Bee Cave company uses its imagination

Two years ago Kendall Harter decided to embrace his inner child and create Blue Matrix Labs in Bee Cave.

Harter sold his company, Envirocon Technologies, in 2007 and spent the next few years developing ideas that now form the base of Blue Matrix Labs product lines.

"For me it's often about developing products I wish I had when I was a kid. It really resonates throughout the company that you can be a kid at heart," Harter said.

The business is a small startup that has evolved projects Harter made in his kitchen to products that are now sold worldwide.

"Most of the things I develop come from a dream or a desire. I'll build products or make them in my kitchen. It's fun to experiment there," Harter said.

Zorbz, water balloons that snap and seal after being filled instead of having to tie off the end like traditional water balloons, is Blue Matrix Labs' first product to have a national ad campaign. The promotion launched in July with a commercial that airs on stations such as The Disney Channel.

When Harter created Blue Matrix Labs, he said he wanted to create a broad umbrella to house different products and give the business a laboratory or think tank feel.

"I've always been fascinated with how things get made, packaged, distributed and sold. From a very early age it's all I wanted to do," Harter said. "I absolutely love the creative side of this type of business opportunity where everything is different every day. You get to wear 12 hats, so it's never boring."

Blue Matrix Labs also produces Shags and Pirate Energy. Shags, which spawned Shags Wags for pets, are a plush bean bag line. Harter said the material that Shags is made out of is extremely comfortable while also discouraging pets from turning it into just another toy to destroy.

Pirate Energy is a line of energy drinks designed to mix with alcoholic beverages.

Harter said he hopes to create a unique brand of summer toys, such as NERF, off of the "phenomenal" success of Zorbz.

He said the company will also soon launch three new product lines including a line called iwich in 2015 that features products geared toward making everyday consumer needs in the kitchen more convenient.

Product Variety

Zorbz

The water balloon that seals itself after being filled has launched its first national advertisement campaign and can be found in stores throughout the country and the world.

Kendall Harter, founder of Blue Matrix Labs, said he is excited to unveil other summer fun toys in the coming months that will complement Zorbz.

Shags

The bright-colored take on the classic beanbag chair is gaining momentum, Harter said. Shags are handmade with soft, plush material. The Shags line can be found in SkyMall magazine.

Pirate energy

With a mantra of "The Party Starts Here," Harter hopes that these 10 calorie per serving energy drinks will be what customers choose when they need a boost or the drink is mixed with their favorite adult beverage.

Pirate Energy can be found in Texas liquor stores or purchased online.

Blue Matrix Labs, 13413 Galleria Circle, Ste. 250, Bee Cave, 512-814-2200, www.bluematrixlabs.com