AI Summary
Brace, founded by Tanvi Gadam Sethi and Madhava Garwal, creates the world's first shoelaces that never come untied. Starting as a college classroom project in 2024, the company has grown into a seven-figure business with patents and investor interest. At the Chase for Business experience, they discuss their journey, technology, and partnership with Chase.
Chapters
Tanvi and Madhava built Brace while still in college, achieving a seven-figure business, investor interest, and multiple patents without dropping out.
Brace makes the world's first and only shoelaces that never come untied, using proprietary Lattice Grip technology engineered at the yarn level for athlete performance and safety.
Brace started in early 2024 from a 36-hour classroom project. Initially, judges doubted it would convert into customers, but it became the only business from that class to succeed.
The founders attended Chase for Business to connect with other small businesses, learn about resources, and grow Brace with Chase's support.
Chase offers a portfolio of solutions including capital growth, business loans, credit lines, and the digital tool Business Credit Journey, which helps customers interact with credit scores.
In five years, Brace aims to be a household name and the gold standard for performance and safety across athletics and other industries.
The relationship with Chase evolved from a typical business owner-bank relationship to a friendship, with Chase always supporting Brace.
Brace's journey from a classroom project to a seven-figure business highlights the power of perseverance and innovation. With Chase's support, they aim to become a household name in performance and safety.
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Mentioned in this Video
Study Flashcards (6)
What is Brace's product?
easy
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What is Brace's product?
The world's first and only shoelaces that never come untied.
00:15
What technology does Brace use?
medium
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What technology does Brace use?
Lattice Grip technology engineered at the yarn level.
00:15
When did Brace start?
easy
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When did Brace start?
Early 2024.
00:30
How long was the classroom project that started Brace?
medium
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How long was the classroom project that started Brace?
36 hours.
00:30
What is Chase's digital tool for small businesses?
medium
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What is Chase's digital tool for small businesses?
Business Credit Journey.
01:15
What is Brace's goal in five years?
hard
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What is Brace's goal in five years?
To be a household name and the gold standard for performance and safety across industries.
01:30
💡 Key Takeaways
College Success Without Dropping Out
Demonstrates that building a successful business is possible while still in college.
World's First Non-Untying Shoelaces
Unique product innovation with proprietary Lattice Grip technology.
00:15From Classroom Project to Only Survivor
Overcame initial skepticism to become the only business from the class to succeed.
00:30Chase's Business Credit Journey Tool
Highlights a digital tool that helps small business owners manage credit scores.
01:15From Banker to Friend
Illustrates the value of a supportive banking relationship beyond transactions.
01:45Full Transcript
We did not have to drop out to actually build a seven -figure business, have investors go on to TV shows and have multiple patents. We did all of that while still being in college. My name is Tanvi Gadam Sethi and I'm the co -founder and COO of Brace. I'm Madhava Garwal, I'm the CEO and co -founder of Brace. Today, Brace makes the world's first and only shoelaces that never come untied. We call them shoelaces that never
quit. So Brace actually... When tired we call them shoelaces that never quit. So Brace actually started in early 2024 out of a classroom project. We had 36 hours to not just build a business concept into an actual business but take it as far as we possibly could. But the judges in the room did not feel it was an actual business that would actually convert into customers. Our technology is called Lattice Grip. At that like yarn level
we're engineering better materials so that those materials are supporting the athletes performance and safety. Those materials are supporting the athlete's performance and safety and we're making it as accessible as possible. And today Brace is actually the only business to ever come out of that class after these two years. It's our first time here at the Chase for Business experience and we're so excited to be here. The experience is wonderful. It's the way we bring Chase for
Business to life for our small business owners. We let them connect with other small business owners. We let them learn about experiences and products that can help them run their business. We want products that can help them run their business. We want to help them make their job easier so that they can focus on what they care about which is running a business. We're excited to meet other small businesses and other startups in the Detroit area
and around Michigan but also learn about the resources that are available and help just Brace grow even further with Chase's support. I think today Chase provides us with a portfolio of solutions and facilities all the way from growing the capital we already have to also business loans and credit lines. Business Credit Journey is a great new digital Also business loans and credit lines. Business Credit Journey is a great new digital tool that we're rolling out for
our small business customers and it allows them to interact with two different credit scores as well as their personal credit score and it allows them to really think through how they move their business forward and get to the next level. In five years we want Brace to be a household name and to be the gold standard known for performance and safety not just within athletics but cross industries as well. What actually began as a relationship a
very typical Began as a relationship, a very typical business owner to bank relationship two years ago has now turned into more of a friendship. We know that we always have someone who's in our corner no matter what happens.