[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 165 (Tuesday, November 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURS' DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ELIZABETH H. ESTY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 19, 2013

  Ms. ESTY, Mr. Speaker, today is National Entrepreneurs' Day, a time 
when we celebrate the hard work of small business owners, inventors, 
and start-up companies across the country. Entrepreneurs are truly 
driving growth in our economy, and the small businesses they create 
account for more than 97% of all employers in Connecticut.
  I had the honor of celebrating National Entrepreneurs' Day 
yesterday--a day early--back home in Connecticut. I visited iDevices, a 
local company in Avon that creates wireless connectivity for 
smartphones and tablets. The company builds apps such as the iGrill 
Bluetooth cooking thermometer, the iShower, and the iKitchen. The CEO, 
Christopher Allen, started with one product, the iGrill, and $150,000 
of pre-seed funding through Connecticut Innovations. He used that money 
to grow his business and take his product to market, partnering with 
key tech players like Apple and receiving a major endorsement from Mark 
Zuckerberg. Last summer, the founder of Facebook, ``liked'' iDevice's 
iGrill, and his endorsement went viral sparking major traffic on 
iDevice's website and demand for their product.
  Since their launch, iDevices has grown from a small staff of 3 people 
to a company that now employs 28 people. And they're still growing. 
Yesterday, Christopher told me they expect to have 40 employees by the 
end of the year. He has built a campus in Avon the likes of what one 
would expect to find in Silicon Valley that provides a nurturing 
environment for his engineers and employees to innovate and create new 
products. The company has also invested in our local students--they 
hosted four interns this past summer from local colleges, and those 
interns will be returning as full-time employees upon graduation.
  With all apologies to my colleagues in Northern California, 
Christopher has created a business in my district that attracts the 
talent and minds that would typically go to Facebook and Google. He and 
his team are providing a way to keep our homegrown New England talent 
in Connecticut for generations to come. iDevices and Christopher are 
just one of many entrepreneurs making a difference in Connecticut and 
across the country. I am proud and grateful that they call Connecticut 
home.
  I look forward to continuing to work with my friend Rep. Scott Peters 
on issues to improve our economy and support job creation.

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