Fast Company October 2015

FASTCOMPANY.COM Tech’s untold stories FC Looking back at the history of technology isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia; it’s a reminder of just how forward-looking the companies of decades past have been. Vector Graphic, for example, a computer maker founded by two stay-at-home wives in the 1970s, jump-started the PC revolution years before IBM got into the business. Etak, a Silicon Valley startup bankrolled by a cofounder of Atari, designed a car navigation system in 1985, no GPS satellites required. The pioneers behind innovations such as these talk to tech historian Benj Edwards, who tells their tales at FastCompany.com. The products may have become relics, but their stories offer enduring lessons about how to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The Fast Company Innovation Festival November 9–13 This fall, Fast Company will host its first-ever…

Once upon a time, design was considered unimportant among most top business leaders, a secondary realm prowled by precious egotists and aesthetes. At best, design was an afterthought, like slapping a coat of paint on an already-built house or adding a cool tail fin to a finished product. No more. CEOs and strategists alike now appreciate the fundamental advantages that sophisticated design can provide. Fast Company’s fourth annual Innovation by Design awards competition drew more than 1,500 submissions from across the economy and around the globe, and the finalists—whose achievements inform the content of this month’s magazine— reflect the most exciting new directions in business today. Here, in recognition of Fast Company’s 20th anniversary year, are 20 lessons of design drawn from this issue. 1 . DESIGN IS INNOVATION ; INNOVATION IS…

COFOUNDER AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, THE HONEST COMPANY First Jessica Alba wanted to protect your baby from harmful chemicals. Then she wanted to safeguard your home. Now the cofounder of ecofriendly brand the Honest Company is aiming to save your face. With Honest Beauty—set to launch this month—Alba is expanding into makeup, a category she thinks could use help. “People watch their diet, they buy organic cotton clothes,” she says. “But when it comes to their beauty routine, it’s completely compromised, from the neck up.” It’s only been three years since Alba and partner Christopher Gavigan launched Honest (Alba was one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2012). But their business has been a quick success: Revenue is projected to hit $250 million this year (up from $150 million in 2014),…

LUVO When Luvo debuted on our Most Innovative Companies list in 2014, the startup had just recruited ex-Lululemon CEO Christine Day to lead its efforts to bring healthful, lowcalorie meals to the arctic aisle. (Each of Luvo’s organic offerings is made with less than 2 teaspoons of sugar and less than 500 mg of sodium.) Luvo, now sold in more than 5,000 store locations, managed to double its sales within the past year—in part by attracting consumers to its mission. This past summer, Day recruited Seattle Seahawks quarterback and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson as a brand ambassador and investor. (He joins Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin and longtime backer Derek Jeter, who also serves as brand development officer.) As part of the deal—based on a similar model Day created at Lululemon—Luvo…

STRIPE In July, payment-processing startup Stripe announced it had signed both Visa and American Express as investors and allies in its mission to perfect the handling of online payments around the world. “In order for us to stay at the forefront, it’s important to have partnerships and relationships with the card networks, to have direct access to the financial infrastructure that they provide,” says Stripe COO Billy Alvarado, who’s been with the startup since 2011. “Part of the promise of the Internet is that your physical location should be largely irrelevant.” Patrick Collison CEO, Stripe The deal will enable Stripe— which, as of August, operated in 21 countries across four continents—to leverage its partners’ global networks to bring its software to more businesses. In return, it has helped American Express develop a BUY button of its…

“The Dash is a Bluetooth wireless stereo headset that includes health sensors, an accelerometer, and a developer platform. The earbuds are waterproof, so you can enjoy your music even while swimming.” Avery Wang Founder and chief scientist, Shazam Sourced Adventures offers day trips out of New York City, like white-water rafting, paintballing, and even skiing.” Ruzwana Bashir Cofounder and CEO, Peek.com; Fast Company MCP “Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright’s first L.A. home, is finally open again after a long restoration. Well worth the trip.” Alexandra Patsavas Founder, Chop Shop Music; Fast Company MCP “I love to cook. For I’m using Yummly a lot. To get the food, I’m using Instacart. And to fight the weight that I put on when I cook too much: the fitness app Lark.” Sallie Krawcheck Owner, Ellevate; Fast Company MCP TECH TOOLS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE 1 TO…