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Standing Ovation An innovative way to sell ads brings this entrepreneur success.

By Spencer Miller

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

What: Advertisements that stand upright in cup holders
Who: Matt Faulkner of ArmsLength Promotions
Where: Los Angeles
When: Started in 1999; patented in 2002
Startup costs: $40,000

The next time you go to a movie, you may be entertained before the show even starts. The latest trend in direct advertising is Arms-Length Promotions' product, the Stand-In, and it's grasping the attention of entire audiences, one cup holder at a time.

After arriving early to a movie with his son, ArmsLength founder and CEO Matt Faulkner, 48, noticed the untapped potential of stadium seating cup holders as a medium for advertising. By 2002, Faulkner secured a patent for the Stand-In and set the stage for a new wave of advertising in entertainment venues across the nation. Using only friction and postcard-weight card stock, the Stand-In fits securely into and stands upright in almost any cup holder without blocking it.