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Danville native Jason Lucash has already been featured in TIME magazine and made his debut on prime-time television to pitch his now-famous products. Recently, the 29-year-old was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneur Magazine and The UPS Store.

The San Ramon Valley High grad co-founded the rapidly growing portable audio startup OrigAudio in 2009 and has since turned his idea into a multi-million dollar internationally known company. Lucash's first product, Fold N' Play recycled speakers, was named to Time Magazine's prestigious 50 Best Inventions of the Year list and which later on helped him to win Season 2 of the ABC show "Shark Tank."

"Being named Entrepreneur of the Year means that what we're doing is right, and we're being recognized for it," Lucash said. "This is the true validation and support that our crazy idea to start OrigAudio wasn't so crazy, and that we truly have created something great and remarkable."

OrigAudio sells products such as the Rock-It 3.0, a portable device that turns any object into a speaker, and customizable, award-winning Designear headphones. What began with two guys in a garage and a $10,000 loan from Mom has turned into "tangible proof that the American dream not only exists, but also can passionately be achieved," a release stated.

Business-minded since fifth grade, Lucash came up with an idea for eco and transport-friendly speakers while traveling.

"I'm a huge music person; I've played the guitar from quite some time always going to concerts. I'm also big travel nut," said Lucash. "I was on a beach in Thailand, lugging these big speakers around and folding a Chinese takeout box and thought 'What if you had speakers like that?' It was a eureka moment."

Lucash was honored at the magazine's annual Growth Conference in Dallas, Texas. The one-day event featured keynote speaker Barbara Corcoran and numerous seminars on growth strategies led by a variety of small-business experts.

"Jason is why I have so much confidence in the future of this country and this culture," said Amy Cosper, VP and editor in chief of Entrepreneur. "Through his company, he's been unafraid to do things differently -- and has succeeded. He's an inspiration to all entrepreneurs who want to pave their own paths in business."

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