Braden Handley

Braden Handley is a Canadian entrepreneur and co-founder of Inkbox, a semi-permanent tattoo brand that has influenced the global body art industry. Alongside his brother Tyler Handley, Braden Handley developed the concept of temporary tattoos that look and feel permanent but last up to two weeks. After graduating, Handley worked in client services and social media before launching Inkbox. The brothers started the company with $10,000 from a friend, handling all aspects of the business themselves, including customer service, design, shipping, and marketing.

The development of Inkbox's signature technology began with extensive research and experimentation. The Handley brothers discovered a fruit in the forests of Panama, traditionally used by local communities to dye their skin. They traveled to Panama to collaborate with the Darién Initiative, working with indigenous people in the Darién Gap to test the fruit-derived ink that became the foundation of Inkbox's proprietary, vegan formula. The duo validated their concept on Kickstarter, significantly surpassing their funding goal. Media coverage, including a feature on BuzzFeed, drove substantial traffic to their website.

Under Handley's leadership, Inkbox expanded to more than 180 employees and generated over $100 million in sales. The company's two-week tattoos have appeared on television shows such as "Stranger Things" and FX's "The Bear." Inkbox has collaborated with musicians and artists including Travis Barker, BTS, Post Malone, Rupi Kaur, and the estate of Keith Haring. Partnerships with major entertainment brands, such as Marvel Studios for Thor-themed tattoos, further established Inkbox's position in the temporary tattoo market. The company has also paid out $8 million to independent artists through its artist-partnership program.

Handley has appeared on CBC's "Dragons' Den" and was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 in the Retail & Ecommerce category. Through successful crowdfunding campaigns and viral media exposure, the Handley brothers built Inkbox into an eight-figure business, which was later acquired by BIC for $65 million. Handley has discussed the challenges of leadership, emphasizing the importance of delegation and trust in building a business. When BIC announced plans to close the brand, Handley and his brother submitted a bid to reacquire Inkbox, partnering with Jason Goldlist, CEO of Venue.ink, to preserve the company's legacy. Handley's career highlights the role of innovation, community engagement, and entrepreneurship in the body art and e-commerce industries.