Book Household Services Easily With Handybook

Founded by a team of Harvard and Duke grads, Handybook is an online booking service for professional cleaners and handymen. Based in Boston and New York City, Handybook claims to be “the easiest way to get stuff done around the house.” Instead of going through several classifieds or websites to find help, you can book pre-approved professionals on Handybook in under two minutes. Just select the services, date, and time, and a provider will arrive at your house as scheduled, complete with all the necessary supplies. Handybook also handles the payment process, releasing the funds to the provider only after you’re happy with the job.

Whether you need assistance with home cleaning, air conditioner repair, IKEA furniture assembly, yardwork, or odd jobs, Handybook has a network of verified providers that can get it done. All cleaners, handymen, and general laborers are background checked, in-person interviewed, and reference checked. Recently, the company announced that it has gone green; all cleaners now use eco-friendly, organic cleaning supplies.

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Iva Jean: Chic Cycling Wear for Women

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Ann DeOtte, Iva Jean

Seattle-based designer Ann DeOtte has been biking for years. As she became more comfortable going around the city on her bike, she realized that she didn’t have to limit her riding apparel to spandex. And while she believes that bike enthusiasts like her don’t need to buy plenty of gear to ride, the pieces that women invest in should be functional and fashionable, i.e., items that can be worn both on and off the bike. Hence, in early 2010, she founded fashion startup Iva Jean to inspire more women to “get on a bike and ride with the style, personality, and confidence they bring to every other aspect of their lives.”

In 2011, DeOtte unveiled her first product, the Rain Cape. Over the past year, she and her team of local designers, seamstresses, and manufacturers have been working to expand the Iva Jean line. Now ready to launch, the spring 2013 collection consists of an improved Rain Cape and new pieces. The Reveal Skirt is a tailored, straight skirt made of Schoeller-Dryskin fabric that unzips in the back to expand the garment for easy pedaling. The skirt also features a higher waist for coverage while riding and a hidden pocket for small items. The 100 percent organic cotton Daily Blouse provides a tailored fit, extra room, and additional coverage all at the same time, while the Two-Way Reflective Vest offers high visibility and style.

DeOtte launched the Rain Cape with her own money and through a line of credit from another avid biker. For Iva Jean’s spring 2013 collection, she turned to Kickstarter and successfully raised $26,500, exceeding her original goal of $15,000. As part of her mission to encourage women to incorporate biking into their daily lives, DeOtte plans to create “the perfect city pant” next. “I want women to see my products and feel inspired,” she says.

Hot Pink: Bespoke, Conflict-Free Engagement Rings

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Hot Pink

Founded by married couple Manu and Pip Bhardwaj in 2011, Hot Pink is a London-based, family owned independent jeweler that offers custom made engagement rings. When it was time for him to propose, Manu thought he could not call himself a “proper engineer” if he just bought a generic engagement ring off the shelf. A mechanical engineer who is well-versed in CAD, he felt he had to contribute to the design of the perfect ring. After weeks of visiting various jewelers and researching online, Manu ended up designing the ring himself in CAD. And while only a few goldsmiths in the UK were willing to turn his design into reality, those who were would only charge for their time and the materials used since he had already done the design work.

After getting hitched, Manu and Pip started Hot Pink to provide others with the opportunity to create the ring they want. Hot Pink uses the latest in 3D ring design software, allowing customers to design any style of ring and see an HD photorealistic model of the product before it is finalized. With full creative control from start to finish, customers can design a ring from scratch or take a few features of other rings and put them together. Either way, the result is a completely bespoke ring; Hot Pink guarantees that no design is ever sold twice. Additionally, all of the jeweler’s diamonds are conflict-free and comply with the Kimberley Process.

Hot Pink also offers a “proposal service” that takes the pressure off popping the question. Instead of making the ring from precious metals and natural gemstones, Hot Pink will create a replica using sterling 925 silver and Swarovski gemstones. This significantly reduces the cost of the ring without compromising on its appearance, so in case the partner doesn’t like the design or fit, the customer wouldn’t be left with empty pockets.

Boise Company Lets Cat Lovers Play With Shelter Felines Remotely

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iPet Companion, Reach-In

Founded by semiconductor industry veteran Scott Harris, Reach-In is a Boise, Idaho-based company that specializes in real-time, remote control technology. Among the solutions it offers is iPet Companion, a “live kitty portal” that lets cat lovers play with felines in shelters remotely, even if they’re on the the other side of the world.

The iPet Companion website hosts live video streams from nine different animal shelters in the US, including the Oregon Humane Society, the Arizona Animal Welfare League, and the Foothills Animal Shelter in Denver. Using your computer, you can control the webcam and the toys in the room to play with the cats and keep them entertained.

Participating shelters report that installing iPet Companion has led to increases in kitten adoptions, sponsorships, and overall web traffic. The iPet Companion site has seen visitors from more than 170 countries around the world, with the average user staying 28 minutes to play with the cats.