What started as a hobby and an idea to make some extra cash has turned into an award-winning product for UCF seniors and self-proclaimed sneakerheads Eric Delgado and Victoria Weiss. Delgado and Weiss\u2019s Rope Lace Supply, which makes colorful, custom shoelaces for sneaker aficionados, recently took second place\u2014and a $10,000 prize\u2014at the 2016 Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston.<\/p>\n
The Blackstone LaunchPad program hosted the pitch competition at Hard Rock Caf\u00e9 Boston for top ventures from 20 schools within the Blackstone Charitable Foundation network, including UCF, and awarded prize money to the three winners.<\/p>\n
Delgado and Weiss credited the Blackstone LaunchPad at UCF 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 UCF College of Business Administration\u2019s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to our\u00a0helpful coaches at the Blackstone Launchpad at UCF, we have increased our revenue by an additional $75,000,\u201d said Weiss, a Health Sciences major who owns more than 50 pairs of sneakers. \u201cIt has been a great experience\u00a0being part of a community of student entrepreneurs. We know what it\u2019s like to run a business while\u00a0in school and are able to support and learn from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Blackstone LaunchPad at UCF 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy sending free laces to social media influencers and advertising\u00a0through\u00a0them, in just\u00a0one day we\u00a0sold out\u00a0of 200 pairs,\u201d Weiss said. \u201cEric and I rarely got\u00a0any sleep because of\u00a0long nights\u00a0packing orders in my UCF dorm room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since its establishment in 2013, Rope Lace Supply has grossed\u00a0$800,000 and sold more than 150,000 pairs of shoelaces. They have customers in 75 countries and on six different\u00a0continents, and have worked with Adidas, Finish Line, Bloomberg and\u00a0United Way.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n