Clay Canning had an idea when he was in high school: smartphone screen protectors that displayed logos, right on the screen.
He later connected with Rashaun Brown, who was working in sports and licensing at the time, and the idea for Screen Skinz was born.
“We both understood the opportunity and complemented each other’s weakness,” Brown, the company’s CEO, told TechCrunch. “In December 2022, I quit my job to continue building Screen Skinz with Clay full-time.”
Now, Screen Skinz can officially announce the closing of a $1.5 million round led by South Loop Ventures and Abo Ventures.
The company produces patent-pending custom phone screen protectors that feature personalized logos or slogans that are visible when the phone’s screen is black and then disappear when the phone is in use. Customers can create their own designs or choose from the company’s existing catalog.
Phone accessories have always been a huge market, with the global screen protector market alone estimated at $51 billion from 2023.
Screen Skinz already holds creative licenses with a number of big-name brands, working with organizations like the NFL and NBA and entertainment brands like Marvel and WWE.
Example Screen Skinz screensaver. Image Credits: Screen Skinz
The latest fundraising has allowed Screen Skinz to move production from Asia to the US, allowing it to more easily control its supply chain.
The company is looking to double down on the screen protector industry, and although it currently only focuses on smartphones, there is a plan to one day expand into making screen protectors for tablets. “With our IP, we can essentially develop a screen protector for any mobile device that’s used for a screen protector and has a backlit display,” Brown said.
Brown described Screen Skinz’s fundraising process as “different,” stating that it took the company about a year to close the first round. Brown and Canning took their time deliberately as they also sought to improve their supply chain and prepare inventory for a mass market release. “We wanted to do the work of selling a realistic vision to investors,” Brown said.
Screen Skinz met its lead investor, Abo Ventures, through Brown’s network from his time at Texas A&M. They then met South Loop Ventures while participating in the DivInc Sports Tech Accelerator in Houston.
Michelle Micone, former SVP of consumer products at the NFL and Hasbro, said she liked that the team had a unique concept and also figured out the manufacturing and logistics of its production. “Customers want a high level of personalization, but it’s really, really hard to deliver on time and at a reasonable price. Screen Skinz has that formula and I wanted to be a part of it,” he told TechCrunch.
Other investors in the round include Wheelhouse CEO Brent Montgomery, along with Wayne Pfeffer and Brendan O’Donnel, former global product managers for mobile accessories at Apple. Pfeffer, in particular, was also sold on the idea of making screen protectors more personalized. “For years, personalizing your device was limited to the case,” he told TechCrunch. “When I saw the evolution forward in a screen protector, I was sold!
Brown said the company could look for growth as early as next year again. Next, Screen Skinz has some partnerships and is focused on acquiring customers and deepening licensing relationships.
