MEI Schools alumnus Adrian Solgaard Janzen (Class of 2004) has his second Solgaard Design Kickstarter project on the go; the Lifepack solar powered anti-theft backpack.
Adrian credits the school for supplying him with the building blocks for his success, and comments:
“Thanks to Mr. Opp’s Entrepreneurship Class, Mr. Zukowski’s Video Production Class, Mr. Graham Nickel’s Yearbook Class – I left MEI in 2004 with some of the basic tools in my belt for bringing me to where I am today.”
After high school, Adrian worked in film and television for 4 years, started his own creative agency, made TV commercials, music videos (including for Josh Hyslop), websites, and brand strategies for local businesses in the lower mainland.
In 2012 his bike was stolen and in response, Adrian released his first invention; The InterLock™ – The Lock that Hides Inside of Your Bike, to the international market. The InterLock™ tucks inside your bike’s frame through the seat post; it’s universal, and can be installed on virtually any bike. Started on Kickstarter in 2013, it is now available in 28 countries! » Watch promo video
Having had the idea for a backpack with a lock since he was 18, finally 11 years later Adrian launched Lifepack on Kickstarter – raising 100K USD in the first week of pre-sales!
The Lifepack is a reinvention of the mobile office, and features solar powered USB charger, Bluetooth speakers, integrated lock, and an organized storage system. » Watch promo video
Adrian was a part of the 2004 MEI missions team that went to Costa Rica, with Mr. Opp and “Zuk” (Mr. Zukowski) as leaders, and shared Menno-worthy news that “the guy heading up the missions group there just messaged me today asking if he can distribute Lifepack in Costa Rica. Very small world!”
