AguaSAC

Liesl Kielp is thinking outside the bottle with her start-up company AguaSAC, which produces and sells purified water in recyclable pouches.

However, it's not the unique container that really defines her product; the company's employees with special needs are the key to her business model.

"My ultimate big goal is that every work and vocational training center is completely booked out with AguaSAC business," Kielp said.

AguaSAC already employs adults with special needs from two centers in Phoenix -- Williams Express and Valley Life. Right now the employees print and apply labels to the pouches, but the company will expand its workforce as it grows.

Kielp said her background in flexible packaging as well as volunteering with people with special needs led her to found the start-up.

"There are lot of people with special needs who really need work," she said. "I want them to have a place to go day-in-and-day-out, make friends, make some money. AQUAsac can then show other businesses the things they can do to help people with special needs."