Courtesy of Tip Tough
The metal Tip Tough protects a chef’s fingers while chopping.
When R.J. started drawing designs for a tool that would protect his dad’s fingers, he never planned on making a business out of it. “My dad is a chef, and he came home with a really bad cut,” R.J. says. “He cut off his whole fingertip—the doctors had to glue it back on!”
R.J. didn’t want this to happen again, so he got to work figuring out a way to protect his dad’s fingers in the kitchen. He sketched his first Tip Tough design in his notebook when he was 13. His invention is worn while chopping up food. It protects a chef’s fingers from cuts while the food is held in place.
Shortly after coming up with his idea, R.J. attended the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. This national program teaches middle and high school students how to start and run a business. R.J. attended the program at the Chamber of Commerce in Salisbury, Maryland. “They helped me start my business from the ground up,” R.J. says.
R.J. never planned on starting a business. His big idea started as a tool to protect his dad. “My dad is a chef, and he came home with a really bad cut,” explains R.J. “He cut off his whole fingertip. The doctors had to glue it back on!”
R.J. didn’t want this to happen again. So he got to work figuring out a way to protect his dad’s fingers in the kitchen. He was 13 when he sketched his first design in his notebook. It turned into an invention called Tip Tough. Chefs can wear the device while chopping up food. It protects the chef’s fingers from cuts and helps hold the food in place.
Shortly after coming up with his idea, R.J. attended a special program. It’s called the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. This national program teaches middle and high school students how to start and run a business. R.J. attended it at the Chamber of Commerce in Salisbury, Maryland. “They helped me start my business from the ground up,” he says.