It’s an unflattering problem for runners everywhere. You work up a sweat, your face is dripping and your nose starts leaking like a faucet. With no tissues or towels, you turn to the next best thing; the sleeve of your shirt or a good ol’ fashioned snot rocket.

Ryan Jacobson, a Fredericton marathoner who’s fired hundreds of these mucus missiles himself, found a way to put an end to them.

He developed the Yanky, a stylish-handkerchief that clips on to a retractable reel that athletes can clip on to their waistbands. It’s a more presentable way to wipe your nose while you work out and the simplicity of its design is why runners worldwide are adding Jacobson’s invention to their workout gear.

“I think that’s appealing to people – it doesn’t beep, it doesn’t sing a song,” said Jacobson, the Founder and President of Yanky Sports. “You wear it, go for a run, play tennis, and wipe your golf-ball with it and that’s it. It’s a simple solution to a common problem.”

Its simple design is attracting notice beyond New Brunswick. For example, Jacobson is showcasing the Yanky at the PGA merchandise show in Florida at the end of January.  

The idea for the Yanky came out of necessity for Jacobson, who is an avid runner. After years of encouragement from family and friends, Jacobson started the company, which now serves over 20 retail locations locally and throughout Canada.

In addition to retail and online sales, Jacobson promotes the Yanky heavily through social media. He has nurtured solid leads in the U.S. and Europe by connecting with athletes on platforms like Instagram. Jacobson collaborated with professional boxer Brandon Brewer to create a plaid Yanky, a nod to Brewer’s fan base dubbed “The Plaid Army”.

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The company has been gaining traction in terms of consumer interest and retail partners. It is in talks with The Running Room as the Canadian retailer is interested in stocking the Yanky online during a trial period.

In the meantime, Jacobson is working through different industrial design trademarks to secure his IP as well as looking for other avenues to get the Yanky to global markets.

Yanky Sports is also one of the five companies that will take part in Ignite Fredericton’s Export Igniter this month. The program, which is the first export accelerator program in Atlantic Canada, helps growth-stage companies build a comprehensive export strategy.

“I want this to be a global thing,” said Jacobson, “I want to see Yanky sports as a household name.”

Jacobson was able to start Yanky Sports through programs and resources at Opportunities New Brunswick and Ignite Fredericton, where he was given a $20,000 startup loan and introduced to mentors within the province’s ecosystem.

“Beyond the financial support, it’s the community that you get put into that I really can’t put a dollar value on.”