Have you ever lived with someone who has terrible shoe odor? Living in close quarters with shoe odor can be a really unbearable situation, so what is the solution? Taylor Wiegele joins the podcast to talk about his shoe odor solution, Zorpads.
Taylor received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He’s spent time in retail at Target Corporation, consumer goods at The Clorox Company, and aerospace at SpaceX. Bringing all of this experience to the table, Taylor and his business partner, Sierra Smith, founded Zorpads.
In our conversation, Taylor talks about his experience on Shark Tank, tips he has for fellow inventors, challenges they’ve faced along the way, what it takes to get press coverage, and much more. Don’t miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Taylor and Zorpads.
How Zorpads fights shoe odor.
Is shoe odor really that big of an issue? Can you build a whole business and brand around solving shoe odor? If you think about it, your shoes turn into a Dutch Oven over time as smell builds up. Most of the odor is caused by sweat that has nowhere to go! That’s where Zorpads come in; these pads have an insane amount of odor-absorbing surface area for sucking up bad smells. Zorpads are long lasting too; they can be used over the course of sixty wears. If you’d like to know more about the impressive technology that goes into each Zorpads product, make sure to check out their website located in the resources section.
Appearing on Shark Tank.
Most entrepreneurs and innovators dream of getting the chance to pitch their product on Shark Tank. Is the opportunity really all it’s hyped up to be? Are there any tips for getting a shot to appear on Shark Tank or making the most of that opportunity? Taylor Wiegele was kind enough to take the time to open up about his Shark Tank experience. Taylor and his business partner, Sierra leveraged their network and contacts with anyone who had ever connected with Shark Tank in any way to send in a recommendation for them to appear on the show. Fortunately, their efforts paid off, and by the time they were able to sit down with producers, they had already heard about Zorpads from multiple sources. Get the full story from Taylor on this episode!
Raise more money than you think you’ll need.
There are so many challenges to get a startup off the ground and functioning. Many entrepreneurs don’t have the margin in their budget to pay themselves for years. Looking back on his journey with Zorpads, Taylor Wiegele encourages innovators to aim for raising more money than they think they’ll need. The truth is, costs grow and variables arise that you can’t foresee when you first start your journey. If you go in with the knowledge that you’ll need even more funds than you think, you’ll be better prepared for whatever comes your way. Learn more helpful insights like this one from Taylor’s story by listening to this informative episode!
Key Takeaways
- [1:05] Taylor Wiegele joins the podcast to talk about his product, Zorpads.
- [4:45] What were the challenges of developing Zorpads?
- [6:30] Why it’s important to delay manufacturing as long as possible.
- [8:30] Taylor talks about why they didn’t launch their product via crowdfunding.
- [10:00] Tips for getting press attention and how to pitch your product.
- [12:30] Taylor opens up about the Shark Tank experience.
- [15:20] What would Taylor change about his product launch?
- [16:30] Taylor enters the Launch Round; rapid-fire questions.
- [18:00] Why you should check out Zorpads.
Links
- Mark Cuban
- Help A Reporter Out (HARO)
- Blake Mycoskie
- The Innovator’s Solution: Creating and Sustaining Successful Growth
- Shark Tank
Connect With Zorpads
Sponsors
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