She'Safe Teen Founders & the Recipe for a Safer Future
- Marty Jalove Master Happiness
- 15 hours ago
- 6 min read
What happens when you give five high school students a tough problem? If you're Sophia, Nicole, Olivia, Jovan, and Zach from Lake Zurich High School, you don't just find a solution, you invent one. On a recent episode of Bacon Bits with Master Happiness, I had the honor of chatting with this incredible team of young entrepreneurs. They're the minds behind She'Safe, a game-changing 4-in-1 women's safety device that cleverly attaches to the one thing we never leave behind: our phone.
With Special Guests: Sophia, Nicole, Olivia, Jovan, and Zach
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This isn't just another bulky keychain. She'Safe integrates an alarm, a window breaker, and a backup whistle into a sleek design that also functions as a phone stand. It's a story of ingenuity, resilience, and a mission to address a problem that is too often overlooked. Their journey is a powerful lesson for any aspiring business owner, and we explored it using two of my favorite BACON acronyms.
The Five Players Every Business Needs
Before diving into their process, we identified the five key players needed to build any successful business. It was incredible to see how this randomly formed group naturally fell into these essential roles. Every successful team needs these archetypes, the smiles and frowns, the ups and downs.
Budget Boss (Jovan): The numbers guy. Jovan took charge of the finances, ensuring the team spent wisely to get their business off the ground. He knows that seed money is crucial and can disappear quickly without careful management.
Architect of Innovation (Zach): The brains of the build. As the engineering lead, Zach translated sketches and ideas into tangible 3D models using CAD software like Autodesk Inventor, constantly refining the prototype.
Customer Champion (Sophia): The voice of the user. Sophia connected with potential customers, like college students at DePaul University, to validate that the problem was real and ensure their product resonated with the people who needed it most.
Optimistic Dreamer (Olivia): The heart of the team. Olivia was the one who kept the group on track, pushing them forward when they faced doubt and ensuring their collective vision never faded.
Navigator (Nicole): The get-it-done leader. Nicole managed the to-do lists, assigned roles, and handled all the crucial details that might otherwise fall through the cracks, recognizing that every small task is important.
With a team this balanced, they were perfectly poised to tackle the recipe for bringing a product to market.
BACON Recipe: Bringing a Product to Market
Every great idea needs a framework to grow. On the show, we used another BACON acronym to break down the students' amazing journey from a simple idea to a promising startup.
B - Brainstorming: From Golf Balls to Saving Lives
Every great business starts with an idea, but it’s rarely the first one that sticks. The She'Safe team began their journey with a completely different concept: a trackable golf ball to help players find lost balls. While clever, they soon realized the market wasn't big enough.
This is where true entrepreneurship shines; the ability to pivot. Guided by a mentor, they shifted their focus to a much larger and more meaningful problem: women's safety. They saw how traditional safety keychains were bulky and often left at home. Their first safety concept was a pen, but feedback from early pitches revealed it was still too cumbersome. That's when they had their breakthrough: attach it to a phone. This pivot not only improved the product but also boosted the team’s confidence, eventually helping them win prize money at the end of the school year.
A - Assembling a Team: Forging a Bond Through Disagreement
This team didn't choose each other. They were put together by their teacher. As you can imagine, it wasn't always smooth sailing. They admitted to arguing frequently in the beginning, struggling to move from a school-project mindset to a business-building one.
How did they overcome it? They learned to communicate. They realized that to succeed, they needed to stop blaming each other and start leveraging their individual strengths. They learned to listen, compromise, and focus on their shared goal. That shared struggle forged a strong bond, turning a group of classmates into a cohesive unit and, more importantly, good friends. Their story is a testament to the fact that a team isn't about never disagreeing; it's about learning how to grow from it.
C - Creating a Prototype: From Sketches to a 3D Model
With their idea solidified, the real work began. The team started with rough sketches and turned them into a 3D model using CAD software. They were methodical, creating an "explainer video" with parts they found around the house; a makeup bottle stood in for the alarm, and a keychain served as another component.
They were deliberate in their design choices. After interviewing potential users, they identified the most desired safety features: an alarm and a window breaker. They consciously avoided pepper spray and tasers, which have shipping restrictions and are banned on many college campuses and airplanes, limiting their market. The result is a device that is practical, accessible, and designed with real-world use in mind.
O - Overcoming Challenges: The Path to Growth
This journey was filled with obstacles that would make many adults quit. Each team member faced a personal challenge they had to overcome:
Public Speaking: The fear of presenting to teachers and potential investors (Sharks) was immense, especially after receiving harsh, direct feedback that their initial idea wouldn't work. But that criticism became the fuel for their best innovations.
Group Dynamics: Learning to divide work, trust each other, and manage the stress of deadlines was a huge hurdle.
Customer Interviews: Approaching and talking to strangers, many of them older, was intimidating. Yet, it was the only way to confirm their product was truly needed.
Personal Accountability: One member bravely shared his struggle with punctuality and realizing he needed to contribute more to see the team succeed.
Learning New Skills: Another taught himself 3D printing and other software, turning a challenge into a core strength.
Their ability to face these challenges head-on and grow as individuals is just as inspiring as the product they created.
N - Navigating the Market: A Vision for the Future
The She'Safe team isn't just thinking about a product; they're thinking about a movement. Their go-to-market strategy is smart and targeted. They plan to start by reaching out to high schools and colleges, offering customized versions in school colors. They envision their product being sold in college bookstores, becoming an essential item for incoming freshmen during orientation.
And they aren't stopping there. With conversations already happening with manufacturers, they are looking ahead. They’ve even floated the idea of a "He'Safe" line, showing their ambition to make personal safety a universal conversation.
Want to Hear the Full Story?
This blog post only scratches the surface of the wisdom and inspiration this team shared. To hear their full story, including their fun answers to my icebreaker questions about microwave superpowers and smartphones for dolphins, you need to listen to the episode.
You'll get a masterclass in entrepreneurship from five of the brightest young minds I've ever had on the show. Their passion, maturity, and vision for a safer future are truly something to behold.
Listen to the full episode of Bacon Bits with Master Happiness wherever you get your podcasts.
And if you're as inspired as I am, please share this episode with a student, a parent, an educator, or anyone with a dream. To follow the team's journey or inquire about investing in their vision, connect with them on Instagram at @she_safee or email them at [shesafee@gmail.com].
She'Safe Teen Founders & the Recipe for a Safer Future
To learn more about She'Safe Teen Founders & the Recipe for a Safer Future go to: www.MasterHappiness.com/live or “Bacon Bits with Master Happiness” on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
See it on YouTube
Or catch us LIVE on "BACON BITS with Master Happiness" on 983thelife.com, Monday Night at 7:00 PM and start making your life SIZZLE!
Marty Jalove of Master Happiness is a Company Coach, Business Consultant, and Marketing Strategist that helps small businesses, teams, and individuals find focus, feel fulfilled, and have fun. He helps businesses struggling with communication issues between co-owners, staff, and customers grow a happier and healthier business.
Master Happiness stresses the importance of realistic goal setting, empowerment, and accountability in order to encourage employee engagement and retention. The winning concentration is simple: Happy Employees attract Happy Customers and Happy Customers come back with Friends.
Want to learn more about bringing more happiness into your workplace and life? Contact Master Happiness at www.MasterHappiness.com or www.WhatsYourBacon.com
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