Charlie Shields, Wells Fargo Advisors
Patricia Dunn, Merrill Lynch
Tom Giacoponello, CEO of Baby Life Seat, Inc.

The Baby Life Seat is a game-changer in the infant car seat industry. The prototype has been developed and tested by the US Coast Guard and passed all tests to be certified as a Personal Flotation Device, or PFD. Like a lifejacket for adults, it will be the only infant car seat that is also covered by existing laws on boats and airplanes as a certified flotation device. In the aviation and marine industries, we have become accustomed to having certified flotation devices made mandatory for our own safety. But no device has existed to give new babies the same protection, until now. With additional safety features provided, it will be the safest option and a new brand in the world of safety in transportation.

Show Notes

• Our special guest Tom Giacoponello decided to leave a successful career as an executive recruiter and start an entrepreneurial venture into which he invested a large amount of resources.  While this is one of the most rewarding life ventures, it is also very risky and challenging.  It would be interesting to see what motivated
  you.  Can you walk us through the history of how you got here?
• The history of how Baby Life Seat came into existence.
• What makes Baby Life Seat that different?
• Competitors?
• How would you say that your career helped you to make the move into becoming an entrepreneur?  Did it make it easier, or harder?  What aspect of this transition has been the most challenging for you?
• In the B2C market, why will people want to buy it? Do you think that people will fall in love with the Baby Life Seat and why is that?
• In the B2B market, one of the big issues today is that the FAA doesn’t require child safety-seats on planes.  Yet people are advised not to carry their children in their laps and use other alternatives such as car seats or harnesses.  What would be the impact of bringing the Baby Life Seat onto the market? Also, in the Marine market, will it be covered by existing law as are all life jackets for adults?
• What stage are you in building your company and what are some of the challenges and roadblocks that you are encountering in going forward?  What keeps you up at night?

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