Doublesoul CEO Allison Strumeyer on Her Entrepreneurial Journey and Sock Obsession

From College Side Hustle to Scaling a Start-up: Allison Strumeyer’s Journey

Our story today features Allison Strumeyer, the driven co-founder and CEO of Doublesoul. Allison shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting from her days at the University of Pennsylvania to scaling her own company.

Entrepreneurial Beginnings and Valuable Work Experiences

Allison’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident even in college, where she engaged in a side business selling T-shirts designed by local artists. However, after graduation, she made a calculated move to join BlackRock, aiming to gain insights from a global finance company that could later prove valuable as an entrepreneur.

Journey into the Start-Up World

After two years at BlackRock, Allison joined Mirror, a startup that would later be acquired by Lululemon. Her time at Mirror served as a training ground for learning about scaling a startup. This experience, combined with her previous corporate stint, prepared her for starting her own company.

A Passion for Socks Sparks a Business Idea

Allison found a unique business opportunity in the least expected place: socks. She noticed a lack of innovation and design in socks, despite it being a staple in our wardrobes. This led her and her husband, Ben, to invest in creating a superior sock prototype and launching Doublesoul in 2022.

Funding and the Decision to Leave a Steady Job

Allison remained in her day job until Doublesoul was well underway, showing caution about leaving a stable salary to fully pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. This decision was supported by Doublesoul successfully raising about $2 million in venture funding, which gave her the confidence to finally make the leap.

From Celebrity Endorsement to Shark Tank

Doublesoul caught the attention of comedian Pete Davidson, who loved their socks so much that he became an investor and even represented the company on “Shark Tank” along with Ben, while Allison was too pregnant to travel.

Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Allison emphasizes the importance of family time and maintaining a work-life balance while running a startup. She and Ben make sure to carve out non-business-related time for their family, a practice they believe is crucial for their personal wellbeing and the success of Doublesoul.