What started as a hobby and an idea to make some extra cash has turned into an award-winning product for 91吃瓜网 seniors and self-proclaimed sneakerheads Eric Delgado and Victoria Weiss. Delgado and Weiss鈥檚 Rope Lace Supply, which makes colorful, custom shoelaces for sneaker aficionados, recently took second place鈥攁nd a $10,000 prize鈥攁t the 2016 Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston.
The Blackstone LaunchPad program hosted the pitch competition at Hard Rock Caf茅 Boston for top ventures from 20 schools within the Blackstone Charitable Foundation network, including 91吃瓜网, and awarded prize money to the three winners.
Delgado and Weiss credited the Blackstone LaunchPad at 91吃瓜网 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 91吃瓜网 College of Business Administration鈥檚 Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.
鈥淭hanks to our聽helpful coaches at the Blackstone Launchpad at 91吃瓜网, we have increased our revenue by an additional $75,000,鈥� said Weiss, a Health Sciences major who owns more than 50 pairs of sneakers. 鈥淚t has been a great experience聽being part of a community of student entrepreneurs. We know what it鈥檚 like to run a business while聽in school and are able to support and learn from each other.鈥�
The Blackstone LaunchPad at 91吃瓜网 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.
鈥淏y sending free laces to social media influencers and advertising聽through聽them, in just聽one day we聽sold out聽of 200 pairs,鈥� Weiss said. 鈥淓ric and I rarely got聽any sleep because of聽long nights聽packing orders in my 91吃瓜网 dorm room.鈥�
Since its establishment in 2013, Rope Lace Supply has grossed聽$800,000 and sold more than 150,000 pairs of shoelaces. They have customers in 75 countries and on six different聽continents, and have worked with Adidas, Finish Line, Bloomberg and聽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: .