Client Hall of Fame – Indigo Innovators, Inc.

Indigo Innovators, Inc.
Elk County
www.chain-serts.com

In 1991, David Szymanski was working deep in the Northwestern Pennsylvania woods when he noticed that his chain saw blades were getting dull. As he began to sharpen them, he quickly noticed there was a problem – the only file-sharpening tool he had with him was broken. Without a functional tool, there was no sharp chainsaw, and without a sharp chain saw, it was pointless to be working in the woods. As he hiked back to his shop, he decided there had to be a better way to sharpen chain saws.

Years later and still serious about inventing a new product to solve the chain saw dilemma, Szymanski began to create an operational prototype. What evolved was revolutionary – a new way to repair dull and broken chain saw blades.

Szymanski developed a chain saw insert with a replaceable chain tip, allowing chain saw users a convenient way to change their chain saw blades. This new insert, named Chain-Sert, doesn't require a special tool to be sharpened, is cost effective to produce, and lasts five-times longer than traditional chains. The dull insert takes only seconds to change and the chain doesn't need to be removed in order for this to happen. Now that he had a working prototype developed, David and his wife Jennifer needed help in manufacturing their product under the business name, Indigo Innovators, Inc. They turned to the Clarion University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for their expertise.

The SBDC provided the Szymanski's with the business education necessary to help grow a successful venture. Specifically, the SBDC assisted with the preparation of their business plan including the detailed financial projections and market analysis that a successful business plan contains. Being the one stop resource for the Szymanski's, the SBDC knew the right people to contact to help get Chain-Serts off the ground.

The SBDC helped the Szymanski's enter the Ben Franklin Business Plan Competition. With the professional assistance the SBDC provided, particularly in helping them draft their business plan, Indigo Innovators, Inc. was the winner of the 2003 Ben Franklin Business Plan Contest. The prize money was used to help finance the construction of the Chain-Serts manufacturing plant in St. Mary's.

Indigo Innovators will begin mass production of the replaceable insert chain for larger, commercial chain saws in July, with plans to expand into the retail market in the future. Additionally, the SBDC is working with the Szymanksi's to explore international business opportunities, particularly the process for obtaining patents in foreign markets. The outlook for the Szymanski's is promising and they expect that Indigo Innovators will create 12 new jobs within the first year of operation. Within five years, it is anticipated that up to 100 new jobs will be created from Chain-Serts, with plans to keep all of these new jobs in Pennsylvania.

“The Clarion University SBDC was friendly, open to helping out with all aspects of our business, and very professional. We are thankful for the outstanding assistance they provided us. They are an excellent resource to keep local businesses alive.” – David Szymanski Indigo Innovators, Inc.