The Startup Story

David Barnett, founder of PopSockets

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About this episode

This week's episode my guest this week is David Barnett the inventor and founder of PopSockets, now I know you know what a PopSocket is because they just sold their 200 millionth grip.

The brand PopSockets are so much more than just the accordion PopGrips they launched with. PopSockets now have an entire catalogue of products that are all designed to increase the functionality of our devices.

In fact, this past March Fast company honored PopSockets as one of the most innovative companies in the world.

Now here's the crazy part about the PopSocket story, did you know that it all started while David, who was a philosophy professor at the time, got tired of having his earbud cord get tangled. In fact, he first tried to solve his problem by gluing buttons on the back of his iPhone 3. But before we can even get to the part where he glues buttons on his iPhone 3, we need to start about 20 years earlier to fully understand where his journey begins.

In this episode, you'll hear:
  • David shares how he was not raised by entrepreneurs but did take to being an entrepreneur at the early age of 12.
  • How at the end of High school he turned to having fun and had no big plans apart from business in the future.
  • He took philosophy course at collage then went to physics as he enjoyed it.
  • David share that he was working as a Philosophy Professor when he stumbled across a problem with his iPhone earbuds that kept on tangling. This sparked his entrepreneurial flare to start PopSockets.
  • He explains how he first tried to solve this problem by sticking buttons to his phone case.
  • David shares that when he showed the product to people they laughed and dismissed him but this only drove him to want to do it more.
  • David shares how he wanted his Kick Starter Campaign to stand out so he made a dance video.
  • How he launched his company in 2014 and it had a lot of traction.
  • How he had many issues with the manufacturer, who would change the pattern of the design without tell him and deliver the wrong product.
  • He shares how as the company was growing it changed from just being a side business to being his full-time job.
  • How the impact of celebrities and middle school children were pushing the rapid growth of the product.
  • How he didn’t have a buyer persona and everyone with an iPhone was his customer.
  • He shares how he did no marketing or advertising and the business at the begining was very scrappy.
  • David shares how he would go to consumer market shows and pitch to everyone walking past. This got his foot in the door with Sam’s club,Best Buy and T-Mobile.
  • He shares that his first big break was T-Mobile, which had a huge operational impact of the company.
  • David shares how he sold their 200 millionth grip the 7th year of business and was names the 2nd fasted growing company with a growth of 72,000%
  • David shares how trade shows really helped his success and got him on the map.
  • He shares the positive impact of influencers and the companies first influencer was Jenna Marbels
  • How he hired people in the beginning with no business experience but people who could solve problems
  • David shares how Plant based PopGrips are currently being made. These pop sockets will be 100% decomposable and the ingredients they use to create them are grown by them
  • He shares the technology side of Pop Sockets with their app.
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    Pop Socket website - https://www.popsockets.com

    Pop Socket app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/popsockets-make-print-art/id1455513437
    Kickstarter video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35CFb9q1rJw

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    The Startup StoryBy James McKinney