THE INVENTOR’S STORY

How a Moment at Age Nine Led Me to Reimagine Sanitation Innovation

By Tiger Lee · Young Inventor

Published by Gigone LLC

When people ask me how I became interested in sanitation technology, they usually expect a scientific explanation. But the truth is, my story began with something very simple — a moment of discomfort when I was nine years old.

I was traveling with my family during the summer. It was hot, and after a long drive, I urgently needed to use the restroom. There were no buildings or facilities nearby, only an old portable toilet sitting alone under the sun. I stepped inside, and immediately the heat and smell were overwhelming. It was difficult to breathe, and the experience left a strong impression on me.

A few days later, I became very sick with a high fever. My parents believed it might have been caused by bacteria inside that poorly maintained portable restroom. As a kid, I didn’t understand the technical side of sanitation, but I understood one thing clearly:

No one should have to use a restroom that makes them sick.

That thought stayed with me long after I recovered.

As I grew older, I noticed how often people — especially outdoor workers, travelers, and communities in remote areas — must rely on portable toilets. Yet many of these units were still uncomfortable, unhygienic, or unsafe. I realized that sanitation, although it affects everyone, is one of the most overlooked parts of our infrastructure.

When I entered high school, I began thinking more seriously about innovation and public health. I remembered my experience at age nine and asked myself again:

“If I don’t like that experience, what about millions of other people?”

In 2023, with the support of my family, we began developing a new type of portable sanitation system. Our goal was simple:
solve the exact problems I faced as a child — odor, bacteria, heat, and contamination.

What started as a personal memory slowly turned into engineering work. We studied airflow, waste separation, temperature effects, and purification methods. Eventually, we created multiple patented technologies, including:
• A four-stage internal waste purification system
• Advanced baffling that controls flow and reduces contamination
• A low-oxygen stabilization chamber that reduces odor
• Micro-settlement channels that keep wastewater cleaner for longer

Today, we are able to produce these systems in small batches. Knowing that something I experienced at age nine helped inspire real innovation feels meaningful. It reminds me that even small moments can shape big ideas.

Now, as a high school sophomore, I see sanitation not as an ordinary topic, but as a critical part of human health and dignity. Portable restroom systems serve workers, families, travelers, and communities in places where no other infrastructure exists. Improving them is not just engineering — it is a contribution to public health.

My hope is simple:
that no child, no worker, and no community has to endure the same experience I did.
Innovation should protect people, respect them, and make life safer for everyone.

This is my story — and the beginning of my journey as an inventor.