What started as a hobby and an idea to make some extra cash has turned into an award-winning product for ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ seniors and self-proclaimed sneakerheads Eric Delgado and Victoria Weiss. Delgado and Weissβs Rope Lace Supply, which makes colorful, custom shoelaces for sneaker aficionados, recently took second placeβand a $10,000 prizeβat the 2016 Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston.
The Blackstone LaunchPad program hosted the pitch competition at Hard Rock CafΓ© Boston for top ventures from 20 schools within the Blackstone Charitable Foundation network, including ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½, and awarded prize money to the three winners.
Delgado and Weiss credited the Blackstone LaunchPad at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ for helping get their dream of a sneaker shoelace business off the ground. The Blackstone LaunchPad is a campuswide initiative that helps student entrepreneurs bring their business ideas to life. It is one of a suite of services offered through ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ College of Business Administrationβs Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.
βThanks to ourΒ helpful coaches at the Blackstone Launchpad at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½, we have increased our revenue by an additional $75,000,β said Weiss, a Health Sciences major who owns more than 50 pairs of sneakers. βIt has been a great experienceΒ being part of a community of student entrepreneurs. We know what itβs like to run a business whileΒ in school and are able to support and learn from each other.β
The Blackstone LaunchPad at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ provides one-on-one startup coaching, seminars and access to a mentor network and subject-matter experts. Students have access to free services without any obligations. Counselors provide confidential feedback and resources to help students learn how to build and manage their business. They can get information on everything from how to file taxes and raise funding to bookkeeping and marketing.
Delgado and Weiss started Rope Lace Supply as sophomores with just $300. With a goal of creating fun, unique shoelaces that allow sneakerheads to personalize their shoes, Delgado and Weiss found a distributor and set up a website.
βBy sending free laces to social media influencers and advertisingΒ throughΒ them, in justΒ one day weΒ sold outΒ of 200 pairs,β Weiss said. βEric and I rarely gotΒ any sleep because ofΒ long nightsΒ packing orders in my ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ dorm room.β
Since its establishment in 2013, Rope Lace Supply has grossedΒ $800,000 and sold more than 150,000 pairs of shoelaces. They have customers in 75 countries and on six differentΒ continents, and have worked with Adidas, Finish Line, Bloomberg andΒ United Way.
Now the creators of Rope Lace Supply have their sights set on making their product available in 100 retailers and entering into licensing agreements with major athletic brands. They also plan to open an office and hire employees.
To learn more about Rope Lace Supply, visit: .