Health and Fitness

Happy spring! This time around, our crowdfunding column is all about energy and activity - just in time for the warmer weather. These women business owners are working on products and services that will encourage more folks to safely and positively get off their couches and out their front doors. Read on to see how these female entrepreneurs are inspiring healthier lifestyles. Check out these five crowdfunding campaigns from women-led businesses below: 1. A Fashionable Solution to Rainy Days (via Kickstarter) The Business: Rain can tempt many to stay indoors -- who wants to go out and get soggy? But thanks to Takaokami, a Danish designer of weatherproof wearables, people will no longer be forced to choose between staying dry and staying active. Company founder Emma Jorn has put together ideas for a line of clothes -- with options ranging from hats to dresses -- that can wick away moisture in the most fashionable way possible. The Money: If Jorn raises $28,687 by April 17, she will be able to use the money toward developing the company's production and marketing efforts. Funds will also be used to help Takaokami products find their way into stores throughout the United States, Canada and Denmark. 2. Exercise Gear for the STEM-Inspired Fitness Fanatic (via Kickstarter) The Business: This workout wear collection from Epidemia Designs boasts an aesthetically intriguing nod to the STEM fields (science, tech, engineering and math). The Dallas-based business, run by entrepreneur Lizzie Cochran, is getting ready to offer a new line of leggings printed in lung x-rays, microscopic views of epithelial cells and more. Also, the clothes are good for the spirit, as well as the body -- in addition to making a profit with its unique clothing, the company also donates a portion of its proceeds it makes to various health care projects. The Money: By April 28, the team at Epidemia is hoping to raise $15,000. The money would be used to officially launch the new line of leggings -- a process that will include testing for optimal fit and design, as well as durability. 3. Serious Safety Technology for Folks on the Go (via Kickstarter) The Business: For many, safety is a genuine concern -- especially for women who are going about their business solo. That's why Revolar, run by CEO and founder Jacqueline Ros in Denver, is making a small personal safety device that will allow a person in potential distress to communicate her (or his) location to a pre-programmed list of emergency contacts. Ros was inspired to create the device after her sister was attacked at a young age. The Money: In all, the company is hoping to raise $75,000. If they do so by May 9, the money will be used to finish and distribute the first finished product to its many interested clients. "A challenge we are facing is maintaining a short lead-time on production in order to deliver on our shipping deadline," the campaign notes, adding that several potential plans of action are in place to minimize wait times. 4. An Intense, Judgment-Free Workout Environment (via Indiegogo) Credit: Indiegogo The Business: For some, the gym can be an intimidating place. But Jirina's Phalanx is trying to change that. Owner Jirina Harastova in Hoboken, N.J., wants "people from all backgrounds, beliefs, shapes and sizes" to work with her on achieving their fitness and health goals through training programs, group classes and more. The Money: On or before May 12, the gym is hoping to raise $2,000 -- some of which will be used to make improvements on the facilities and offering of the gym, while the rest will be donated to the Green Beret Foundation. 5. UV-Protective Clothing, Made by a Burn Survivor (via GoFundMe) Credit: GoFundMe The Business: Several years ago, Shelby Anderson, the 18-year-old budding entrepreneur behind UV-protective fashion line Sol Sisters, suffered third-degree acid burns after citrus juice combined with sunlight on her skin. She's using the incident to fuel her passion for creating and selling both clothing and makeup for "sun-sensitive young women." She's presently reviewing samples from potential textile vendors and sketching design ideas as she attempts to raise money. The Money: In order to get her Huntington Beach, Calif., business off the ground, Anderson is trying to raise $6,000. Her biz efforts received a boost after she won the People's Choice Award in the Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Orange County and Blackstone Launchpad's "30 Second Pitch" competition. Want to be featured in The Story Exchange's Crowdfunding column? Drop us a line and tell us about your campaign at info@thestoryexchange.org.

Health and Fitness

5 Crowdfunders to Watch – Getting People Up and Outside

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