
Episode #16
She Couldn't Sleep After Surgery: So She Invented the Solution
What happens when the product you desperately need doesn't exist? After undergoing major surgery, Alisa Evans was told she would need to sleep upright for two months. She searched everywhere for a comfortable solution, but nothing worked. Instead of accepting it, she decided to create one herself. In this episode of Unscripted with Alison Maloni , Alisa shares the remarkable journey behind NovaRise , an adjustable sleep and recovery support system designed to help people recover more comfortably after surgery and much more. Over three years, eight prototypes, and more than $100,000 later, her idea became a reality. Alisa opens up about: The health challenges that inspired NovaRise Why recovering after surgery can be harder than expected The ups and downs of bringing an invention to life Lessons she learned as a first-time entrepreneur Why she refused to give up after multiple setbacks How Kickstarter is helping bring NovaRise to market Advice for anyone with an idea they can't stop thinking about Whether you're recovering from surgery, caring for a loved one, launching a business, or simply looking for inspiration, this conversation is packed with practical advice and motivation. How a difficult surgery sparked an unexpected business idea Why existing recovery pillows weren't enough The surprising first prototype that started it all The challenges of product development and manufacturing Navigating engineering firms as a first-time inventor Why persistence matters more than perfection How AI tools like ChatGPT can help entrepreneurs Launching a Kickstarter campaign Supporting small businesses and women inventors Website: TheNovaRise.com Instagram: @thenovarise and @uhleesaaa Follow Alison for conversations on entrepreneurship, personal branding, media, and inspiring stories from founders who are making an impact on Instagram: @AlisonMaloni, @Unscriptedwithalisonmaloni and @alisonmaycommunications Connect with Alison at a lisonmaycommunications.com

