Gent’s Talk: Ep 52 - A Sit-Down w/ Inkbox

Welcome to Episode 52 of the Gent’s Talk podcast. We sat down with brothers Tyler and Braden Handley, founders of Inkbox. Inkbox is a Canadian company based out of Toronto that produces temporary tattoos. Gone are the days of those cheap little tattoos we used to get as kids that would only last a few hours; these temporary tattoos last 1-2 weeks! During our conversation, the brothers discussed their entrepreneurial journey and the Toronto Metropolitan University Masters (TMU) program. They also dished out some advice for future entrepreneurs.

Traditional tattoos are permanent because they stick to your dermis. With Inkbox, their temporary tattoos sit on your epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). This naturally regenerates in 1-2 weeks, which is why their tattoos start to fade in roughly 1-2 weeks. Once applied, the ink reacts with the proteins and keratin in the skin and darkens over 24-36 hours.

Entrepreneurs

The Inkbox journey began at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), with Tyler identifying a personal pain point (not ready to commit to a permanent tattoo) and Braden needing to solve it. After that, the entrepreneurs were prepared to see how big the market was. Surprisingly, they had discovered there was quite the need for permanent-temporary tattoos, so the next step was building capital. Acknowledging that the latter is the most difficult, they pointed out that these were the foundational pillars to look into when starting a business.

An unexpected discovery was that the brothers prefer to use micro-influencers to help promote their brand. They tend to select a few influencers and send them products with the hopes they will create some viral content. Regarding acquiring capital, Tyler mentioned that the most critical question to ask investors is, “What do you need to see from me to get a cheque from you?” He stated that most entrepreneurs overthink things and often fall into the trap of wanting to look like an entrepreneur but failing to do the actual work.

TMU

Braden (who went to TMU) speaks highly of The Master of Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MEIE) Program. TMU has invested heavily in making entrepreneurship accessible to both students and the broader community. Through their early-stage technology incubator, Innovation Boost Zone, researchers, entrepreneurs, and students have access to mentorship, funding, and co-working space to support their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial journey.

They also offer an unconventional master’s program designed for the modern entrepreneur. The Master of Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MEIE) program is offered to engineering or science graduates who have the desire to pursue entrepreneurship and/or make a meaningful societal impact. Students can access over $38,000 in awards and thousands of dollars in scholarships to build their ideas and subsidize their courses. With amazing office space in the heart of Toronto, seasoned instructors, and evening classes, take your startup from ideation to go-to-market in only 16 months. Check out the program here: https://www.torontomu.ca/meie

Please tune into Episode 52 for the entire conversation with the founders of Inkbox as they tell the story of how they travelled through the jungles of Panama to retrieve the fruit for their For Now Ink™.

About Gent’s Talk

Bulova Canada presents Episode 52 of Gent’s Talk, available for streaming on YouTube, Spotify, Goodpods, iHeartRadio, Apple and Google Podcasts! It is filmed at StartWell Studios in Toronto. You can now catch Season 1 and 2 on all Air Canada flights! Your continued support throughout this journey is appreciated. Thank you!