Spreading “Made in Malaysia” goods around the world is Earth Heir’s mission. The online marketplace, founded by Sasibai Kimis W00, sells handcrafted jewelry, bags, and other accessories crafted by locals and refugees in the Southeast Asian country. In 2022, Earth Heir was fair-trade certified by the B Corporation, which recognizes the company’s transparency and positive impact for the 120 artisans it employs. Kimis brings together craftspeople with skills dating back generations, including women from the Mah Meri tribe who weave colorful leaves into hats.

Inspired by the nocturnal creature’s keen sensing abilities, Barn Owl offers dependable surveillance for rural businesses and agencies. The camera technology, created by Josh Phifer WG17, is specifically designed to work in remote locations, picking up two to three more cellular bars than phones. Functions range from anti-theft devices to water-tank monitoring. The company, part of Venture Lab’s VIP-X Philadelphia Fall 2016 cohort, has grown from a one-man operation to 16 employees. Barn Owl prides itself on being veteran-owned — Phifer spent 20 years in the Air Force — and offers discounts for the military community.

Frustrated by her son’s lack of interest in skin care, Stacy Blackman W93 wanted to create a product that would fit an active youth lifestyle. She teamed up with three other moms to launch Stryke Club, an acne brand specifically for teen boys. Among the founders is a board-certified pediatric dermatologist whose proprietary formula reduces bacteria without overdrying. The line includes a combined face-and-body acne wash, wipes, and zit patches and was featured in Target’s Accelerators program.

3D printers can now produce quality medical devices, and LuxCreo is leading the charge. Co-founders Mike Yang WG04 and Michael Strohecker WG04 developed a platform that medical professionals can use to customize appliances and print them. In service of its vision to provide faster access to better health, LuxCreo even offers same-day delivery. The company produces mainly dental products, ranging from night guards to whitening trays, but recently began manufacturing a sleep apnea machine. LuxCreo was part of Venture Lab’s VIP-X San Francisco Fall 2019 cohort.

MakersHub was born out of Phong Ngo WG20’s frustration at a past job with the cumbersome process of trying to accurately and completely enter accounts-payable data. He often found that information he needed from bills and receipts was entered incorrectly and that data was missing. Alongside co-founder Charley Howe WG20, Ngo launched MakersHub for businesses with significant accounts-payable needs. With its proprietary tool, the company — a Venture Lab VIP-X alum — aims to eliminate manual entry by fully capturing data from bills and receipts in any format, saving hours of tedious input. MakersHub’s work recently earned $7 million from venture capital investors, boosting its total raised to $11.5 million.

“How much money are you losing to expired products?” That’s the question Shelflife founder Samhita Karnati WG25 poses to grocers who manually track their inventory’s expiration dates.Karnati’s startup, a member of Venture Lab’s Fall 2024 VIP-X cohort in Philadelphia, helps retailers identify what’s expiring, suggests when items should be marked down, generates discount labels, and more. The venture aims to help grocers keep food fresh, reduce waste, and improve sales margins without the need to manually take stock of shelves.

A pocket concierge of sorts, Harman Singh Narula WG15’s Canary Technologies has spread its wings from Y Combinator in 2018 to become a leading hospitality software, trusted by major chains such as Marriott and Four Seasons. Via its platform, guests are supported throughout their stay with personalized AI communication, while hoteliers seize opportunities to boost revenue through simplified room upgrades and other upsells. Leaving a positive review upon checkout is easier, too, and Canary boasts that it increases five-star reviews by 350 percent.

Afternoon pick-me-ups often involve caffeine or loads of sugar. Not BrainFood: This fizzy beverage, crafted by co-founder and CEO Megan Burton G24 WG24, is a smart choice in more ways than one. Developed through Burton’s background in biomedical engineering, each can is a fusion of flavor (strawberry thyme, ginger apple) and brain-boosting nutrition (zinc for memory, B12 for energy). The brand, part of Venture Lab’s VIP-X Philadelphia Fall 2023 cohort and a 2024 winner of the Jacobson Global Venture Awards, aims to be your “brain’s new BFF.” As a bonus, check the can for self-care tips and brain-body insights.