SwitchFly Throttles Finds the BIZ to be "Invaluable"

George Poulos, Co-Founder of SwitchFly Throttles in Council Bluffs, found that the help his company received from the Business Innovation Zone (BIZ) was ‘invaluable.’ "I think they've been an excellent source of guidance," Poulos said of BIZ and BIZ Executive Director, Mike Colwell.

SwitchFly, founded by Poulos and his brother, Dan, is getting ready to bring its innovative, patent-pending throttle for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to market later this year. The SwitchFly combines two types of accelerators; a button-style throttle that riders push with their thumb and a handlebar twist accelerator similar to the ones on motorcycles.

Investing in Innovative Throttles for ATVs

"ATVs come from the factory with a thumb throttle, but many riders enjoy having both types," Poulos said. "After-market twist throttles are available, but their installation involves removal of the thumb throttle."

The SwitchFly includes both types of throttles in a single unit, along with a lockout mechanism that allows only one throttle to control speed at one time. This safety feature means the rider cannot accidentally activate one of the throttles when he is using the other. The switch from throttle to throttle can be made while the vehicle is moving.

Many riders prefer the thumb control when going over rough terrain or obstacles, but like the twist throttle for speeding along smooth straightaways. "We ride ATVs as a hobby and found there was no dual-control throttle on the market. We took a hobby and created a business out of it," Poulos said. "We didn't reinvent the wheel. We just made the wheel a little more comfortable."

Born and raised in Council Bluffs, Poulos graduated from the University of Iowa in 1995 with a business degree. He has worked for a telecommunications company in Omaha and Atlanta, and is still active in a family-owned business, the Pizza King restaurant in Council Bluffs. Poulos and his brother came up with the dual throttle idea in 2006. The Poulos brothers knew they would enjoy a dual-control throttle, and conversations with other ATV enthusiasts convinced them that other riders would too. The brothers hired an engineer to work out the technical aspects of their device and draw up plans. These throttles are assembled at a SwitchFly facility in Council Bluffs.

Next Step: Marketing

"We are in the final stages of manufacturing this throttle," Poulos said. The Poulos brothers are the company's only employees, but SwitchFly is working on contracts with marketing firms to advertise the product. SwitchFly plans to sell the throttles directly to consumers and to get placed in catalogs that offer after-market ATV equipment.

SwitchFly turned to Colwell for help in applying for a grant for the company. Colwell has also mentored and advised the brothers as they developed their company. "He has been like a voice of reason and a point of contact for knowledge and information," Poulos said. "Colwell has answered questions and helped the company develop by avoiding challenges and missteps that other companies have faced in the past.”

Help from BIZ is ongoing, and has also included assistance with developing marketing strategies, financial models and spreadsheets. Poulos said the company's eventual goal is to develop similar throttles for personal watercraft and snowmobiles, and work out a deal to get their throttle offered as an option for standard equipment on brand-name ATVs, personal watercraft and snowmobiles.

Square One DSM, an initiative of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, is formerly known as Business Innovation Zone (BIZ).