Our community boasts a vibrant group of startups, each with a unique journey and story. The Startup Spotlight series introduces their ventures, exploring their inspirations, challenges, and successes. In this edition, we feature Stingblade, an innovative tool designed to treat jellyfish stings effectively and safely. Inspired by Mark's personal encounters with jellyfish, the Stingblade team turned adversity into innovation.
What's your story? How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My journey into creating Stingblade began with personal adversity and a drive to protect others from the same pain and dangers I faced. In 2018, while swimming off the coast of Sicily, I encountered a dense shoal of jellyfish and suffered approximately 20 stings. My skin became blistered, infected, and required medical attention. I vividly remember how my skin looked like a patchwork of damage, a constant reminder of the severity of those stings.
The turning point came not just from my own experience, but from an even more traumatic event involving my sister. While swimming in Mallorca, she was stung by a Portuguese Man o’ War—one of the most dangerous jellyfish, with tentacles that can stretch up to 165 feet. The neurotoxins from the sting caused severe pain, and, unfortunately, an emergency responder worsened her condition by improperly treating her injury. This led to partial and permanent vision loss, a constant reminder of how critical proper care is in these situations.
These incidents were a wake-up call for me. It became clear that there was a serious gap in how jellyfish stings were treated, and I felt a deep frustration that there wasn’t a scientifically backed, effective protocol to address these kinds of injuries. In 2018, I channeled that frustration into something positive and innovative. I developed Stingblade—a device designed to treat jellyfish stings with precision, helping to mitigate pain and prevent severe consequences from encounters with marine stingers.
For me, Stingblade is more than just a tool. It’s a mission to ensure no one else suffers the way I did—or the way my sister did—without access to the right care. It’s my response to a problem that has impacted both my life and the lives of others, and I’m committed to ensuring that no one faces jellyfish stings without the proper treatment.
Why does the industry need the solution you're providing?
A jellyfish sting can ruin a perfect beach day with pain, itching, and inflammation. Stingblade is designed to safely remove jellyfish micro-barbs from the skin without activating them, preventing secondary stinging and pain, so you can get back to enjoying the water quickly.
Equipped with a precision-engineered scraping edge, this tool helps to remove jellyfish micro-barbs, ensuring you can navigate the waves without the fear of painful stings. Its cutting-edge technology allows for targeted removal, leaving you with nothing but the pure joy of a pristine swim.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your own company?
Starting your own company lets you make a real impact. You get to build something meaningful. It’s a challenging journey, but the rewards of making a difference are immense.A lot of entrepreneurs are driven by the desire to create something meaningful—something that solves problems or adds value. There’s really nothing like the feeling of knowing that your work is making a difference, big or small. I’m also really proud that Stingblade is making that kind of impact.
What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning?
Launching Stingblade, a product for treating jellyfish stings, came with challenges that were successfully overcome through education, trust-building, and targeted marketing. Many customers rely on myths, such as using vinegar or urine to treat stings.
To address this, the team has been educating the public through social media and yacht shows, explaining why Stingblade is the safer and most effective solution. Through storytelling and live demonstrations, the team has built trust and showcased Stingblade’s superior effectiveness.
What’s next for your business? Where do you see it in 3-5 years?
We aim to educate the world with Stingblade, ensuring everyone is aware of the first line of defence against jellyfish stings. We envision ourselves being in every beach bar, every yacht charter, and every diving company—making sure everyone is prepared
Any advice for entrepreneurs just starting out in this space?
Starting a business is exciting but challenging, and it’s important to know why you’re doing it and what problem you're solving. Keep learning along the way—whether it’s about your industry or how to manage the business better—and be mindful of your time to avoid burnout. It takes persistence, but by staying focused and continuing to push forward, success will follow.
And a fun one—what’s a quote or some words that you live by?
Don’t fear… Stingblade is here!
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