Whether you're holding your toddler, juggling groceries or simply trying not to drop your phone on your face while scrolling social media in bed, Charlotte startup SpiiderGriip has got you covered.
SpiiderGriip, founded in 2017 by David Britt, is a phone grip that uses a 3M adhesive to adhere to the back of a device or case. It rotates 360 degrees, props up and lays flat. Britt said the grip allows the user to hold their phone in a more natural way rather than by positioning a pinky at the bottom, which can cause discomfort.
"We like to say it frees up both of your hands, whether you're shopping or cooking, whether you’re laying on the couch and not wanting to drop your phone on your face or running a half marathon, it comes in handy all the time," he said. "I use it a lot to take videos, and I'm able to go from vertical to horizontal without taking my phone out of my hands."
The name is a play on Britt's son's favorite superhero, Spiderman, and a spider's ability to maintain a strong grip. The SpiiderGriip logo was designed by his 16-year-old daughter when she was just 12.
"Between my kids and my buddy, it was a friends-and-family-type development, so it’s been really neat," he said.
SpiiderGriip, which launched to the public in 2019, has raised several million dollars through private investments as well as partnerships with actress Kate Bosworth, actor Michael Polish and rapper Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, Britt said.
In October, Britt appeared on USA Network's "America's Big Deal" to pitch SpiiderGriip to a panel of potential investors and give viewers the chance to purchase the product in real time.
"To be live on a major network, to go on a show of that magnitude and showcase your product to the whole United States of America, showing them what you’ve done — I will never forget it," he said. "Small businesses have taken a hit over the last year or so, so doing a show where you’re backing small businesses in this country is such a huge deal."
The startup's appearance on the show created a snowball effect with no signs of slowing down, Britt said. The product sold out during the episode, and just last month, he appeared on the Home Shopping Network.
"The exposure and the financial impact, when you put yourself on a national stage like that, and people see you, it’s incredible," he said. "Our engine was running; we were driving; and we just got rocket propelled straight to outer space. We are on our way."
As 2022 approaches, Britt said customers can expect more of the same product they've come to love, as well as some new things that are on the horizon.
"We’ve got a couple other products that work with our current model that we’ll have in 2022 ... There are some really cool things in the pipeline," he said.
