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business22h ago
Friends Said His Business Idea Was the ‘Stupidest Thing.’ Then He Sold Over 290 Million: ‘I Watched Their Jaws Drop’
- David Barnett, a former philosophy professor, created PopSockets in his garage after knotting headphone wires inspired a simple, expandable circle.
- He iterated hundreds of prototypes before finalizing the accordion mechanism that could stick to a phone.
- A pivotal moment came when a campus encounter with middle schoolers helped prove demand for the product.
- PopSockets achieved explosive growth by selling a single unit at $10 and showcasing its grip function clearly.
- The product went viral via celebrities, schools, and promotional partnerships before major retailers lined up.
- By 2018, PopSockets earned recognition as one of the fastest-growing US companies according to Inc.
- Barnett emphasizes starting small and not quitting a day job until financially secure.
- He relied on a fun, non-traditional Kickstarter approach to spread the word.
- Retail success followed, with major partners like Walmart, Best Buy, and Apple expanding reach.
- Today, PopSockets remains a major phone accessory with a lasting global footprint.
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