Get All Access for $5/mo

These Entrepreneurs Raised Almost $40,000 for Their 'No-Sock' Socks Two brothers from Idaho have come up with an alternative to the sock that prevents your shoes from stinking and still gives you a stylish, no-sock look.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

There is nothing more satisfying than a simple solution to a pervasive and universally annoying problem. Which is why Sole Socks makes us grin.

Apparently, we aren't alone. With more than a week left in its Kickstarter campaign, Sole Socks has raised almost $40,000.That's more than eight times the $4,500 that the Boise, Idaho-based entrepreneur-brother duo set out to raise.

Sole Socks were designed for people who want to pull off the stylish "no-socks" look without smelling up their shoes. The product is a flat shoe insert that absorbs sweat, provides extra padding for your feet and is machine washable. That means that when your shoes stink, you can throw the Sole Socks through the wash.

Related: This Site Allows Celebrities to Crowdfund for Causes in Real Time

"The idea for Sole Socks came about when we were trying to get that no-sock look. We wanted to pull off that look, but really, the alternatives out there were not really very good," says creator Tanner Dame in the Kickstarter video introducing the product (below). Little half socks slip off your feet; thin half socks can be folded down to be invisible, but then they develop holes, explains Tanner.

The top layer of Sole Socks is terry cloth to absorb sweat and odor and the bottom layer is a breathable latex that grips your shoe to prevent slipping. They are absorbent, invisible and convenient.

Tanner and his brother Taylor are launching the company together. Tanner and Taylor have worked together before, starting way back with their neighborhood lemonade stand. The brothers have complimentary talents: Tanner knows about manufacturing and product development and Taylor is a marketing and advertising guy.

From believing that a problem can have a solution to reaching out to the crowd for access to capital, Tanner and Taylor epitomize the entrepreneurial spirit.

Related: Your Crowdfunding Cheat Sheet (Infographic)

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

How to Close the Trust Gap Between You and Your Team — 5 Strategies for Leaders

Trust is tanking in your workplace. Here's how to fix it and become the boss your team needs to succeed.

Marketing

6 Cost-Effective Ways to Acquire Brand Ambassadors

Boost your brand's visibility and credibility with budget-friendly strategies for acquiring brand ambassadors.

Health & Wellness

Get a Year of Unlimited Yoga Class Downloads for Only $23 Through June 17

Regular exercise has been proven to increase energy and focus, both of which are valuable to entrepreneurs and well-known benefits of yoga.

Growing a Business

He Immigrated to the U.S. and Got a Job at McDonald's — Then His Aversion to Being 'Too Comfortable' Led to a Fast-Growing Company That's Hard to Miss

Voyo Popovic launched his moving and storage company in 2018 — and he's been innovating in the industry ever since.

Side Hustle

'The Work Just Fills My Soul': She Turned Her Creative Side Hustle Into a 6-Figure 'Dream' Business

Kayla Valerio, owner of vivid hair salon Haus of Color, transformed her passion into a lucrative venture.

Business Culture

Why Remote Work Policies Are Good For the Environment

Remote work policies are crucial for ESG guidelines. Embracing remote work can positively impact your business and employees.