Inventor. Builder. Explorer of What's Next.
I create physical products and scalable systems that merge creativity, technology, and real-world impact.
Let's Collaborate
About Mark
Mark W. Richards is a serial entrepreneur and inventor with over 30 years of experience creating physical products and launching businesses. He's built everything from mobile plastics-sorting systems to consumer brands like Koova, Starby, and Paracord Weavers.
His sweet spot is invention — developing and prototyping ideas that can scale. He thrives on solving problems, simplifying systems, and partnering with others who share his curiosity and bias for action.
Today, he's focused on designing a life filled with creativity, freedom, and meaningful experiences — blending hands-on work with emerging technology and AI. Whether he's fabricating in his Charleston studio or exploring new business models, Mark approaches every project with the mindset of a builder who believes the best ideas emerge from experimentation and collaboration.
Products In Development
EventPowerPro
EventPower delivers reliable, silent, and sustainable power for events of any scale. Our portable, battery-based generators replace noisy gas units with clean energy that’s easy to deploy, scalable, and solar-ready. Designed for event professionals who demand performance and simplicity, EventPower systems provide dependable 120 V and 240 V output—without fumes, fuel, or hassle.
WatchTowerPro
WatchTower provides smart, mobile surveillance for construction sites, events, and remote locations. Each trailer is equipped with solar power, high-definition cameras, and a telescoping mast for wide-area visibility—no grid connection required. Designed for rapid deployment and 24/7 monitoring, WatchTower delivers reliable security with zero noise, zero emissions, and total control from anywhere.
LOTO Board System
Machine-specific lockout/tagout platform. Each board is built for a single piece of equipment, combining physical lockout storage with QR-linked digital procedures, photos, and training videos — simplifying OSHA compliance and boosting safety consistency.
Current Ventures
Mark's current work spans multiple ventures, each reflecting his commitment to practical innovation and entrepreneurial creativity.
PolyClean
Mobile optical sorting systems designed to solve plastic resin problems for the worlds larges petrochemical companies. Making sustainability accessible and scalable through smart technology and practical design. Founded in 1999

PolyCleanUSA.com
Alphidia
A creative fabrication and product development studio where ideas become reality. Specializing in prototyping, design, and bringing innovative concepts to life. Founder 2012

Alphidia.com
Books By Mark
There Is a Fortune in Your Followers
A playbook for creators, makers, and entrepreneurs who want to turn attention into income — without selling their soul. Mark W. Richards breaks down how to transform an engaged audience into real business opportunities through products, partnerships, and systems that scale. It’s not about chasing likes — it’s about building leverage.
The 3D Entrepreneur
Built around the principle of Do it. Document it. Delegate it. — this book teaches entrepreneurs how to scale without getting trapped in execution. Mark W. Richards reveals a practical framework for turning your process into systems, your systems into freedom, and your freedom into growth.
The Blue Collar Billionaire
An unconventional roadmap for builders, makers, and tradespeople to create extraordinary wealth in the age of AI. The Blue Collar Billionaire explores how technology, automation, and decentralized ownership can transform blue-collar businesses into scalable empires — without losing the grit, pride, or hands-on spirit that built them.
Coming Soon
The Innovation Process
Ideation
Every great product starts with curiosity. Identifying problems worth solving and opportunities worth pursuing.
Prototyping
Rapid iteration and hands-on experimentation. Building working models to test assumptions and refine concepts.
Scaling
Transforming validated prototypes into scalable systems. Creating products and businesses that deliver real-world impact.
Philosophy
"Freedom, creativity, and curiosity are the real measures of wealth."
Mark believes in designing systems that operate with grace, ease, and lightness — allowing creativity to flourish without heavy management overhead. His approach combines the discipline of an engineer with the vision of an artist, always seeking elegant solutions to complex challenges.
This philosophy extends beyond products into lifestyle design. Building businesses that support freedom rather than constrain it. Creating value through genuine curiosity rather than forced hustle. Measuring success not just in revenue, but in the quality of experiences and relationships cultivated along the way.
Areas of Expertise
Product Invention
Conceptualizing and developing innovative physical products from initial sketches through functional prototypes. Specializing in systems that solve real problems with elegant engineering.
Manufacturing Systems
Designing scalable production processes and supply chains. Experience launching consumer brands and industrial equipment with sustainable growth models.
Technology Integration
Bridging physical products with emerging technologies including AI, automation, and smart systems. Making complex technology accessible and practical.
Strategic Partnerships
Building collaborative relationships that amplify innovation. Connecting makers, founders, and creators to bring ambitious ideas to market faster and smarter.
Why Collaborate with Mark?
30+ Years Experience
Three decades of building real products and launching successful ventures. Deep expertise across multiple industries from recycling technology to consumer goods.
Hands-On Approach
Not just strategy — actual fabrication, prototyping, and problem-solving. Mark gets his hands dirty turning concepts into tangible results.
Bias for Action
Move fast, test assumptions, iterate quickly. No endless meetings or analysis paralysis — just smart experimentation and measurable progress.
Perfect for Founders
Who need experienced guidance taking a product concept from idea to market-ready prototype.
Perfect for Makers
Who want to scale their craft into sustainable businesses with modern tools and systems.
Perfect for Innovators
Who value creativity, practical solutions, and partners who share their curiosity about what's possible.
Let's Build Something Interesting.
I collaborate with makers, founders, and creators on projects that combine creativity, technology, and tangible results. Whether you're developing a new product, exploring innovative manufacturing systems, or looking for strategic guidance on scaling an invention, I'm interested in conversations that lead to real impact.
The best partnerships start with shared curiosity and a commitment to action. If you're working on something that pushes boundaries and solves meaningful problems, let's connect and explore how we might work together.
© 2025 Mark W. Richards
mark@markwrichards.com • Charleston, SC

This site was crafted to reflect the intersection of invention, craftsmanship, and modern technology — just like the work it represents.