With Mocubo having recently launched in the Quirky store and about to hit retail shelves nationwide, we thought we’d check in with inventor, Justin Giannone, to discuss his experience having his idea go from sketch to store.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a true New York Pizza Bagel – Half Italian and Half Jewish. I grew up an avid tennis player and lover of all sports. I went to NYU and studied Psychology, Neural Science and Pre-med, and other random things. Since then I’ve served BBQ food, worked on Cisco networks, and worked in a number of roles for my family business, an electronic components distributor and LCD solutions provider. I’m getting married in October to the love of my life who I cook for almost every day. I love art and entertainment that pushes the envelope. I’m involved with a incredible charity – The Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, and I hope to be involved in more in the near future.
When did you join Quirky?
I think it was June of 2010.
When and how did you think up the idea for this product?
I thought of the idea when I was lying in bed trying to sleep. I had cleaned up after dinner, but didn’t feel like cleaning the cutting board (I used our biggest board so I could spread out). Since it was so huge and cleaning is such a pain in the tuchus, I just left it in the sink but that was stressing me out. Then it hit me. I started researching it on my phone right then and there at like 1AM. Then woke up and did some research and submitted it. Over the next few months the idea evolved into something much better.
Had you tried to make this thing on your own already?
No, I submitted it to Quirky about 10 hours after it first popped into my brain.
What do you think of the final product?
It’s fantastic. Simple, modern, beautiful, functional and fun. What more could you ask for?
In your opinion, what is the most innovative product ever invented?
Do human beings count as a product? If not, then go with the obvious, the smartphone. Every day I’m in awe of them.
What inspires you?
Risk takers like my parents and brother. Food. Big concepts like spirituality and the universe. Leafless trees. Maynard James Keenan. Travelling (especially to Europe). My nephews and their hilarious imaginations. Taoism. Biology & Psychology. Quirky.com and all it’s creative people. Open innovation. My friends and relatives, most of whom have amazing lives, and are living their dreams.
What are some of your quirks?
I love all things math and got a perfect score on my math SATs. I’m a big time dabbler. I’m still that kid that asks “why” to everything. I need to understand everything and love learning. I’m a real jack of all “you know what”. I’m great at starting things…
Any parting words?
Thank you Ben and the entire Quirky team for making this happen and just being so damn cool. Thank you Quirky community for backing and helping to develop this product. Mocubo’s development has been a heck of a learning experience and confidence builder for me. This whole Quirky thing is special and I’m so proud and ridiculously excited to be a part of it.
