Out of the success of one of Fort Collins’ best-known companies, three new ventures have sprouted, mentored by the very same people who turned OtterBox into an international technology-protection giant.

Most in Northern Colorado know the story of OtterBox, including the fact that founder and CEO Curt Richardson began the business in a garage in 1998, manufacturing waterproof cases for PDAs. In the 14 years that have passed, the company has grown to employ 400 people locally, as well as dozens more in offices throughout Europe, Asia and Australia, bringing in $350 million in revenue in 2011.

OtterBox’s success is often attributed to Richardson’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive to create a company culture that not only keeps employees happy but also fosters creativity and productivity. From this culture, three new startups are making their entrance into the world.

The first of the three, Nerdy Minds Marketing, was launched in January and is run by former OtterBox Web Business Development Manager Mary Merritt. Merritt joined OtterBox in 2006 to work on direct consumer sales, search-engine optimization and other necessities for building an online presence.

After going through the