Otzzy: Capturing Digital Memories Into Personalized Keepsakes
BIG IDEA Spotlight: Otzzy
Editor’s Note: Designed to shine a spotlight on the variety of rural innovation bubbling up across the Pennsylvania Wilds, this article is part of a series that features six innovators who were named as finalists in the 2024 PA Wilds BIG IDEA Contest.
Many of us have received a personalized keepsake, like a mug, or a cutting board with Grandma’s famous cookie recipe engraved on it. But can that memento access a favorite memory of baking those cookies in her kitchen? If your gift had come from Otzzy, the answer would be yes.
The Renovo-based company offers a unique way to relive memories with its handcrafted products. Named after the founder’s sons, Otis and Ozzy, this e-commerce venture began in a garage and woodshed, using satellite internet that was just a step above dial-up. Since 2020, it has been creating personalized handmade items, including its popular custom wall-mounted bottle openers and cutting boards.
Then, founder Tim Emerick, Jr. had an ‘aha’ moment, thanks to his son. “When I first ventured into e-commerce, my oldest son used to jokingly remind me to come up with my own ideas. A pivotal moment came while watching our boys play youth sports, igniting a spark of innovation. The concept evolved further when I saw a poster of the boys, which I had printed a few days earlier, hanging on the wall. It struck me how amazing it would be to embed a digital keepsake memory video of that special moment into the photo. Over the next three years, I devoted my spare time to refining and bringing this idea to life.”
Put simply: Otzzy’s innovative interface allows users to upload their cherished keepsake videos or video messages to the platform. The video is then seamlessly transferred and embedded into unique personalized gifts, the company’s wood products are locally sourced from the PA Wilds region and manufactured in Renovo, PA.
“The interface serves as a bridge between the physical and digital worlds,” Emerick says. “For instance, users can upload videos stored on their phones or other devices through our platform. We then integrate these videos into our own unique physical products. Accessing the video is effortless, whether through tap-to-play on smartphones, smart TVs, or our dedicated app.”
He said that the innovation solves a pain point for people afraid of losing their digital memories. “Users often fear losing digital videos or struggle with accessing them, as they are buried on hard drives, computers, or phones, making it time-consuming and inconvenient to access them. We have developed a seamless solution to access precious keepsake memories, ensuring they are never lost again and are readily available at your fingertips.”
The company is currently prototyping the world’s first interactive cutting board and plans to begin production this summer, with public availability set for fall, just in time for Christmas 2024. The platform requires minor redevelopment to enable the company to scale effectively.
Emerick says that growing up in a small, rural community has challenges, but the support has been overwhelming. “The close-knit community we live in provides invaluable support and backing, enabling us to have an opportunity to foster job growth within our area. The innovation we’ve developed is a testament to the resourcefulness and resilience ingrained in our communities.”
He pointed out that Renovo was originally a thriving railroad town promoted as a “resort town in the mountains,” Renovo experienced a decline in the mid-’60s. However, he views his e-commerce business model as a new era of growth and innovation for Renovo and its neighboring PA Wilds communities.
“We are excited to have an opportunity to ignite job growth by creating partnerships with our PA Wilds local businesses and creating a distribution marketing network plan offering our innovative products through the local storefronts across the PA Wild regions, “
Events like the Big Idea contest is driving growth not only for Otzzy but for the entire region. “The local business ecosystem here is truly remarkable. Without the incredible support from our wonderful partners and advisors, our Big Idea would never have come to life. This contest offers an extraordinary opportunity for small rural businesses to make a meaningful impact within their communities. We’re excited to be part of this journey and look forward to achieving great things.”
Learn more about Otzzy’s tap-to-play keepsakes at otzzy.com.
About the PA Wilds BIG IDEA Contest Series: The PA Wilds BIG IDEA Contests were part of a three-year initiative funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Made possible by a collaboration between Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PA, PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program and Small Business Development Centers that serve the Pennsylvania Wilds, the contest took place annually, with each contest focusing on a different portion of the rural 13-county region and offering a chance to win up to $50,000. The 2022 contest included counties in the I-80 Frontier landscape, the 2023 contest included counties in the Allegheny National Forest & Surrounds and Elk Country landscapes, and the 2024 contest focused on counties in the Dark Skies and the Pine Creek Valley & PA Grand Canyon landscapes. After the three-year series concluded, more than $150,000 was invested in rural entrepreneurs, while participants who did not win cash prizes received invaluable technical assistance and business support. Additional details can be found at CNP.BenFranklin.org/BigIdea.
About Ben Franklin Technology Partners: The largest seed investor in our region, Ben Franklin Technology Partners (an initiative of the PA Department of Community & Economic Development and funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority) has been providing investment capital, business support services, and operational assistance to emerging tech-startups and small manufacturers for nearly 40 years. Since the start of the BIG IDEA contests, more than $3 million in cash prizes have been awarded throughout Ben Franklin’s 32-county footprint in central and northern Pennsylvania. The contest offers start-ups and entrepreneurs some much-needed seed funding, as well as business training, pitch experience, and industry contacts – often more valuable than the prize money itself. Learn more at www.CNP.BenFranklin.org. For more information, contact Karly Scala at karlyscala@cnp.benfranklin.org.
About the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship: The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that inspires the communities of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The Pennsylvania Wilds is a 13-county region that includes the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren, and northern Centre. The PA Wilds Center promotes the region and its 2+ million acres of public lands as a premier outdoor recreation destination as a way to diversify local economies, inspire stewardship, attract investment, retain population and improve quality of life. The PA Wilds Center’s core programs seek to help businesses leverage the PA Wilds brand and connect with new market opportunities, including: the Wilds Cooperative of PA, a network of more than 575 place-based businesses and organizations, and the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, a retail outlet primarily featuring products sourced from the WCO. For more information on the PA Wilds Center, visit www.PAWildsCenter.org. To learn more about the WCO, visit www.WildsCoPA.org. Explore the PA Wilds at www.PAWilds.com. Find regionally made products at www.ShopThePAWilds.com.
