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Ben Franklin’s colorful life, his legacy, his brand is on our money: the quarter and the hundred dollar bill. His name is on warships. He is the namesake for many towns, counties, educational institutions, and companies. All of these things were done in his name, not by him, but for him, because he stood for honor, integrity, loyalty, dignity, and fairness. More than two centuries after his death, his brand has endured and he has achieved the status of a cultural icon.

Tess Padmore didn’t plan on becoming an inventor—but like many entrepreneurs, her journey began with a moment of exclusion. After surviving a brain aneurysm, Tess took up swimming as part of her recovery. The movement helped her body heal—but returning to the pool also surfaced a deeper problem. When her swim cap stopped fitting her textured hair, she went looking for alternatives and quickly realized there were none.