Before COVID-19 dominated our lives, Kylie Smith was already in the process of creating a face mask. Exa Mask, a startup mask company with impeccable timing, has raised over $77,000 through a Kickstarter campaign and has already shipped its first 1,000 units. 

Developed with TR-90 Nylon, a super high-quality material, Exa Mask stands out from the N95 masks we’ve become so familiar with. Exa Masks are capable of:

• Allowing one to breathe easily without constraints of a traditional mask
• A detachable shield that allows wearers to eat and drink while still being protected
• Eliminate that super annoying fogging when wearing glasses or sunglasses
• Filter out 95% of particles, protecting against disease, pollution, and environmental debris
• Control allergies and prevent the inhalation of smog and pollution

A Trip To Beijing

Smith was inspired in 2017 when she made a trip to Beijing with her father and co-founder, Rick Smith. Because of the pollution in Beijing, Smith and her father were required to buy an expensive, cumbersome mask. 

Like any entrepreneur, Smith saw an opportunity to create something better. 

“I designed Exa Mask so that it would be the last mask you’ll ever need to buy. Exa Mask’s filters are replaceable and the face shield is washable, so the mask is completely reusable — while also offering consistent protection over time.” 

She spent the next two years designing and developing the innovative mask. And then COVID hit…

A Pandemic Opportunity

When COVID-19 hit, Kylie decided to dedicate 100% of her time to this venture and dropped out of high school. Some parents might find that mortifying. Her father, Rick, did not. 

“In the face of a pandemic, finding fresh solutions to unforeseen problems is more critical than ever. I am extremely proud of Kylie for following in my entrepreneurial footsteps and designing such a unique product that can help keep people safe.” 

It’s interesting that Smith came up with Exa Mask well before anyone knew we would be dominated by medical masks (and the irritating debates that followed). Some would see that as lucky. One wonders whether Smith would have the success it has now if it were not for a pandemic. 

Exa Mask Explained

Exa Mask has three parts to it: an air frame, a replaceable filter, and a washable shield. A complete seal is formed around the nose while the mask hovers above the wearer’s face. This allows for clearer breathing and speech, eliminates fogging around glasses, and is apparently pretty comfortable for an extended period of time. 

Funny enough, this mask was designed to combat pollution and smoke, as opposed to an airborne virus. So, for those in California dealing with forest fires are protected in ways that the common medical mask cannot. 

What’s Next?

“Next for Exa Mask, I’d love to see schools as well as airlines and retail employees using Exa Mask. Exa Mask was designed for all day wear, so it is ideal for those populations who need to wear masks for their jobs.” 

We expect to see a lot more from Kylie Smith. If Exa Mask is any indication, Smith is one of the rare people in our world. The kind who has a nose for good business and knows how to stay ahead of the trends. While everyone on our planet has millions of ideas they wonder how to implement, Smith is one who finds a way to get things done. 

Smith is so confident and dedicated to her product that she dropped out of high school to pursue it full time. That can be very scary, but when you have a product as quality as this, you’re going to be set up for success.

You won’t be able to live without these 14 portable tech gadgets. Check this out!

1. Momoho Buetooth Speaker ($14.99)

Buy an on-the-go tech gadget for your camping or picnic trips. What this small portable speaker lacks in size, it makes up for its sound. The sound is more powerful than your ordinary mobile phones. Plus, it only takes 30 minutes to charge fully and lasts two hours!

2. Streamlight 73001 Nanon Keychain/Flashlight ($6.36)

One of the portable tech gadgets for adventure seekers, this nano keychain flashlight is weatherproof with 100,000-hour battery life in LED. It features a non-rotating snap hook to make it more convenient to hook it to just about anything. It can last up to eight hours with has a nice aircraft-grade aluminum and anodized finish. 

3. Amir Clip-On Phone Camera Lens ($17.99)

This camera lens for smartphones features a 180-degree fisheye lens with no distortion and higher lens clarity. It’s made of high-quality glass and an HD lens that reduces ghosting and flare. 

4. Tesla Coil Rechargeable Lighter/USB ($16.99)

Here’s a USB and lighter in one you can recharge as many times as you want. It’s easy to use with a one-click feature to light up. Plus, one charge can last up to a week of constant use. 

5. Tophome Earbud and Card Organizer ($4.99)

Don’t you just get annoyed when your earbuds get tangled in your pocket or bag? Well, this earbud organizer will do the trick. Plus, it holds your IDs and cards as well. Its leather material also gives it a nice and durable look. 

6. JLab Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (From $24)

Each earbud can last up to five hours of playtime, and 15 extra hours when charged in its case. You may use one earbud or both. The JLab Go Air model is 20 percent smaller than JBuds Air but offers crystal clear sound. 

7. Anker PowerDrive Car USB Charger ($32.99)

You get speed and functionality all in one USB car charger. It charges any device up to 80 percent within 35 minutes! Plus, it’s compact with two USB ports and a carbon-fiber mesh feature for a sleek finish. 

8. Travelambo RFID Wallet ($9.99)

This portable tech wallet has RFID technology for more added security. It’s also soft and durable with leather material. It comes in a slim and minimalist design for convenience. Finally, it features six card slots for your IDs or credit cards. 

9. Samsung Evo Adapter and MicroSD Card ($7.49)

The Samsung Evo adapter and microSD card features a read speed of up to 95MB/S and a write speed of 20MB/S. It’s excellent for recording 4K UHD videos and high-resolution photos, tablets, laptops, music, gaming, action cameras, and more. 

10. MoKo Folding Bluetooth Keyboard ($25.99)

This folding portable tech keyboard has an ultra-thin and lightweight design that’s compatible with any operating system and almost all wireless-enabled devices. It automatically turns on once opened and turns off once folded. 

11. Anker PowerCore Power Bank 10,000mAh ($35)

Charge your iPhone 30 minutes with a 50-percent battery with this ultra-slim and lightweight power bank. It’s only 0.6 inches thin but features enough power to charge an iPhone twice and a Samsung over 1 ½ times.  

12. Tile Mate Item Finder ($49.90)

No more hassles of consistently trying to find your phone if you misplaced it. Use the Tile Mate item finder by ringing your phone even when it’s on silent mode, out of sight but in range. It’s easy to use by clicking one button to activate its feature. 

13. Bellabeat Leaf Health Tracker ($74)

This water-resistant health tracker lets you monitor your health for 24 hours. And what’s best is that this device doesn’t need charging! It has a coin cell battery which will be good for six months. 

14. Geekey Key-Shaped Multi Pocket Tool ($22.99)

This multi-tool features 16 functions for everyday use — including a smoking pipe! Its portable and compact style allows you to hook it to your keychain for convenience. It’s made of 420 stainless steel, perfect for every biker, handyman, or outdoorsman.

We said that civilians are not ready for space travel. SpaceX disagrees. 

On September 15, the very first all-civilian crew was launched into space on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, Resilience. Jared Isaacman, 38, Sian Proctor, 51, Hayley Arceaneaux, 29, and Chris Sembroski, 42 are the first civilians in space.

At 8:09 pm the first civilians launched. Within ten minutes, the amateur astronauts reached orbit. Within three hours, they had reached their final cruising orbital altitude, just over 363 miles. 

That’s higher than the International Space Station and the soon-to-be-replaced Hubble Telescope. It’s also the furthest any human has flown from Earth since NASA’s Apollo moon program ended in 1972. 

One Small Step for Man…

Isaacman, Shift4 Payments CEO and crew leader of what is called Inspiration4, read a statement as SpaceX cheered. He thanks those who helped make the journey: 

“Right to the doorstep of an exciting and unexplored frontier, where few have come before and many are about to follow. The door is open now, and it’s pretty incredible.” 

This is the debut space tourism flight sparked by the “billionaire space race.” Of all three billionaires, Musk is the one making space tourism work as an enterprise. 

And his company, SpaceX, has the full support of NASA. In a Twitter post they wrote: 

“#Inspiration4 embodies our vision for a future in which private companies can transport cargo and people to low Earth orbit. More opportunities to fly = more opportunities for science.” 

Isaacson never disclosed how much he paid for the four seats. TIME magazine has them priced at $200 Million. 

That’s a lot of space cheddar. 

Doing It For The Children

This is an opportunity for Isaacson to promote the charity St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. 

They have satellites offering WiFi across the world, and they have major contracts with NASA (for which Bezos’ Blue Origin company is suing). Inspiration4’s flight is also significantly longer than both Bezos and Branson’s flights combined. 

These four civilians, Isaacman, Proctor, Arceneaux, and Sembroski, spent five months in rigorous preparation including: 

• Altitude fitness
• Centrifuge (G-Force)
• Microgravity and Simulator training
• Emergency Drills
• Classroom work
• Medical Exams

An Historic Spaceflight

None of the civilians will actually be in control of the Crew Dragon. Instead, ground-based flight teams and onboard guidance systems will be in control.

The amateur astronauts will perform a series of medical experiments. With the goal of applying them to human health on Earth and potential future spaceflights. 

The SpaceX Inspiration4 spaceflight will likely not be like future space tourism flights. The training and the experiments involved mean space tourism probably isn’t for a few years. It does, however, feel closer than ever.

This flight proves that SpaceX is a very serious player. Between their WiFi satellites, Starlink, and the mission to Mars, SpaceX is making major strides in space.

We look forward to seeing a lot more from SpaceX in the future as they continue to blow our minds. 

The historic SpaceX flight is currently in orbit and will last three days.

UPDATE: The Inspiration4 Crew has landed safely back on Earth at 7:07pm ET Saturday. Their mission was to study the human body and raise $200 Million for St. Jude’s Hospital.