COLUMBIA (WACH) -- In 2002, the Japan design team Passkey Design created little animals out of thin silicone bands. Several years later, Silly Bandz were all the rage in the pre-teen set.
Fast forward a few years, and another trio of visionaries, all between the ages of 10 and 16, may have come up with the next big trend. Hatched in the back seat of a car on a family road trip 4 years ago, the Johnson children, Jake, Lochlan and Erin, wanted to create something fun that could be interactive for kids.
Flipoutz, according to Lochlan, are silicone bands that hold up to five small coins. The coins include messaging to ones personality, and positive self expression including “going green,” “nature rocks,” “do over,” and the ever popular saying “ROTFL.” On the back of the coins are individual serial numbers for each coin.
Kids can logon to the Flipoutz website, and register their coins. From there, they can talk about the coins, and even tell stories about them. As the coins are traded with other Flipoutz fans, their journey can be tracked around the world.
The website itself, according to 12 year old Jake is “pre moderated in real time,” which ensures it is a kid safe web environment. According to their site, safety is monitored by NetModerator, which “analyzes content as well as intent and behavior patterns in order to prevent inappropriate communication or dialogue as well as identify and block predators and other online threats.”
After an initial investment made by the family, the Johnson’s found themselves on the television show Shark Tank, where partnered with three of the “sharks” for another $100,000 in funding.
The plan, according to the 18, 16, and 12 year old that make up the executive staff of Flipoutz, they are planning an announcement at the South Carolina State Fair that will “benefit Columbia kids.”
For more information on Flipoutz, or to learn more about their story, logon to their website.
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