When Zoya Biglary found herself excluded from sushi restaurants because she did not eat raw fish, she decided to create an alternative. Founded in Los Angeles, Finneato Fysh Foods produces plant‑based seafood designed to replicate the taste, texture and functionality of raw fish without mercury, parasites or microplastics. Made from plant‑based ingredients such as root vegetables and sea algae, the products are designed to be sliced, handled and served like traditional seafood, offering a substitute for sushi, ceviche and lox. The company aims to make dining more inclusive while offering a more sustainable seafood option.

When David Krippendorf couldn’t refrain from indulging in late-night cookies, he and Ryan Tseng developed the kSafe, a container that locks itself with a built-in timer. The timer ranges from one minute to ten days and it cannot be overridden—even if the battery dies. The kSafe comes in different sizes to accommodate all sorts of tempting items, ranging from snacks to cellphones and tablets.

Caroline Matthes and Rose Fierman wanted wall lighting, but they found sconces pricey and, as renters, didn’t want to commit to the expense and hassle of hiring an electrician. Instead, they developed Poplight. These stylish rechargeable sconces come in seven colors and adhere to the wall in seconds. Requiring no tools to install and leaving no wall damage, they’re easily movable making them renter friendly.

After Jen Martin came across a bag of mini heirloom corn kernels, she couldn’t stop popping them—the popcorn was crunchy, light and tasted like real corn. So she and her brother, Jeff, created Pipcorn, a non-GMO brand of mini heirloom shells that are smaller and more delicate than standard popcorn, which has the added benefit of not sticking in your teeth. The brand has since expanded to Pipsnacks, adding snacks such as cheese balls and corn chips.

When Ashley and Brittany Silfies were looking for additional income to support their new family, they decided to leverage Ashley’s creative background and came up with Pink Picasso, a line of paint-by-numbers kits for adults. Each kit includes a canvas, brushes, acrylic paint, a color map and a tube for storage. Since the canvas dries quickly, artists can roll up their paintings and complete them at their own relaxed pace.