Specs
Who Co-founders William Pearson (l.) and Mangesh Hattikudur
What Magazine and e-commerce business
Where New York offices
Mental Floss is known for its engaging Wikipedia-like articles (“How Many Languages Is It Possible to Learn?”) that nourish the mind. Few realize the Dennis Publishing bimonthly has a robust e-commerce arm with 1,300 products from T-shirts to beer-tasting kits. Here’s how it all began: After Pluto lost its planetary status, a reader wrote in: “You guys should make a shirt that mourns the loss of Pluto. It should say RIP, but instead of Rest in Peace, it should say ‘Revolve in Peace: 1930-2006.’” The title took the advice to heart, and its business has become a shooting star, with sales projected to hit $2.5 million this year.