By Bruce Barton

Corinne Wayshak of Los Altos has two degrees, in computer science and media and film, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. So what is she doing heading a company that makes confetti?

Wayshak, 35, is president and CEO of a 2-year-old company called Confoti, which produces a special kind of confetti - one with personalized images. The product is apparently a hit with event planners looking for something a bit different for their celebrations.

“We’re looking to be profitable by the end of the year,” said the enthusiastic Wayshak, who was on maternity leave from her previous firm, Muze, when co-founder and creator Geoff Mitchell approached her about his idea. “The second he told me (about the idea), I said, ‘This is it.’”

Mitchell himself came up with the idea while planning a birthday party for his wife. “He wondered, ‘How can I spread pictures (of the subject) around more?’” Wayshak said. His idea of decorating tables with tiny bits of the birthday girl’s image was a hit with the guests and convinced Mitchell his idea could go beyond one party.

Through its Web site, Confoti offers party planners up to 30 photos and three accent colors from which to create confetti-size pictures of the honorees. Customers can apply their specifications, send photos in a JPEG format and then wait for the mail. Wayshak said the orders average seven or eight pictures. People can expect their packages in seven days under regular priority mail, three days under rush priority.

Wayshak said the Confoti packages, which start at 2.5 ounces and 3,200 pieces, also are used for a variety of celebratory purposes, from accompanying cards and invitations to gift wrapping and decorating tables. She recalled a sculptor who created a piece completely covered with Confoti.

“We get a lot of ideas from people submitting orders,” said Wayshak, whose product has been ordered from all 50 states, along with other countries such as England, France and Australia. Other ideas include putting images on napkins and plates, and use in scrapbooking projects. “We want an acid-free version (of Confoti) so it can be archivable,” she said.

Confoti was founded in March 2001, at the peak of the dot-com bust, but a product initially thought up as “an event-based product with a short life” has proved to serve a variety of needs. “The product is recession proof,” Wayshak boasted.

The way Wayshak talks about Confoti, the sky’s the limit for this Sunnyvale-based company with 10 employees. “We’re on an upswing,” she said, pointing to a recent partnership with the Wedding Channel. Confoti has a top-rated public relations firm that has landed the company appearances on the “Today” show, and articles in Modern Bride and In Style.

“There’s a buzz in the office - you can almost see it in the air,” said Wayshak, part of that rare breed excelling in both left- and right-brain abilities. “This is the right thing at the right time.”

The 10-year Los Altos resident, with 14 years of experience designing and producing successful market media products, noted Confoti is going through a second round of funding from supportive investors. Confoti also has a group of “executive advisers,” including Jim Bean, director of finance at Apple Computer Inc., and Judy MacDonald Johnston, co-founder of PrintPaks, which produces multimedia craft kits for families.

“My focus is on making Confoti successful for our staff and our investors,” Wayshak said. “The flip side of it is that (the product) does resonate so much with my background.

“There’s nothing better than loving what you do and knowing it’s going to be a success.”

Confoti prices are $16.95 for 1-10 photos, $19.95 (11-20) and $24.95 (21-30). For more information, call (408) 524-8822 or logon to www.confoti.com.