Georgia Mompreneur Invents Tiny Device To Ward Off Attackers

DACULA, GA – After being sexually attacked by a man while she was in college, Kristi Gorinas said enough is enough. She set out to ensure no one would have to endure such an attack again, especially not one of her own five daughters. Defendables will be discreetly wearable, giving it an advantage over key chain and other types of pepper sprays.

"As my kids got older, their needs changed and I saw wearable pepper spray as a necessity for my girls," said Gorinas. "Every girl and woman needs to protect herself from physical abuse or assault. Having experienced an assault during my college years, I understand the need for personal self defense 24/7. I refuse to ever let that happen to them.

"Global violence is a pandemic," she said. "With seven out of ten women being affected by physical abuse; that's 2.6 billion women worldwide."

Gorinas, who lives near Lawrenceville, said her "Defendables" device has the strongest form of pepper spray available, which can stop an attacker, giving someone those precious seconds that might be necessary to save their life. The device is only a bit more than an inch in diameter and can be discreetly worn at all times. Gorinas expects the cost, when available in stores, will be less than $15.

Gorinas recently attended the Global Entrepreneur Summit as a U.S. Delegate, chosen by the State Department. Her Defendables idea earned her the right to represent the U.S., along with about 149 other inventors. In all, there were about 40,000 applicants from 120 countries. The summit was the biggest U.S. State Department event of the year, held in Hyderbad, India.

"I was so shocked to have India's Prime Minister in attendance with Ivanka Trump," Gorinas said. "He is equivalent to our president and the security for those two was insane. Prime Minister Modi and Ivanka Trump gave the introductory session, welcoming 1,700 participants from 120 countries and they both attended the first night's event at a local palace.

"I was honored to be one of the 24 'pitch competition' finalists and was runner-up in my industry, Health and Life Sciences; one of of the top eight."

Gorinas received a Dell laptop and $20,000 in Google Cloud and Firebase credits.

"Honestly, not quite sure how to use those yet," she joked.

The 2-and-a-half-day summit had dozens of industry-specific breakout sessions with world renowned CEOs and experts to assist entrepreneurs and start-ups move through their journey. More than 300 investors from dozens of countries were available while networking and provided advise for funding options.

"My goal for attending was to get global visibility for Defendables and, of course, to speak with Ms. Trump, She, however, didn't interact with individual attendees," said Gorinas. "I am pleased with my runner up status and grateful for the experience."

Originally from Huron, South Dakota, a small town of about 11,000, Gorinas is married with five girls ages 8-19 and a three-month-old grandson. She said she started inventing after child number four, due to the need for a portable, shaded and versatile parking spot for the baby and little kids; mostly for outdoors, traveling, the soccer field, dinner at friends.

A serial inventor, Gorinas’ other big idea was the GoWithMe chair. Gorinas and the GoWithMe chair have been featured on the Meredith Vieria Show with Kevin O'Leary for a "Mom with a Million Dollar Idea."

As for Defendables, Gorinas just attended the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas meeting with potential licensees for Defendables and other products. She hopes to have Defendables on the market in the United States by the summer of 2018.

In the meantime, she said, "I stay super busy with the kids and new grand baby, but I continue to invent daily when I see a need for myself or family members."

Photos and video courtesy Kristi Gorinas