His house burned down. He used the insurance money to build PopSockets.
His house burned down. He used the insurance money to build PopSockets.
Does a consumer hardware company need to get on the VC treadmill to succeed? Eleven years and 290 million products sold across 115 countries later, PopSockets has proven that the bootstrapped, low-dilution path more viable than the industry gives it credit for. The global consumer hardware brand was built on less than $500k, no institutional capital, and a philosophy professor’s determination.
Watch as founder and former CEO of PopSockets David Barnett joins Equity to talk about how he scaled from a Boulder garage, stood up to Amazon at a $10–20 million cost, and eventually handed off the CEO role to someone who’d grown up inside the company.
Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
Theresa Loconsolo is an audio producer at TechCrunch focusing on Equity, the network’s flagship podcast. Before joining TechCrunch in 2022, she was one of 2 producers at a four-station conglomerate where she wrote, recorded, voiced and edited content, and engineered live performances and interviews from guests like lovelytheband. Theresa is based in New Jersey and holds a bachelors degree in Communication from Monmouth University.
You can contact or verify outreach from Theresa by emailing theresa.loconsolo@techcrunch.com.
Most Popular
Newsletters
Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news
Related
Patrocinados
Patrocinados
Patrocinados
Patrocinados
Publicaciones
Categorías
Read More
Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year iron rule In this 2017 photo, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, sits in a session to deliver his message for the Iranian New Year. A portrait of the late revolutionary founder, Ayatollah...
Russian man accused of secretly filming women in GhanaMakuochi OkaforWest Africa reporterGetty ImagesThe man is accused of filming several women during sexual encounters, without their consent. (File picture)Ghana has requested the extradition of a Russian man accused of illegally recording his sexual encounters with several women and sharing the videos online without their consent.African and...
Herzog visit: Australian police defend actions after protest violenceAustralia police defend actions after violence at protest over Israeli president visitLana LamandKaty Watson,SydneyWatch: BBC reports from Sydney as police use pepper spray on pro-Palestine protestAustralian police have defended their actions after violently clashing with protesters during a demonstration against a visit by...
A kidnap and a Bitcoin demand - why Guthrie case has gripped the USAn abduction, a Bitcoin demand and a TV icon - why Nancy Guthrie's case has gripped the USDavid WillisTucson, ArizonaGetty ImagesBefore the sun rose over a barren desert landscape, YouTuber Jimmy Williams watched as hundreds of subscribers took to his online chat room.A laptop balanced precariously on his knees, his iPhone...
The Best Films from Sundance 2026
Sundance 2026 showcased a diverse range of films, offering something for everyone. Whether you're in the mood for a good laugh, a thought-provoking story, or something a bit unusual, this year's festival had it all. From comedies that will tickle your funny bone to darker tales that keep you on the edge of your seat, the selection of films was truly impressive. Among the standout films,...
