Updated Pitch Deck for Think Beyond Plastics Innovation Competition

1. Two Solutions to Plastics
For Today and the Next Generation
Teaching K-12th grade student to value and sustain their natural world; inspiring the rest of us to do the
same.
Micro-stuffable full-sized reusable shopping bags and other useful and well designed products made from 100%
recycled and reweable materials. 100% of the net proceeds go to the BagSpeak project.
Bagitos are produced and sold by BagSpeak.
BagSpeak is the parent compan of Bagito, and is
a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit orgnaization.
Contact: Mitch Barlas | Mitch@BagSpeak.Org | (831) 244-0925 | 214 3 rd Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95602 |
www.BagSpeak.org | www.Bagito.co

2. Bag shmag I'm in a hurry...
Issues: Is that a
new
I'll just take a plastic one... What's the big deal ? Ben and
They recycle these anyways Jerry's
right!? Flavor!?
t
Quick Mar Yum!
The Great Pacific
Garbage Patch is...
Plastics have been helpful in our lives and have led to many
useful and important ideas and inventions.
However, now we must reduce our reliance on petroleum-based plastic products, and increase
our efforts to create and use more environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. We must
also do a better job of educating the next generation in environmental stewardship and
sustainable practices and empower these students to make changes and seek solutions.
Our Targets: Plastic bags, plastic packaging, plastic storage bags and wraps , plastic
bottles and plastic storage containers, and enhancing and expanding
K-12th grade environmental literacy learning across the US and abroad.

3. How we help to fund ourselves:
Income:
Bagito 50%
Sponsorship 25%
25%
Grants/Donations
Sponsorship: Grants/Donations: Bagito:
BagSpeak partners with BagSpeak has actively been Bagito is a unique micro-stuffable
organizations, businesses and pursuing public and private grant full-sized reusable shopping bag
corporations to sponsor it's opportunities since it's inception. designed to hang on a person's
projects in school districts. To date, BagSpeak has received key ring. 100% of the net
approximately 25% of it's proceeds go to support
Past sponsors have included: Whole Foods operating budget through grant BagSpeak.
Markets, New Leaf Markets, Waste
Management Inc. Green Waste Inc, Salinas awards.
Valley Solid Waste Authority, Merlone Geier Bagitos are currently available at: Whole
Partners Past grant awards include: Whole Foods Foods Markets, Select Walgreens, and local
Markets, Green Waste Inc. and others retailers throughout Northern California
and online: Bagito.co, Amazon.com and
eBay.com
Customer base and outreach: The BagSpeak Project has expanded due in large parts to teacher, school and parent
word-of-mouth. BagSpeak also utilizes a outreach coordinator, BagSpeak has a marketing and sales director. BagSpeak and Bagito
have also built an an online and social media presence that is expanding. BagSpeak's and Bagito's partnerships with local
governments and agencies have also helped us to reach out audience.

4. Technology we will use:
100% recycled and non-petroleum Soy-based hard “plastics” Plant-based pliable “plastics”
based fabrics
Plus a variety of
online learning tools for students,
along with student solar and wind energy kits
and other renewable and sustainable
technologies for learning.

5. Marketing and Outreach:

Internet
Targeted via search programs like Google AdWords

Outreach coordinator

Print ads BagSpeak employee reaching out to
schools and districts to bring program
Magazines, weeklies to teachers and students/

Event sponsorship

Word-of-mouth

Collaboration
Example: Sponsoring the City of Mountain View's new
With local governments,
plastic bag launch festivities waste haulers and state agencies

Schools 
Partnerships
Fundraisers, word-of-mouth
With businesses, organizations

Trade shows and corporations utilizing employee
base and customer connections.

Conferences
Currently available at: Whole Foods Markets,
select Walgreens stores, Sprouts Markets,
Goodwill Retail Stores, and other local retailers. Current projects: Monterey County, Santa Clara County,
Contra Costa County

6. The competition:
Major reusable Them: Bagito:
shopping bag
producers
- High retail prices
ChicoBag ($6.00- $14.00)
- Large when stuffed
- Made primarily with non-recycled or
renewable resources. - Low retail price point ($3.50)
- Uses non-breathable fabric (promotes - Micro size when stuffed, can
bacteria growth) attach to key ring
- Large for-profit company. - Made from 100% recycled plastic
fiber
EnviroSax - Very high retail prices - Double stitched and breathable
($8.85 - $39.00) (prevents bacteria growth)
- Very large when stuffed - Created with both men and women
- Designed with woman in mind. (and kids too!) in mind.
- Made from petroleum-based fabric product. - 100% of net proceeds go to
- Uses non-breathable fabric (promotes support non-profit environmental
bacteria growth) ed. Project.
- For-profit company
The
othe re are le
r no ss
Flip and Tumble - High retail price the U orga n-profit than five
($8.00 -$14.00) S off n iz ed
ering ations a ucation
the s cr al
- Large when stuffed learn
in-de ame oss
ing t
- Uses non-breathable fabric (promotes ha pth type of
need offer t the Ba K-12
bacteria growth) for s s – Ho gSpeak
uppl w
- Made with petroleum-based fabric products. emn ever the Project
exce l tal e
eds iteracy f nvironm
the c ar enta
So th a l
ere i orgnaiz pacity o
s mu aiton f the
ch r s. se
envi (and mo oom for
ronm r B
enta e K-12 agSpeak
l ed.
proje
cts!

7. Our Team:
Founder and Director: Mitch Barlas, ME.D. - Former School Principal, teacher,
instructional technology specialist,
environmental educator
Mitch was a teacher and school administrator for 20+
years. Ever since he was a kid he had a strong
connection with nature and the environment and
went on to develop a passion for experiencing and
preserving our natural world with others.
Board of Directors: David Meckler, MBA - Partner Merlone/Geier
Abby Chrystal – Ph.D. Student in Environmental Studies, UCSC
Barbara Madick - School Nurse, educator, environmentalist
Carole Barlas, Ph.D. - Organizational consultant, adult
education specialist, environmentalist
Ramon Flowers - Former Broadway actor and performer,
educator, green realtor.
Science Advisory Panel:
Suzzane Hebert - Education Director Seymour Long Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz, CA
Jennifer Salztman, Ph.D . - Education and Outreach Coordinator, Department of Earth Science, Stanford
University
Lacey Raak, Ph.D. - Director, Office of Sustainability, University of California at Santa Cruz.
Jeff Rosaler Ph.D . - Scientist, educator Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center- NOAA.
Richard Montgomery Ph.D . - Professor mathematics and the environment, University of California at Santa Cruz
Emily Coco, Teache r - Public School 86, New York, NY
Sharon Eshel Gloster, Paren t – Coordinator of the Theukauff Elementary School Green Team, Mountain View,
CA
Nathan Powers , Owner Allterra Solar, Santa Cruz, CA Plus 15 awesome interns!

8. Financials:
Year 1 Year 3 Year 5
(2011/12) (Projection) (Projection)
Revenue
Bagito $24,042 $120,000 $380,000
Sponsorship $16,450 $45,000 $85,000
Grants/Donations $5289 $75,000 $95,000
TOTALS $45,781 $240,000 $565,000
Customer Base (Bagito)* 32 125 325
*Conversion rate: 1 customer = averly sales of
$1920
Number of Students Reached 5100 20,000 60,000
Number of Teachers Reached 152 740 2300
Number of Schools Reached 80 166 480
While no start-up capital is needed at this time, capital for program and business
expansion is critical.

A significant number of schools and teachers have expressed interest in BagSpeak for the 2013/14 school year we
currently do not have enough resources to cover the need.

Reorder rates for Bagito are high. We are taking on new clients each month. Also we are in discussion with a major
national retailer to bring Bagito (and another product in development) into their retail outlets. Capital is needed to fund
this increase staff, fund development projects and increase inventory to support growth – all to help BagSpeak to meet
it's growth market.

Fundraising for program and business expansion will begin in May 2013. Target fundraising goal: $65,000 by September
2013 (This includes possible grant award from Think Beyond Plastic)

9. Sustainability:
Bagito: BagSpeak:
1. Uses 100% recycled plastic fibers in it's 1. Teaches students in grades K-12 concepts
products. in environmental stewardship, environmental
sustainability and personal responsibility for
2. Is at work developing household products our natural world (Both in the US and abroad.)
with 100% plant-based polymers (including
soy, wood pulp, corn and bases). 2. Supports and empowers students to begin
to think critically and deeply about the state
3. Products are produced in ethical and of their natural world, and gives them
environmentally sound factories. opportunities to problem solve solutions for a
more sustainable future.
4. Pays into a carbon offset program (to cover
transportation and other carbon producing 3. Helps schools establish Zero Waste Lunch
aspects of the business.) programs and whole-school waste diversion
initiatives and provides support for
5. Has a robust waste diversion policy in place maintianing the programs.
(current diverting 75% of office waste.)
4. Use sustainable practices (including
6. Gives 100% of it's net earning to non-profit extensive recycling, rusing and
environmental literacy project for K-12 students reducing,composting, shared transportation
(BagSpeak) and energy conservation) in our offices, on
the way to a project and at all project sites.

10. Today:
To date the BagSpeak project was reached over 6000 students. This Spring
we have scheduled programs in 30 more schools with an additional 2600
students participating.
Bagitos are available in approximately 60 retailers in Northern California,
New York and Arizona. Reorder rates have been consistent and we are on
target of hitting our sales goal for the first quarter.
BagSpeak was a runner-up in the California Coastal Commissions Whales
Tales Grant Series. BagSpeak has been recognized by the Speaker of the
New York City Council, City of Santa Cruz and the Salinas Valley Solid Waste
Management district. BagSpeak is currently partnering with the County of
Santa Clara's Office of Sustainability for a major project in the Silicon Valley.
The Bagito team is working with several manufacturers to produce plant
based “plastic” zip bags, wrap, storage containers and water bottles.
BagSpeak and Bagito recently partnered with the United States Department
of State and it's mission in Mauritania Africa on a project that reached 700
school children in and around the capital of Nouakchott. (Mauritania is the
fone of the first Countries in the world to entirely ban plastic bags.)