Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My mom. She fled China after being harassed by her boss, arriving in America with no English, no money, and no family. She survived 8 layoffs, stood up to a discriminatory executive in a boardroom full of men, and built two successful companies. When I asked why she spoke up, she said, "Never stay quiet when something is clearly wrong." I carry that into Spikey in every pitch I rehearse, every contract I study, every comment I respond to at 1 AM. She turned pain into purpose; so will I

How do you stay motivated?

My loved one was given a spiked drink and assaulted at just 18. I couldn't protect her, but Spikey means I might be able to protect someone else. That's what gets me up every day. Drink spiking causes hundreds of thousands of assaults, robberies, and even deaths globally every year, and every survivor story I hear reminds me this could have been prevented. I'm building toward a culture where anyone can feel peace of mind in every social setting.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Every dollar would go toward transitioning from 3D printing each Spikey to injection molding, a production system that dramatically cuts cost and increases capacity. I'd also grow the ambassador network and fulfillment team to keep pace with rising demand. My vision is Spikey in all universities, nightlife dispensers, and music festivals. This funding scales not only production, but our impact, putting a life-saving tool in the hands of anyone who needs it before it's too late.