STARTUP

Meet the ION Belt Battery, a sleek, safe and stylish accessory with a secret double life as a portable charger that eradicates the need for bulky  battery packs.

Read all about the innovative diabetic sleep mask created by PolyPhotonix known as Noctura 400 that has had a major impact on the lives of diabetics everywhere.

Learn more about MIT researcher, Lining Yao, who has created along with her highly skilled team a bio-skin that reacts to sweat and might suggest a future of self-ventiliating clothes.

Meet the Steth-IO iPhone case that doubles as a stethoscope. If your mouth just dropped open, keep it there, for the inventor of this clever medical device is just 16 years of age. Read on for more on this brilliant boy and his amazing medical innovation.

Today, I opened my mailbox and was pleasantly surprised.  Typically only filled with flyers and the occasional bill (that duplicates the one sitting in my email inbox), I actually found something that was worth more attention than an immediate trip to the recycling bin. You're going to have to read on to find out what it is, but I can tell you that it was a gift from a hot new business out there that subscribes to my brand of sarcasm. While I was pleased with the appearance of their namesake item, you may not be if you're on the receiving end.

Are you an inventor struggling to get your project noticed? Good news has arrived: Amazon Launchpad is up and running. So, how will this new cutting-edge platform help your startup grow?

Subscription box services have been a trend for a number of years, popular for their convenience and the fact that they're like unwrapping a present when the contents are (somewhat of) a surprise. Everything from pet items, to razors, to delectable snacks, and makeup have been sold in this format by businesses that deal exclusively in items that are packed in cardboard and left on your doorstep once a month or so. But, if you think you've already seen it all, you'd be wrong.

Escape games are pretty trendy these days, and there are various concepts all around the globe. It's no surprise that these businesses are becoming popular. After all, what could be more fun than going on your own intellectual, "Saw"-style escape adventure that lets you test your wit without losing your limbs? Well, believe it or not, I can answer that question for you.

We all have those items that hang around our homes for months or years that collect dust untouched. Sometimes, however, we develop a sense of attachment to those items, and just don't want to see them discarded. Trying to sell pre-loved items to collectors, thift stores, or by holding a yard sale is a whole lot of effort with little payout. This inconvenience leads many of us to hoard things we wouldn't allow to take up valuable space in our homes. A new business concept uses technology to offer a whimsical solution.

Little by little, we're approaching a day and age where businesses that once relied on humans are using technology instead. I say "approaching" because we're not quite there yet; people are still valued in many fields, particularly where customer service is concerned. But that doesn't mean that many businesses aren't already embracing alternatives, and some of them happen to be a little strange.

Every summer, many Americans flock to the drive in movie theaters to see their favorite retro flicks or new blockbuster releases. Although drive in movies are still popular today, there are far fewer operating theaters than there were a few decades ago, and some things have changed. Speakers no longer have to be pulled through your car's window as was once necessary (now, audio is available through a specified radio station), for example. What hasn't changed are the kids in pajamas or the pickup beds loaded with blankets and teenagers. But now, one concept could totally reinvent the drive in - and driving isn't even part of the equation.

If you love zombies and The Walking Dead (and who doesn't these days), then there are a number of different businesses that provide you with apocalypse survival experiences, and the latest is a popular cruise line that's setup one of the coolest ones to date.