"We’ve all experienced it before: you excitedly put on a brand-new pair of shoes only to realize a few minutes later that they have given you painful blisters. For blistabloc co-founders Katherine Connors and Jacqueline Quill, this presented a massive opportunity to develop a product that could one day serve millions. Connors and Quill met while getting their MBA at Northeastern University — and a classroom project quickly became a full-fledged business. blistabloc’s flagship product b.bloc™, is a clear, adhesive insert that goes into your shoes, and significantly reduces friction, one of the main causes of blisters.

The company has come a long way since its inception. Connors and Quill received a first round of Gap Funding in August 2018, the same month they officially went into business. Today, just over a year after beginning the venture, the co-founders are not only wiser but are knowledgeable about the market they serve. By securing Gap Funding this past December blistabloc will continue to grow product awareness in new markets, secure additional wholesale partnerships with shoe retailers, as well as further solidify their e-commerce business."

Read more here: https://medium.com/nuidea/december-2018-gap-funding-blistabloc-78d1c01c1042

Our fortunate ability to partner with a company that has values we believe in.

As Jacqueline and I continue to grow blistabloc, we are always walking a tightrope to make sure that our partnerships are both strategically beneficial and align with our core beliefs. Given that between the two of us we hold complete ownership of blistabloc, we are able to have the final say in the path we lead. We are always making sure that our partners have a good reputation, make an impact, and most importantly — care more about the people they work with and the customers they serve.

"Connors sees this daily discomfort as just another challenge facing women in business, whose professional wardrobe often requires uncomfortable footwear. She and fellow Northeastern graduate Jacqueline Quill decided that the way to solve this problem for women in the workforce is by starting their own business.  

“Our philosophy was that if we could find a product that helped women to comfortably own their stride on the pavement and at work, it would foster a great sense of confidence,” said Quill.

Connors and Quill launched the company, which they called blistabloc, after they designed a clear adhesive insert that anyone can tape into their shoes to prevent blisters. Its patent-pending design is supposed to react as your feet move to reduce friction, which is what they say causes blisters."

Read more here: https://news.northeastern.edu/2018/10/23/women-face-enough-challenges-in-the-workplace-these-graduates-wont-let-blisters-be-another/