MANY SURFERS DO NOT CHOOSE THE SAFETY VEST

The idea for the safety vest arose because Lea Frahm found that many surfers opt out of their cumbersome safety vest in the search for the perfect wave. Therefore, it became the starting point for her study group's project during the 8th semester. The study group spoke, among others, Stefan Dybro, who today is the other half of Pacific North.

The result of the project was a prototype for an innovative safety vest, which can be inflated by pulling an anchor on the chest. At the same time, it can be attached to the wetsuit, so you don't have to remember extra equipment when you have to leave in a hurry.

GREAT BUSINESS POTENTIAL IN THE STUDY PROJECT

During the project, the study group sought feedback for their safety vest. They were soon contacted by a businessman who was very interested in the safety vest, which he believed had great commercial potential.

The talk made a big impression on the study group, and his points lingered in the back of Lea Frahm and Stefan Dybro's minds for a long time. So when, barely a year later, they discovered that they could submit their project idea to NOVI's entrepreneurship grant, they were not slow to test whether there really was a business potential in their safety vest. Even if they didn't know what it would mean for their future.

- Neither Stefan nor I are afraid to throw ourselves into new things. We are good together because we are both curious and driven by the unknown. So we gave it a shot without knowing what we would do if we won, says Lea Frahm.

BECAME ENTREPRENEURS OVERNIGHT

Lea Frahm and Stefan Dybro won the scholarship, the startup Pacific North was a reality and suddenly from one day to the next they had to adjust to their new life as entrepreneurs.

- I have never had a fixed idea of ​​what I should be, so I have not thought about what being an entrepreneur entails. But I think it's exciting to stand on my own two feet and work with a product I've created myself. And the idea of ​​being able to improve safety in water sports is a big driving force for me, explains Lea Frahm.

FULL FOCUS ON FINISHING THE SAFETY VEST

Since Pacific North won the grant, administrative and other surrounding challenges have filled the new startup. But now Lea Frahm and Stefan Dybro are looking forward to once again being able to concentrate on developing a cool product that can create value for others.

- At Industrial Design we learn to examine what is really needed and not just what people say they need. And we can now focus on that again. We are product developers, so I am looking forward to making our safety vest even better, so that it can benefit surfers and other water sports practitioners, says Lea Frahm.