EWD Profile: Our Newest Profile

Meet Tom Inkpen

Tom Inkpen, Innovative Designer of NeedleAid
by Molly Kehoe

If you've ever had a fear of needles, then you'll be happy to hear about NeedleAid. "It's basically a guide for syringes and insulin pens, so that they are injected at the right angle and location," says Tom Inkpen of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and the designer of NeedleAid. "Not only does NeedleAid guide the syringe, it hides the needle upon injection," he explains. For people who are visually impaired or cannot stand to look at needles, this product can change their lives for the better.

The idea for NeedleAid first came to Inkpen, a former contractor, in 1999 when his now business partner, Laura Jean Williamson, approached him with a problem. "Her father, Howard Williamson, is a visually impaired diabetic and was having trouble giving himself the insulin injections that he needed, so we sat down together and this is what we came up with," says Inkpen.

NeedleAid proved an excellent solution to Howard Williamson's problem and Inkpen and Williamson felt it could be a solution for many others. They decided that NeedleAid should be an option for anyone and everyone who has a problem with needles. Their next step was to develop the product and make it available to the public. "We came up with the product by accident, but it turned out to be a necessity. We found there was definitely a need for it," says Inkpen.

Through research, they developed the product further using resources such as Health Canada and Bio Nova (a life science organization). They went to seminars and spoke with many professionals in the field of pharmaceuticals. "We tried to learn the whole facet, but of course we're still learning," says Inkpen. He makes it clear that knowledge is key in the field of entrepreneurship.

With all this newfound knowledge the NeedleAid product was ready to be unveiled to the public. Inkpen and Williamson then developed a business plan to market their product with the help of the Canada/ Nova Scotia Business Service Centre (CNSBSC)( see article on page 3 of the newest Newsletter). He also had assistance from Entrepreneurs' Forum, a local non-profit organization that connects innovative companies with timely business and professional advice ( see article page 4) "All of these resources have been a tremendous help in the development of NeedleAid," says Inkpen.

Their hard work has since paid off. Needle Aid is now a fully patented product in the United States and in Canada. "From day one our goal was to help people, and that's what we're going to continue to do. We hope to help people all over the world," notes Inkpen.

NeedleAid is actually about to make its debut on the international market. The company have announced an agreement with the largest pharmaceutical company in Brazil to market NeedleAid to the South American country. "It's taken some time, but we're about to close a deal in Brazil. This is a very exciting time for us," says Inkpen. Breaking the national barrier will be an extremely large step for NeedleAid Ltd.

Along with the challenge of facing the international market, there is another notable barrier that NeedleAid has been forced to deal with since its conception. That barrier is Inkpen's hearing impairment. "It's a real problem and it's gotten worse over the years," he explains. His first job was working in coalmines where extreme noise was a part of the job. "We worked in noisy areas, and in the beginning we didn't know about the damage it could do. Consequently, I was left with hearing loss," he says. During the time when he was working in the coalmines, there was no kind of warning that informed the workers to protect their ears. Using a jackhammer everyday to drill up concrete caused him to notice a ringing sound in his ears. "I think that was the start, but I had no idea until I went to a hearing test and I was told I had lost some ranges. Since then I have been wearing aids to help me," he says.

Inkpen explains that difficulties arise when he is out meeting people and trying to market the product. "It's very frustrating not being able to hear without aids," he notes. Though his disability is a definite problem, Inkpen remains focused on the goal of helping others.

For people who aren't confident giving themselves injections, to people with a visual impairment: for first time diabetics terrified at the thought of giving themselves an injection, to children and the elderly: NeedleAid has helped them. This is what Inkpen and Williamson set out to do in 1999, and will continue to do it until they've helped as many people as they possibly can. "We made it to help somebody, and we get calls everyday from people telling us that s exactly what we've done. All the money in the world can't buy that feeling."

For more information, contact NeedleAid at 902-435-4829, or at info@needleaid.com. Visit the website at www.NeedleAid.com.