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Riverside Start-up Launches First Product on Kickstarter

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Burble Creativity, Inc. Develops AvA, A Learning Tent that Sparks Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills

By Press Release — August 19, 2019 — An invention to revolutionize storytelling is coming from the Riverside-based start-up company, Burble Creativity, Inc. (Burble). Behind the scenes at the Burble lab, based at Bourns Inc. in Riverside, is a team of tech gurus, engineers, audio experts, and visual directors working tirelessly on the company’s first product known as AvA. The storytelling tent uses light and sound to encourage the reader’s imagination to take over. AvA is a prototype currently in beta testing that launched on Kickstarter, a crowd-funding platform that garners support and funding for creative projects, on August 14.

Burble CEO Taylor Cole

Burble CEO Taylor Cole is a Riverside native, and chief technology officer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division. In between juggling family, his career and a start-up company, he is also a board member for Riverside’s engineering colleges at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and California Baptist University (CBU).

We took some time to catch up with Cole to find out more about the local start-up that has the potential to make big waves in the tech and education worlds.

What does it mean to you to be an entrepreneur in the Inland Empire? I grew up here and received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCR in engineering. All that I know about the tech and engineering world happened right here in my own backyard. This region was founded by hard-working business men and women, and today is a flourishing scene for start-ups like Burble. I owe a lot to my community and team of creatives to now be in that realm as an entrepreneur, because they helped bring my ideas to life.

What is AvA? AvA is a children’s camping tent that’s been decked out with lights and sound to create a multi-sensory experience that encourages imagination and problem-solving skills. AvA is used in tandem with a mobile app, which contains a library of stories that teach important life lessons like patience, humility and courage. Descriptive details are intentionally left out of the stories, so the user’s imagination can take hold as they experience a mix of lights and sounds. These effects open the user up to Burble’s provisionally patented technology called minimally defined immersion (MDI) – leaving the user room to envision their own characters, plot twists and more. The purpose of AvA is to revolutionize storytelling, provide therapy options, encourage creativity and build problem-solving skills all while creating fun, meaningful ways for parents and children to connect

When will AvA launch? Currently, we have 10 AvA prototypes being produced at the Burble lab. Upon completion, six of the prototypes will be distributed for efficacy testing, while the remainder will stay at the lab for continued content development and demo purposes. On August 14, 2019, Burble launched AvA on Kickstarter. With Kickstarter, Burble aims to establish relationships with passionate investors who can help enhance the AvA product aesthetic, manufacturing quality, and efficacy research. Once we get AvA ready for consumer use, our goal is to bring this into homes and classrooms across the nation.

What is minimally defined immersion (MDI)? Minimally defined immersion (MDI) is a concept that uses an enclosed space, like the AvA tent, and incorporates theatrical elements like lights and sound with storytelling to produce an experience that encourages imagination and engagement. Like virtual reality and augmented reality, Burble’s MDI uses technology, environmental manipulation and sensory stimulation, however, it does not cause a separation between the user and the real world. In fact, it helps the user be ever-present.

Who does AvA benefit? AvA is intended for children, parents and educators. Additionally, AvA has the potential to help children with developmental disabilities such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and auditory processing disorders, to name a few. I too, live with audio processing disorder, and have a difficult time understanding and interpreting speech, so AvA is very special to me.

How was AvA first created? Any entrepreneur knows how crafty you have to get building out the first prototypes to bring an awesome idea to life. Funny enough, my daughter Tessa and I actually built the first AvA prototype using PVC pipe in the parking lot of Home Depot, laughing and dancing to the band Aerosmith. This prototype eventually took a library tour across Riverside. Looking back, we’ve come a long way with AvA, working through multiple prototypes, troubleshooting what works and what doesn’t. Today, Burble is a team of passionate engineers, researchers, writers and creatives, who make the magic of AvA happen.

What are some lessons learned as a start-up entrepreneur in the Inland Empire? I’ve learned the value of community support. Our team does everything in its power to become successful, but ultimately the backing from our family, friends, neighbors, and fellow businesses makes the biggest difference.

How has Bourns, Inc. helped? Specifically, the Bourns Technology Center has provided Burble with a home. The facility offers incubator space to a number of local start-ups and manufacturing companies. Their Riverside location keeps us all tied to the community so that we don’t have to commute and can foster our creative thoughts and inventions here locally.

 

For more information on Burble visit burblecreativity.com or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @BurbleCreativity. Remember to support this local start-up and AvA on Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ava-the-story-tent/ava-the-immersive-storytent?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=burble%20creativity

The Inland Empire Business Journal (IEBJ) is the official business news publication of Southern California’s Inland Empire region - covering San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.

Business

Unisource Solutions Grows Its Inland Empire Presence with the Addition of TOTALPLAN Business Interiors

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Southern California’s leading workplace design and furnishings resource deepens its regional presence by uniting with a 57-year Inland Empire institution. 

Unisource Solutions, California’s Haworth Best in Class dealership and a comprehensive  workplace design resource, has announced the acquisition of TOTALPLAN a fixture of the  Inland Empire business community since 1969. The strategic partnership brings together  two organizations with a combined heritage of more than 80 years of expertise, unifying  their complementary strengths to better serve businesses, architects, and interior  designers across the Inland Empire. 

Founded in 1987, Unisource Solutions has built its reputation as far more than a furniture  dealer. The company operates as a full-service design resource — offering space planning, workplace strategy and analytics, installation services, project management, and custom furnishings through its in-house brand, Platform by Unisource Solutions. With access to more than 300 manufacturers, Unisource serves clients across corporate, healthcare, higher education, and financial sectors. 

TOTALPLAN has spent more than five decades cultivating trusted relationships with  businesses of all sizes throughout the Inland. Under the leadership of owner Denny  Fosdick, TOTALPLAN earned a reputation for quality service, community investment, and a deep understanding of the regional market. 

“For over 57 years, TOTALPLAN has been dedicated to providing exceptional workspace solutions throughout the Inland Empire and beyond. Now, we’re excited to join forces with Unisource Solutions. This partnership brings together our deep community roots with Unisource’s extensive resources and capabilities. I’m proud to pass the torch to a fellow Inland Empire resident who understands this community and will carry on the legacy we’ve built here.”  —Denny Fosdick, Owner, TOTALPLAN Business Interiors 

Jamal Nasserdeen, President of Unisource Solutions, who grew up in the Inland Empire,  expressed the personal significance of the acquisition and its implications for Unisource’s  long-term growth strategy in the region. 

“Growing up and living in the Inland Empire, it’s a true honor to build on the tremendous 57-year legacy that Denny and his team have established. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in our growth journey, significantly expanding our capabilities throughout the region and strengthening our position as Southern California’s premier workplace solutions provider. It’s a privilege to bring TOTALPLAN into the Unisource Solutions family.”  — Jamal Nasserdeen, President, Unisource Solutions 

The partnership also carries the endorsement of Haworth, the globally recognized  furniture manufacturer for which Unisource holds its Best-in-Class dealer designation.  Tom Peyton, Haworth’s Regional Vice President for the West Region, noted that the  partnership reinforces the strength of Unisource’s regional coverage and honors the  trusted relationships TOTALPLAN has spent decades building. 

The combined organization now brings a unified offering across workplace design, multi brand furniture sourcing, custom fabrication through Platform by Unisource Solutions,  and comprehensive facilities services including delivery, installation, reconfiguration, and relocation support. Clients across architecture, interior design, and corporate facilities teams will benefit from a single, deeply resourced partner capable of supporting  projects from initial concept through move-in. 

For businesses in the Inland Empire seeking to transform their workspaces, the new  partnership signals expanded local access to a nationally capable team, one that is deeply  invested in the communities it serves. 

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Business

Ontario Set to Open Newest Play Street Museum Location

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A children’s museum and indoor play area that lets imaginations wander open soon to local community 

Play Street Museum, an interactive children’s museum and indoor play area purposefully designed to encourage a young child’s sense of independence, exploration, and creativity, will be opening its newest franchise location in the coming weeks in Ontario, California. Locally owned by Teresa and Sergio Carreras, the coming location marks a key milestone in an expanding franchise program, with its first location in California. 

“We’re thrilled to bring the newest Play Street Museum to Ontario for our local community to enjoy,” shared Teresa and Sergio Carreras. “After visiting Play Street Museum with our grandchildren, we knew we had to bring a location to California, and we’re excited to share it with the community and hope it serves Inland Empire families in big ways.” 

“We’re proud empty nesters and even prouder grandparents of five wonderful grandchildren. Becoming grandparents has been one of the greatest joys of our lives. This season of life has given us the opportunity to slow down and truly savor the wonder of childhood again,” continued Carreras. “We look forward to welcoming local families, schools, and community groups to experience everything the new Play Street Museum has to offer.” 

Teresa and Sergio Carreras believe children learn best when they’re having fun and can touch, build, pretend, and explore. Every exhibit at Play Street Museum Ontario is designed to spark curiosity, creativity and confidence. Whether children are running a pretend grocery store, experimenting with simple science, creating art, or climbing into imaginative worlds, children are learning skills that will stay with them for a lifetime. “This space is not just for kids. It’s for grandparents who cherish story time in a cozy corner. For parents who light up watching their child try something new. For caregivers who treasure the laughter and togetherness of play,” shared Carreras. 

Play Street Museum offers an expansive, rotating curriculum at each location specifically designed for children under nine years of age. Everyday and every week is different at Play Street Museum, providing motivation and justification 

for a scheduled time in families’ busy calendars. Play Street Museum Ontario also offers one-of-a-kind birthday parties, complete with comprehensive themes and options for parents from “Do-It-Yourself” to “Sit Back & Relax”, in addition to special events and activities during evenings and weekends. 

In Scientific American’s article, “The Need for Pretend Play in Child Development”, Yale professor Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman summarized the last 75 years of research by declaring imaginative play as a “vital component to the normal development of a child.” By narrowing the focus of Play Street Museum and its indoor play areas to the interests and imaginations of children eight and under, young explorers discover educational exhibits and activities in a world specifically crafted just for them. The deliberate and manageable scale enables children to self-navigate throughout the children’s museum and indoor play area to engage deeply in activities about which they are most interested and passionate. This freedom reinforces independence in the child and also has the benefit of creating a more relaxed and accommodating museum experience for the caregiver. 

“Play Street Museum is thrilled to welcome and open the Ontario location soon with our incredible partners, Teresa and Sergio Carreras. As parents and grandparents, they understand the powerful impact of play and intentionally sought to bring its benefits to this part of the Ontario area. They’ve taken their passion for children, education, and play and applied it to building a dynamic, local business that will support the health and well-being of their own community,” commented Play Street Museum Founder and CEO, Courtney Muccio

Located at 910 North Haven Avenue, Suite 150, the new Ontario location makes the extensive, and well researched benefits of play easily accessible to the local community. The museum’s team of highly knowledgeable associates can provide guidance on additional opportunities to expand the play and learning, either on site or at home, from corresponding activity kits, to pottery, to slime kits, to sensory kits. Customers can also book their play time in advance in addition to schedule birthday parties or private events. 

Families and customers can visit 

https://www.ontario.playstreetmuseum.com/ to book playtime, birthday parties, field trips, and to check out special events. 

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Business

Sweet Success: The Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce Teams with The Freaky Cookie to Elevate Local WBENC-Certified Business

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How The Freaky Cookie Grew with Chamber Support: A WBENC Success Story in the Inland Empire

At the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce (IERCC), we pride ourselves on championing business growth and recognizing the powerful stories of our members. One standout example is Sheila Cavalier, founder of The Freaky Cookie—a fun and rebellious cookie catering company she launched in 2018 alongside her son, Marcus.

What began as a direct-to-consumer venture has grown into a business-to-business powerhouse, fueled by innovation, strategy, and strong community ties. The Freaky Cookie specializes in custom-labeled, individually wrapped cookies for corporate gifts, bulk orders, and special events. Their nostalgic family recipe, dating back over 90 years, delivers both flavor and flair. As Cavalier puts it, “There’s never not a need for a large amount of cookies.”

Recognizing a unique market opportunity during the pandemic, Sheila pivoted the business model to focus on custom-branded cookies—meeting the surge in demand for individually packaged baked goods that also serve as creative marketing tools. “Corporations were tired of traditional marketing,” she recalls. “Our custom-labeled cookies became a fun, fresh alternative.”

In 2022, Sheila connected with IERCC President Edward Ornelas Jr. during the Multi-Chamber Mixer at Ontario International Airport. That meeting led to The Freaky Cookie joining IERCC, which soon opened doors to strategic partnerships and increased visibility. Through the chamber’s vast network and advocacy, Sheila has built relationships with organizations such as Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Top Golf, and Southwest Airlines, which featured The Freaky Cookie in their 50th Anniversary celebration at ONT.

“The IERCC has been a warm and welcoming space,” Cavalier said. “Having the chamber validate our business really means something. It’s helped us get our foot in the door with so many great companies.”

The impact has been tangible. With increased revenue and expanded operations, The Freaky Cookie is no longer just a clever name—it’s a growing force in regional commerce. As Sheila puts it, her goal now is simple but powerful: “Deliver smiles.”

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