Teich argues that the government benefits from Flir's approach, because as the company churns out more products for commercial customers, prices drop.

FORBES

The women played around with different designs and consulted with Ms. Teich's father, an aerospace engineer, about creating a prototype and writing a patent.

WSJ: Those With Specific Tastes Play Favorites With Food

And while Flir Systems may not be a household name these days, Teich says the company has plans to build up its ThermoVision brand.

FORBES

"We develop a product on a commercial model, but we make it military-qualified, " says Andrew Teich , president of Flir's Commercial Vision Systems Group.

FORBES

In 2002, the two had a conversation about why Ms. Teich loved scooping and how Ms. Musgnug hated doing it, and an idea was born.

WSJ: Those With Specific Tastes Play Favorites With Food

Contrast that, Teich suggests, with competitors like Lockheed Martin or Raytheon.

FORBES