Clay Canning had an thought whereas in highschool: smartphone display protectors that featured logos, proper on the display.
He later linked with Rashaun Brown, who was working in sports activities and licensing on the time, and the concept for Display screen Skinz was born.
“We each understood the chance and complemented one another’s weak spot,” Brown, the corporate’s CEO, informed TechCrunch. “In December 2022, I resigned from my job to pursue constructing Display screen Skinz with Clay full time.”
Now, Display screen Skinz can formally announce the closing of a $1.5 million seed spherical led by South Loop Ventures and Abo Ventures.
The corporate produces customized, patent-pending telephone display protectors that function customized logos or slogans which might be seen when the telephone display is black after which disappear when the telephone is in use. Clients can create their very own designs or decide from the corporate’s current catalog.
Telephone equipment have all the time been an enormous market, with the worldwide display protector market alone price an estimated $51 billion as of 2023.
Display screen Skinz already holds artistic licenses with varied big-name manufacturers, working with organizations such because the NFL and NBA and leisure manufacturers like Marvel and the WWE.
Instance of Display screen Skinz display protector. Picture Credit: Display screen Skinz
The newest fundraise allowed Display screen Skinz to maneuver manufacturing from Asia to the U.S., permitting it to extra simply management its provide chain.
The corporate is trying to double down on the display safety business, and although it presently solely focuses on smartphones, there’s a plan to someday develop to creating display protectors for tablets. “With our IP, we are able to basically develop display safety for any cellular machine that has use for a display protector and encompasses a backlit show,” Brown mentioned.
Brown described Display screen Skinz’s fundraising course of as “totally different,” stating that it took the corporate a couple of yr to shut its seed spherical. Brown and Canning deliberately took their time, as additionally they sought to refine their provide chain and put together stock for a mass go-to-market. “We wished to do the work of promoting a practical imaginative and prescient to buyers,” Brown mentioned.
Display screen Skinz met its co-lead investor, Abo Ventures, by Brown’s community from when he labored at Texas A&M. They then met South Loop Ventures whereas taking part within the DivInc Sports activities Tech Accelerator in Houston.
Michelle Micone, the previous SVP of client merchandise at NFL and Hasbro, mentioned she preferred that the staff had a singular idea and in addition discovered the manufacturing and logistics of manufacturing it. “Clients need a excessive stage of personalization, nevertheless it’s actually, actually exhausting to ship on time and at an affordable value. Display screen Skinz has that method, and I wished to be a part of it,” she informed TechCrunch.
Different buyers within the spherical embrace Brent Montgomery, the CEO of Wheelhouse CEO, alongside Wayne Pfeffer and Brendan O’Donnel, former administrators of worldwide cellular accent merchandise at Apple. Pfeffer, specifically, was additionally offered on the concept of constructing display protectors extra personalizable. “For years, personalizing your machine was restricted to the case,” he informed TechCrunch. “After I noticed the evolution to the entrance on a display protector, I used to be offered!
Brown mentioned the corporate might look to boost as early as subsequent yr once more. Display screen Skinz subsequent has some partnerships lined up and is concentrated on buyer acquisition and deepening licensing relationships.
