DigiRoo Honoured In Innovation By Design Award
DigiRoo – a product recently launched by Antonia Holder — earned an Honourable Mention in the Wellness Category at the Fast Company 2022 Innovation By Design Awards.
Mrs Holder, a Bermudian mom and business woman, said: “I count it an incredible honour to be recognised by Fast Company, one of the leading digital and print publications for entrepreneurs from North America and around the world.
“When I first heard we were recognised with an award, I immediately started looking at the other companies that, like us, were awarded Honourable Mention in their various categories – and I was amazed to see companies like Fitbit and Pinterest. That’s what helped me to see how huge this acknowledgement actually is.”
The awards, which honour designers and businesses solving the most crucial problems of today and anticipating the pressing issues of tomorrow, is now in its 11th year and features a range of blue-chip companies, emerging startups, as well as up and coming young talent.
Lloyd and Antonia Holder at the Fast Company awards
“Mrs Holder and her husband, Lloyd, were awarded Honourable Mention in the Wellness Category for their product, DigiRoo, which is a patent-pending, ergonomically designed electronic tablet case, which boasts an adjustable stand to ensure children are watching their digital devices in a posture safe position,” a spokesperson said.
“Their product was picked by a noteworthy panel of judges including designers from various disciplines, business leaders from some of the most innovative companies in the world, and Fast Company’s own writers and editors. Entries were judged on several key ingredients for innovation: functionality, originality, beauty, sustainability, user insight, cultural impact, and business impact.
“Committed to self-development and business growth, Mrs Holder explained that this opportunity was a by-product of attending a female empowerment conference back in 2021, hosted by international speaker and podcast host Rachel Luna. From that event, she met a handful of other successful entrepreneurs – one of whom sent her details about the Fast Company Innovation By Design Awards in January 2022 and encouraged her to apply.”
“I didn’t even have a physical product at that stage, as we were still tweaking the design and didn’t even have the prototype in hand yet,” said the mother-of-two. “However, as I started reading more about Fast Company and what they do, I got to thinking: ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ The judges say no, right? So I took a chance, prayed about it and decided to apply.”
She sent in her submission, along with design renderings and information about the product. Months later, the organisation came back to say ‘Congratulations! You have been selected as a Fast Company honoree!’.
“It was surreal reading that email and learning that our product had been selected,” said Mrs Holder. “After that, my husband and I were invited to a special awards party, where I was recognised in the Wellness Category for my company, Kids Digital Wellness and my posture safe Digiroo. The award itself means so much to me, however, it was also incredible to get to network with C-level executives and professionals in top management positions.”
The celebration took place in New York City at Fast Company’s Annual Innovation Festival, which was on hiatus the previous two years due to the pandemic. While attending the conference, Mrs Holder was able to meet Kenneth Irvine Chenault, the first African American to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 firm, the American Express Company. She also met the former US Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker.
Mr and Mrs Holder also got to mingle with other entrepreneurs, journalists and speakers at the prestigious event.
Mrs Holder said she learned a lot from the experience. “As business owners of startups, one thing I’ve realised is you have to maintain the passion, excitement and faith in your product and your brand. You have to keep the fire burning two years down the line, just as you had on day one, because that helps other people to see that you’re serious about it and to buy into the vision.”
DigiRoo is currently available for preorders via the company’s website. Mrs Holder also announced this week that a local retailer has become her first wholesale partners.”
“We are thrilled to share that A.F. Smith has come on board as our first local retail partner. They truly have been champions of ours and this product from the beginning. Plus, our businesses are aligned in such a way that the relationship was a natural fit,” she explained. “We have an exciting launch planned for Q1 2023 and can’t wait to display the DigiRoo at A.F. Smith.”
For more information or to pre-order, visit www.kidsdigitalwellness.com.
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