its founders met at RISD. For the unfamiliar, the company has solely worked on creating regulated devices for the health care industry, and has a wide-ranging portfolio of tools its developed (think robotic surgical systems and diagnostic tools) from "first concept to market launch."
Your Heaven Audio
Your Heaven Audio is the creation of founder and Brown University Steve Schwartz, and it is a hardware company that "accurately reflects the true sound of acoustic instruments without the processed background noise that normal microphones typically pick up," wrote Bram Berkowitz on a piece on the company. "The devices can also record acoustic instruments with high-quality audio, while isolating background noises, even in noisy rooms or outside." The company began selling products in 2017 and its work earned it the top spot in the entrepreneur track of the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition.
