Do good and make money too

Here, founder and CEO of the company that invented the collapsible phone grip David Barnett talks about his approach to innovation, and what it’s like to be at the helm of a Gen Z-friendly business that’s become a global phenomenon

GQ: How would you describe your company culture?

DB: We strive to be SCRIPTIC: selfless, customer-obsessed, responsible, innovative, passionate, transparent, impactful and courageous. There’s an invisible ‘F’ for fun. SCRIPTIC players play better and win more often.

GQ: What makes your company Gen Z-friendly? DB: Snacks, snacks and more snacks. Our new office has an automated system that delivers up to two tons of vegan snacks per hour to Gen Z-ers (aka ‘snackitarians’), fuelling their mission to make a positive impact.

GQ: What are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned on your entrepreneurial journey? DB: The most successful products can fulfil needs people wouldn’t otherwise realise they have, such as a better way to hold a smartphone. Thinking outside the box happens less frequently than you might expect in business, especially considering how rare thinking inside the box is. Despite what varsity students’ parents would have them believe, philosophical training can be useful in life. Lastly, capitalist solutions to social problems can make a big impact.

GQ: Popsockets phone grips are receiving a lot of love. Take us through the process, from conception to production?

DB: In 2010, my frustration with tangled earbud cords led me to seek a solution at a local arts and crafts shop, where I glued a couple of giant clothing buttons to the back of my iphone 3 to serve as handles around which I could neatly wrap the cord. Problem solved. Only my friends and family laughed at me. I was used to that, because

I’d told my parents I wanted to be a philosopher, after all. So, I set out to develop a more elegant, multifunctional solution that served as a grip, stand and clip. I landed on the idea of miniaturising the collapsible accordion mechanisms from kitchen and camping bowls. It was harder than I thought it’d be. I had to learn how to use 3D modelling software and went through roughly 60 rounds of prototypes from China. In 2012, I launched a Kickstarter campaign around the first embodiment of the invention: an iphone case with two expandable buttons. Two years after I’d developed a standalone version of the product that works with any phone or case, I launched the business out of my garage in Boulder, Colorado.

GQ: The Popwallet’s such an awesome idea. What conversations are happening around your products, and what else can we expect from you? »