Decibullz.

• Position: SMALL BIZ: TECH STARTUP - Kyle Kirkpatrick's interview - Brief article - Interview

INITIAL LIGHTBULB

Elite-level gymnastics coach Kyle Kirkpatrick always liked to listen to music while working out, but there was an inherent challenge.

"No earphone has a chance of staying in," he explains.

Kirkpatrick spent close to $300 on a pair of high-end earphones to wear while running, and when they didn't work, he set out to solve the problem himself. He educated himself on ergonomics and chemistry and started proto typing. "Hundreds of combinations" later, Kirkpatrick devised a microwaveable mold to fit a specific user's ears.

"The system was so simple I figured someone had already patented it," Kirkpatrick says. But nobody had. "I sold my car, the next day and used the money to start the company."

IN A NUTSHELL

When microwaved in water, Decibullz thermoplastic molds become soft and pliable to make a replica of each user's one-of-a-kind ears. "We're the only earmolds in the world that are remoldable," Kirkpatrick adds.

Websites like Gizmodo and Lifehacker have praised Decibullz for their comfort. The molds alone are about...