Ron Pontiff, the inventor of the Safe-T-Stool, will be talking about how tragedy inspired his invention and the building of a new business on Thursday in Wilmington. But if you want to hear him and other experts on business building, you need to register soon.

The “Whare Are the Next Three Steps?” event is being put on by Jim Roberts, and it’s the latest in a series of startup-focused forums organized by the former head of the UNC-Wilmington Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

What was the inspiration for the Safe-T-Stool?

The idea of the Safe-T-Stool came about in 2003 when Pontiff saw the 2-year-old daughter of a family friend fall due to an unsafe stool while she was brushing her teeth. As she leaned forward, the stool slid out from under her and she came crashing down on the sink and had to be rushed to the ER. Pontiff says he knew there had to be a better way. He built a prototype for his young daughter, Kelsey, and the Safe-T-Stool was born.

Uses for the Safe-T-Stool include:

  • Toddler step
  • Working out
  • Schools
  • RV steps
  • Equestrian needs
  • Workshop assistance
  • Around the house

The event program

Pontiff and two other execs will participate in the event.

“Many people believe they have the greatest idea since Shark repellant. But they do nothing with the idea,” Roberts says.

“Many people create a solution when they don’t yet know the problem or if there is enough of a market to buy the product to make it worth starting a company around.

“Many people ask me should they start a company or license the idea to an existing company. How much time and resources do you have personally to follow through with company creation?”

Discussing the questions along with Pontiff will be:

  • Doug Scholer – Local Patent Attorney w Toler Law Group of Austin, Tx.
  • Andrew Williams – Founder of Elite Innovations Makerspace (Is producing prototypes dreamt up by other local people)
  • Moderated will be Mitsi Kincaid of Kincaid and Associates

Only a few tickets remain. Register at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/only-a-few-tix-left-got-idea-for-new-company-what-are-next-3-steps-rsvp-tickets-18026418503