Alumni company used as case study for business startups

Alumni-founded design company These are Things will be featured in The $100 Startup, a book by New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau.

These are Things is owned by 2008 grads Jen Adrion and Omar Noory. In the book, Guillebeau highlights 50 case studies where individuals have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment, in many cases $100 or less.

“The book is a step-by-step guide to starting a micro-business without tons of cash and a formal business plan—which is exactly what we did,” Adrion said. “We have been fans of Chris' work for a while, so this is pretty exciting for us.”

Adrion and Noory started their company in 2010. Their first product design was a map originally created for their personal use. Upon selling the extras online they realized the product’s business potential.

Guillebeau’s book will be published May 8, 2012. He will stop in Columbus during his international book tour to speak at the Garden Theater in the Short North on May 22.