ENTREPRENEURS

35 Arizona entrepreneurs under 35: 2015

Eli Chmouni | Age: 28 | Company: Tipsy, imtipsy.com | Location: Tempe | Business: monthly subscription app relating to nightlife | Notable: Has started and sold three entrepreneurial companies during the past three years. “Entrepreneurship is my destiny. I work 20 hours a day simply because I am too excited on what I work on to get to sleep.”
Eli Chmouni | Age: 28 | Company: Tipsy, imtipsy.com | Location: Tempe | Business: monthly subscription app relating to nightlife | Notable: Has started and sold three entrepreneurial companies during the past three years. “Entrepreneurship is my destiny. I work 20 hours a day simply because I am too excited on what I work on to get to sleep.”
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Brian Colling | Age: 34 | Company: Colling Media, collingmedia.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: advertising agency | Notable: Colling, who owns 100 percent of his company, has grown it from a one-man shop based in his living room to 15 marketing professionals in a Scottsdale office. “I want to continue to create something bigger than myself that helps prosper other people’s lives.”
Brian Colling | Age: 34 | Company: Colling Media, collingmedia.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: advertising agency | Notable: Colling, who owns 100 percent of his company, has grown it from a one-man shop based in his living room to 15 marketing professionals in a Scottsdale office. “I want to continue to create something bigger than myself that helps prosper other people’s lives.”
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Carter Comstock | Age: 29 | Company: Freshly, freshly.com | Location: Tempe | Business: ready-made meal-delivery service | Notable: “One of the biggest challenges has been managing the growth of the company while simultaneously scaling production, improving the product, and hiring and training our team.”
Carter Comstock | Age: 29 | Company: Freshly, freshly.com | Location: Tempe | Business: ready-made meal-delivery service | Notable: “One of the biggest challenges has been managing the growth of the company while simultaneously scaling production, improving the product, and hiring and training our team.”
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Jonathan Cottrell | Age: 33 | Company: Hopscratch, hopscratch.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: business that helps entrepreneurs start their own businesses | Notable: Cottrell is an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur. He sold his first business to Mashable in 2009, has developed other successful businesses and was the executive chairman and lead organizer of the first Phoenix Startup Week earlier this year.
Jonathan Cottrell | Age: 33 | Company: Hopscratch, hopscratch.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: business that helps entrepreneurs start their own businesses | Notable: Cottrell is an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur. He sold his first business to Mashable in 2009, has developed other successful businesses and was the executive chairman and lead organizer of the first Phoenix Startup Week earlier this year.
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Nolan de Graaff | Age: 33 | Company: Ice Now, ice-now.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: bulk ice distribution company | Notable: “I think I have always had the mindset there could be a better or more efficient solution to a problem… I try to remain opportunistic because you never know where the next business idea may come from.”
Nolan de Graaff | Age: 33 | Company: Ice Now, ice-now.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: bulk ice distribution company | Notable: “I think I have always had the mindset there could be a better or more efficient solution to a problem… I try to remain opportunistic because you never know where the next business idea may come from.”
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Jeffrey Dreyer | Age: 32 | Company: Integrated Ag LP, Integrated-Ag.com, IntegratedAgLabs.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: manages an agricultural real-estate fund that acquires underutilized or inefficient farms and grows crops to be sold | Notable: Entrepreneurs need to be the master of multiple skills, Dreyer says. “You have to be willing to do everything and anything. Eventually, you also have to let that ‘chief, cook and bottle-washer’ mentality go and become an adroit delegator. This is more challenging than it sounds.”
Jeffrey Dreyer | Age: 32 | Company: Integrated Ag LP, Integrated-Ag.com, IntegratedAgLabs.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: manages an agricultural real-estate fund that acquires underutilized or inefficient farms and grows crops to be sold | Notable: Entrepreneurs need to be the master of multiple skills, Dreyer says. “You have to be willing to do everything and anything. Eventually, you also have to let that ‘chief, cook and bottle-washer’ mentality go and become an adroit delegator. This is more challenging than it sounds.”
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Zach Ferres | Age: 28 | Company: Coplex, coplex.com | Location: Tempe | Business: interactive agency for web design and development | Notable: Ferres became an entrepreneur by accident, as a teenager. “I built my first website (for a backyard wrestling group) when I was 14 and realized that people would pay me for that work.” He writes a column for “Entrepreneur” magazine.
Zach Ferres | Age: 28 | Company: Coplex, coplex.com | Location: Tempe | Business: interactive agency for web design and development | Notable: Ferres became an entrepreneur by accident, as a teenager. “I built my first website (for a backyard wrestling group) when I was 14 and realized that people would pay me for that work.” He writes a column for “Entrepreneur” magazine.
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Michael Frost | Age: 32 | Company: Heritage Advisors LLC, heritageadvisorsllc.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: financial services company | Notable: He and co-founder Ralph Nelson funded the 22-month-old company with $14,000. “At that time, it made up every penny we both had in savings. We were all in.”
Michael Frost | Age: 32 | Company: Heritage Advisors LLC, heritageadvisorsllc.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: financial services company | Notable: He and co-founder Ralph Nelson funded the 22-month-old company with $14,000. “At that time, it made up every penny we both had in savings. We were all in.”
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Daniel Gourley | Age: 35 | Company: SGR Media Inc., sgrmediainc.com | Location: Glendale | Business: lighting and audio visual design for churches, theaters and other spaces | Notable: 75 percent of SGR’s clients return for follow-up work and projects.
Daniel Gourley | Age: 35 | Company: SGR Media Inc., sgrmediainc.com | Location: Glendale | Business: lighting and audio visual design for churches, theaters and other spaces | Notable: 75 percent of SGR’s clients return for follow-up work and projects.
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Carson Holmquist | Age: 29 | Company:  Stream Logistics, streamlogistics.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: third-party logistics brokerage specializing in freight and transportation solutions | Notable: Started his logistics career working for a larger corporation. “Within a corporate setting, I had limited opportunities to create a meaningful impact. After four years of rising through the ranks, I took a risk by starting my own company.”
Carson Holmquist | Age: 29 | Company: Stream Logistics, streamlogistics.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: third-party logistics brokerage specializing in freight and transportation solutions | Notable: Started his logistics career working for a larger corporation. “Within a corporate setting, I had limited opportunities to create a meaningful impact. After four years of rising through the ranks, I took a risk by starting my own company.”
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Vivek Kopparthi | Age: 25 | Company: NeoLight, theneolight.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: medical device company that develops phototherapy technology to cure jaundice in babies | Notable: “Every day, over 1,243 babies either die or survive a life with permanent brain damage, primarily because they do not have access to a device that works in resource constrained settings… The catalyst in the growth of NeoLight has primarily been the scale of the problem we are trying to solve.”
Vivek Kopparthi | Age: 25 | Company: NeoLight, theneolight.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: medical device company that develops phototherapy technology to cure jaundice in babies | Notable: “Every day, over 1,243 babies either die or survive a life with permanent brain damage, primarily because they do not have access to a device that works in resource constrained settings… The catalyst in the growth of NeoLight has primarily been the scale of the problem we are trying to solve.”
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Melissa Lenberg | Age: 33 | Company: Citrine Natural Beauty Bar, citrinenaturalskin.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: retail store offering natural lifestyle products that has recently started an online store | Notable: The retail store has experienced so much growth that it has expanded its space twice.
Melissa Lenberg | Age: 33 | Company: Citrine Natural Beauty Bar, citrinenaturalskin.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: retail store offering natural lifestyle products that has recently started an online store | Notable: The retail store has experienced so much growth that it has expanded its space twice.
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Danny Loschiavo | Age: 26 | Company: BoldLeads, boldleads.com | Location: Chandler | Company: real estate software company that helps facilitate conversations between agents and potential home sellers | Notable: “We bootstrapped with $5,000 and have been profitable since the first week.”
Danny Loschiavo | Age: 26 | Company: BoldLeads, boldleads.com | Location: Chandler | Company: real estate software company that helps facilitate conversations between agents and potential home sellers | Notable: “We bootstrapped with $5,000 and have been profitable since the first week.”
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Eric Luster | Age: 35 | Company: Movement Interactive, hijiband.com | Location: Laveen | Business: developed the Hiji Band and accompanying software to detect and report head impacts | Notable: His son, who plays youth football, was the inspiration behind his company’s developments. “I have decided to use technology to enhance all parents’ ability to protect their precious children.”
Eric Luster | Age: 35 | Company: Movement Interactive, hijiband.com | Location: Laveen | Business: developed the Hiji Band and accompanying software to detect and report head impacts | Notable: His son, who plays youth football, was the inspiration behind his company’s developments. “I have decided to use technology to enhance all parents’ ability to protect their precious children.”
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Alexandra Maw | Age: 30 | Company: Kaleidoscope Juice, kaleidoscopejuice.com | Location: Scottsdale | Company: organic juice and coffee bar, restaurant, bakery and juice brand | Scottsdale | Notable: The company has grown from a juice-delivery business to five metro Phoenix stores and retail availability at local Whole Foods locations.
Alexandra Maw | Age: 30 | Company: Kaleidoscope Juice, kaleidoscopejuice.com | Location: Scottsdale | Company: organic juice and coffee bar, restaurant, bakery and juice brand | Scottsdale | Notable: The company has grown from a juice-delivery business to five metro Phoenix stores and retail availability at local Whole Foods locations.
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Neel Mehta | Age: 26 | Company: Epifinder, epifinder.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: healthcare technology software that helps doctors diagnose epilepsy syndromes at point-of-care | Notable: “My vision is to revolutionize the care of all neurological disorders as a serial entrepreneur by combining cutting-edge scientific research with the latest technologies.”
Neel Mehta | Age: 26 | Company: Epifinder, epifinder.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: healthcare technology software that helps doctors diagnose epilepsy syndromes at point-of-care | Notable: “My vision is to revolutionize the care of all neurological disorders as a serial entrepreneur by combining cutting-edge scientific research with the latest technologies.”
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Laura Morgan | Age: 29 | Company: Reformed Pilates & Cycle, reformedpilates.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: boutique fitness studio | Notable: She and her brother Peter Morgan, also co-owner, invested everything they had into the business. She even sold her house and moved in with her brother. “No one gave us a check. No one told us how to do it.”
Laura Morgan | Age: 29 | Company: Reformed Pilates & Cycle, reformedpilates.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: boutique fitness studio | Notable: She and her brother Peter Morgan, also co-owner, invested everything they had into the business. She even sold her house and moved in with her brother. “No one gave us a check. No one told us how to do it.”
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Peter Morgan | Age: 33 | Company: Reformed Pilates & Cycle, reformedpilates.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: boutique fitness studio | Notable: Was working at a distressed-debt hedge fund before becoming an entrepreneur. “I was slugging away, working 80+ hours a week, and no amount of money was bringing me personal happiness. Taking a risk and working for myself was the best thing I have ever done.”
Peter Morgan | Age: 33 | Company: Reformed Pilates & Cycle, reformedpilates.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: boutique fitness studio | Notable: Was working at a distressed-debt hedge fund before becoming an entrepreneur. “I was slugging away, working 80+ hours a week, and no amount of money was bringing me personal happiness. Taking a risk and working for myself was the best thing I have ever done.”
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Marcus Morton | Age: 33 | Company: Pit Stop Auto Detailing & Storage, azdetailing.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: car detailing, car-wash services and automotive storage | Notable: Reevaluated where his company’s needs were and added a general manager position to the management team. The move has contributed to the company’s strong growth.
Marcus Morton | Age: 33 | Company: Pit Stop Auto Detailing & Storage, azdetailing.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: car detailing, car-wash services and automotive storage | Notable: Reevaluated where his company’s needs were and added a general manager position to the management team. The move has contributed to the company’s strong growth.
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Ralph Nelson | Age: 33 | Company: Heritage Advisors LLC, heritageadvisorsllc.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: financial services company | Notable: He and co-founder Michael Frost are looking to expand brand recognition in metro Phoenix and the San Francisco area, where they have another office.
Ralph Nelson | Age: 33 | Company: Heritage Advisors LLC, heritageadvisorsllc.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: financial services company | Notable: He and co-founder Michael Frost are looking to expand brand recognition in metro Phoenix and the San Francisco area, where they have another office.
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Dan Noma Jr. | Age: 33 | Company: Venture Real Estate & Investment, venturerei.com | Location: Chandler | Business: brokerage firm specializing in commercial and residential investment and redevelopment | Notable: “Our strategic partnerships with overseas buyers, investors and wealth management firms allow us to provide global exposure to the Arizona real estate market.”
Dan Noma Jr. | Age: 33 | Company: Venture Real Estate & Investment, venturerei.com | Location: Chandler | Business: brokerage firm specializing in commercial and residential investment and redevelopment | Notable: “Our strategic partnerships with overseas buyers, investors and wealth management firms allow us to provide global exposure to the Arizona real estate market.”
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Gabriel Prado | Age: 32 | Company: Auction Nation, auctionnation.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: online auction company | Notable: Being an entrepreneur requires “being willing to outwork the competition and make calculated risks that are worth taking.”
Gabriel Prado | Age: 32 | Company: Auction Nation, auctionnation.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: online auction company | Notable: Being an entrepreneur requires “being willing to outwork the competition and make calculated risks that are worth taking.”
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Christian Rivadalla | Age: 26 | Company: SoftPoint, softpointcloud.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: hospitality software | Notable: “Entrepreneurs need to get out of their comfort zone and into the unknown.”
Christian Rivadalla | Age: 26 | Company: SoftPoint, softpointcloud.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: hospitality software | Notable: “Entrepreneurs need to get out of their comfort zone and into the unknown.”
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Ron Robertson | Age: 29 | Company: Picmonic Inc., picmonic.com | Location: Tempe | Business: education technology company that uses graphics | Notable: Left medical school to co-found the company, which at first, was based in a garage. “I changed my life’s path and direction to create what I believed was a necessary solution to an overly antiquated education system.”
Ron Robertson | Age: 29 | Company: Picmonic Inc., picmonic.com | Location: Tempe | Business: education technology company that uses graphics | Notable: Left medical school to co-found the company, which at first, was based in a garage. “I changed my life’s path and direction to create what I believed was a necessary solution to an overly antiquated education system.”
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Matthew Roldan | Age: 30 | Company: Sourcely, sourcely.com | Location: Tempe | Business: provides buyback platforms for cell phones and consumer electronics | Notable: “I want my story to inspire those who desire entrepreneurship but may not have the support system in place. I want them to know that you can risk everything you have, go into major debt, build an unfailing team without access to resources, and still find success.”
Matthew Roldan | Age: 30 | Company: Sourcely, sourcely.com | Location: Tempe | Business: provides buyback platforms for cell phones and consumer electronics | Notable: “I want my story to inspire those who desire entrepreneurship but may not have the support system in place. I want them to know that you can risk everything you have, go into major debt, build an unfailing team without access to resources, and still find success.”
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Noelle Salinas | Age: 30 | Company: Fresh from the Kitchen, freshfromthekitchenllc.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: catering company | Notable: Started company at age 23 with a business partner, each of whom invested $500, and now is sole owner. “It shows with hard work and determination, you can start a company truly from very little and build it to be something of great value.”
Noelle Salinas | Age: 30 | Company: Fresh from the Kitchen, freshfromthekitchenllc.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: catering company | Notable: Started company at age 23 with a business partner, each of whom invested $500, and now is sole owner. “It shows with hard work and determination, you can start a company truly from very little and build it to be something of great value.”
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Jennifer Schrader | Age: 33 | Company: Caliber Companies, caliberco.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: real estate investment company | Notable: “I have always been the type to recognize and push my comfort zone and boundaries. This allows for growth not only as an entrepreneur but also as a human being.”
Jennifer Schrader | Age: 33 | Company: Caliber Companies, caliberco.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: real estate investment company | Notable: “I have always been the type to recognize and push my comfort zone and boundaries. This allows for growth not only as an entrepreneur but also as a human being.”
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Ross Shanken | Age: 26 | Company: ParkX, getparkx.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: cloud-based smartphone parking payment solution | Notable: Among other funding, received a $250,000 Arizona Innovation Challenge grant that helped fund the business.
Ross Shanken | Age: 26 | Company: ParkX, getparkx.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: cloud-based smartphone parking payment solution | Notable: Among other funding, received a $250,000 Arizona Innovation Challenge grant that helped fund the business.
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Natalie Speers | Age: 29 | Company: Social Ally Consulting, socialallyusa.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: social media branding and consulting for high-end clients | Notable: Plans to launch webinar training and online social media courses to help other entrepreneurs.
Natalie Speers | Age: 29 | Company: Social Ally Consulting, socialallyusa.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: social media branding and consulting for high-end clients | Notable: Plans to launch webinar training and online social media courses to help other entrepreneurs.
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Michael Stebbins | Age: 33 | Company: trutankless, trutankless.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: electric tankless water heater manufacturer that is a division of Bollente Companies | Notable: Took a risk and started the company in 2009 while the construction industry was in a slump.
Michael Stebbins | Age: 33 | Company: trutankless, trutankless.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: electric tankless water heater manufacturer that is a division of Bollente Companies | Notable: Took a risk and started the company in 2009 while the construction industry was in a slump.
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Michael Timony | Age: 33 | Company: Integrated Ag LP, Integrated-Ag.com, IntegratedAgLabs.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: manages an agricultural real-estate fund that acquires underutilized or inefficient farms and grows crops to be sold | Notable: “It’s personal satisfying to know that my company makes a small but global impact. We supply large quantities of food to nationals that can’t feed themselves.”
Michael Timony | Age: 33 | Company: Integrated Ag LP, Integrated-Ag.com, IntegratedAgLabs.com | Location: Scottsdale | Business: manages an agricultural real-estate fund that acquires underutilized or inefficient farms and grows crops to be sold | Notable: “It’s personal satisfying to know that my company makes a small but global impact. We supply large quantities of food to nationals that can’t feed themselves.”
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Josh Valdez-Elizetxe | Age: 22 | Company: Foresold, foresold.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: holding company for a portfolio of Internet brands that are primarily e-commerce sites | Notable: Started his company with less than $100 in his college dorm room.
Josh Valdez-Elizetxe | Age: 22 | Company: Foresold, foresold.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: holding company for a portfolio of Internet brands that are primarily e-commerce sites | Notable: Started his company with less than $100 in his college dorm room.
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Dornubari Vizor | Age: 25 | Company: Yazamo, yazamo.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: software-as-a-solution (SaaS) marketing company that generates leads and sales for small- to mid-size businesses | Notable: “I believe that one critical skill necessary to be a successful entrepreneur is self-accountability. A lot of entrepreneurs choose to work for themselves because they don’t want to be held accountable to anyone, but in reality it is crucial that you hold yourself to a high degree and take responsibility for your actions.”
Dornubari Vizor | Age: 25 | Company: Yazamo, yazamo.com | Location: Phoenix | Business: software-as-a-solution (SaaS) marketing company that generates leads and sales for small- to mid-size businesses | Notable: “I believe that one critical skill necessary to be a successful entrepreneur is self-accountability. A lot of entrepreneurs choose to work for themselves because they don’t want to be held accountable to anyone, but in reality it is crucial that you hold yourself to a high degree and take responsibility for your actions.”
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Eric Watson | Age: 33 | Company: Watson’s Hat Shop, watsonshatshop.com | Location: Cave Creek | Business: custom hat shop| Notable: After starting the business at his house in 2010, Watson opened his first store in 2012. The business has expanded four times since.
Eric Watson | Age: 33 | Company: Watson’s Hat Shop, watsonshatshop.com | Location: Cave Creek | Business: custom hat shop| Notable: After starting the business at his house in 2010, Watson opened his first store in 2012. The business has expanded four times since.
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Michael Wystrach | Age: 35 | Company: Freshly, freshly.com | Location: Tempe | Business: ready-made meal-delivery service | Notable: To be an entrepreneur, “a lot of people seem to think that you need to be a great salesman, and this is definitely an important skill, but if you want to be any good you have to listen. Listen to your customers, your employees, the market…”
Michael Wystrach | Age: 35 | Company: Freshly, freshly.com | Location: Tempe | Business: ready-made meal-delivery service | Notable: To be an entrepreneur, “a lot of people seem to think that you need to be a great salesman, and this is definitely an important skill, but if you want to be any good you have to listen. Listen to your customers, your employees, the market…”
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