Fitz: Heidi Hertel on Framing the Future for Kids & Frontline Healthcare Professionals

<p>Heidi Hertel is the founder of Fitz Frames, an organization that makes custom, 3D printed eyewear for children. Her company leverages technology to solve the country’s eyeglass problem for children. As a mother of three, Heidi knows the challenges parents and children face when searching for the perfect eyeglasses. She is passionate about making it fun and easy to shop for eyewear. Prior to forming Fitz, Heidi worked as the Director of Public Affairs and Philanthropic Strategy at Griffin Schake Consulting, as a Political Consultant at Capital Strategies, and as a Government Affairs Manager at two organizations in Washington, D.C. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Tufts University as well as a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.</p> <p> </p> <p>Heidi joins me today to share her career journey from Capitol Hill as a political consultant to jumping into the world of entrepreneurship. She shares what inspired her to pivot from her corporate career into entrepreneurship and what makes her company’s 3D printed glasses unique among her competitors. She explains how she raised startup capital to launch her business, how she built her team to scale, and how she developed a go-to-market strategy for success. She also shares how her company is planning a short-term pivot to apply their technology and manufacturing facility to help frontline healthcare professionals with Fitz Protect eyewear.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Entrepreneurs are really a different breed of people who really do see the possible instead of the roadblocks.” - Heidi Hertel</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p><strong>Today on When She Founded:</strong></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Heidi’s journey from Capitol Hill to forming a pediatric eyeglass manufacturing company</li> <li>The importance of leaning on your entrepreneurial peers and network</li> <li>How she developed an app to make it fun and easy for parents and children to find the perfect eyewear</li> <li>How she raised startup capital early on and how she built her team to scale her