Meet Jason Mainella of Teeny Drones

Jason Mainella is the co-founder of Teeny Drones, a company based in Montreal, Canada which builds nano drones that are so small that you can hold them in the palm of your hand. Learn more at www.teenydrones.com.

1. Why do you think that more and more people are interested in drones?

I think it's the combination of people's desire to fly, and advances in technology that have made remote-control aircraft more affordable and stable.

2. What inspired you to start your company?

We noticed that people are buying remote-control helicopters that were falling apart too quickly on consumers. You crash them once, they blow up, they fall to pieces, and people are disappointed. We wanted to sell something that is a bit higher in quality along with being fast and affordable--something that wouldn't break easily.

3. How would you describe your goal with Teeny Drones?

We would love to see mini drones in the hands of one million people. I enjoy introducing people to the fun and art of droning. Drones are a great nexus for combining the power of games and technology, and the power of having fun. We hope to bring as much fun to as many people as possible with our Teeny Drones.

4. Why did you choose the quadcopter as the drone to launch your company?

I love gadgets and the fun of taking things apart and putting them back together. Drones are so interesting to me for their technology, and especially the quadcopter. With the quadcopter, there are four motors going on, plus the gyro system to calibrate. I think everyone will enjoy giving it a try.

5. How do you see Teeny Drones expanding over the next couple years?

We plan to sell accessories for the quadcopter as well as other drones. Our idea is to expand from the starter drone to a medium drone and then to a larger drone. I also would love to create and sell a small drone integrated with a virtual reality headset.

Thanks, Jason!

Introducing Yamie Chess, a Fun Learning Tool

If there is a way to learn that's more fun than playing games, I haven't heard of it! The designers of Yamie Chess have created an exciting world of chess where the pieces are depicted as characters in a vivid cartoon universe populated by King Tigermore and many other animals. The drawings are colorful and detailed, and kids will be drawn into the world of the characters not only to learn to play chess but also to learn several different areas of mathematics, science, and cognitive thinking.

This math and STEM learning aid is a unique educational tool which has been endorsed by PhDs from both Harvard and MIT. The product is debuting at the 2014 New York Toy Fair, and it is made in the USA by a Michigan-based printer. The learning tool is the result of a collaboration involving educators, engineers, and chess champions.

Yamie Chess invites children to explore the classic problem solving experience of playing chess--while also learning about a wide scope of math and science ideas. It's an engaging and interactive concept. I remember enjoying chess as a grade school student, and I can only imagine how much more fun it would have been in an even more lively format like this.