BrightonIdeas was created in 1999, during the dotcom frenzy.  Like many folks then, we had a fantastic idea for a new website that would be the next big thing.  How about a virtual representation of your wardrobe online that would present feasible combinations of outfits based on the day’s needs?  Sound clever?  In 1999, we thought so.  We even bought a few domain names, including pickyourclothes.com.   As we were assembling our business plan and beginning the search for funding, the internet bubble burst.  Luckily, we hadn’t yet left our real jobs.  The experience was valuable and the urge to innovate remained strong.

Fast forward to early 2006; we created the BrightonIdeas website to market the StingRay – an adaptation of Alan Adler’s famous Aerobie.  We churned out several iterations of working prototypes, keeping a keen eye on future manufacturability.  Our February, 2006 marketing trip to the University of South Florida and a number of beaches in Clearwater to test the new flying toy was extremely encouraging.  Waves of people tried our StingRay prototypes and loved them.  Convinced we had the next hula-hoop in our hands, we created an SLA prototype, created our sales pitch, and booked flights to the February NY Toy Show.  The cool reception in NY was a stark contrast to sunny and pleasant Tampa, Florida.  During the ensuing months, we pursued leads from the Toy Show and contemplated manufacturing the StingRay on our own.  The ultimate demise of the StingRay was my delinquency in following up the original provisional patent application with a formal utility patent.  Another valuable, but expensive lesson learned.

Since the StingRay adventure, I’ve tinkered with a few new ideas.  A ski sled prototype nicknamed Frankenstein stands quietly in the garage waiting for this winter and a number of new tweaks.   A patent search quickly uncovered an existing design similar enough to ensure that Frankenstein remains a family project.  Another epiphany consisted of an online game for those interested in playing the role of a college football player or head coach à la Second Life.  Extensive Google searches eventually uncovered a company in Cincinnati that had already developed an identical game called WhatIfSports that was later purchased by News Corporation – not bad.

BrightonIdeas remains poised for the next crazy idea to spring forward from our enlightened minds.  But among all the lessons learned to date, one stands out from all of the rest - the idea is the easy part.  Going from a concept to a finished product or service is a tremendous challenge on many levels, but it’s also a lot of fun.

Who are "we?"

At any point in time, BrightonIdeas included or includes a combination of following team members:

Steve Lampiasi, wearer of many hats and photographer extraordinaire

Joyce Mims, sage legal counsel

Pat O'Leary, closet salesman trapped inside an engineer

Rohan Rodney, big picture sounding board and design guru

Bob Seestadt, numbers king and business plan stickler

Scott Somers, design guru and grounded sanity checker

Bill Stumphauzer, mad scientist and creator of very strict itineraries