Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Kirstein
Hi Jacob, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always had a passion for inventing. I grew up in Boca Raton, FL, where my interest in engineering and problem-solving led me to study at UCF and work at SpaceX and NASA. Those roles taught me a lot, but I had an itch to create something of my own.
In 2020, during a brainstorming call with an old roommate, he tossed out the idea of a vacuum-insulated lip balm holder. Initially, I didn’t see the potential—I’d never even thought much about lip balm. But when I mentioned it to my girlfriend, her excitement convinced me to give it a shot. I 3D-printed a mock-up, posted a TikTok about it, and within hours, it went viral. That’s when I realized I had something special.
I launched Chapie on my 25th birthday in 2021 through presales, which funded the initial production. It was a challenging journey, with everything from manufacturing setbacks to scams, but each hurdle taught me something crucial. Today, Chapie focuses on developing the world’s best heat-resistant containers. We’ve expanded from one size for standard lip balm to five form factors for different needs and are working on a new proprietary insulation technology set to launch in 2025.
As Chapie grew, I launched Coolio, an outdoor backpack cooler with all-in-one features designed for beach days, hikes, and more. With innovations like floating capability, a built-in battery, and water-resistant storage, Coolio is crafted for adventure. Shortly after, I teamed up with developers from UC Berkeley to create Boatie—a food and drink delivery app for boaters in South Florida. Both Boatie and Coolio are still in their early stages, but they’re fueled by the same drive to make life easier for people who love the outdoors.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—every step has come with its own set of challenges. When I first started Chapie, I had no idea how difficult it would be to bring a vacuum-insulated lip balm holder to life. I launched through presales, which helped fund production, but also put me under pressure to deliver quickly and manage high customer expectations from day one.
One of the biggest early challenges was manufacturing. After getting hundreds of preorders, I was scammed by a manufacturer that ended up stealing $7,000 of preorder money. This was a huge hit—not only financially but also in terms of customer trust. Thankfully, I managed to recover the funds after reporting it to various authorities, but it was a tough lesson in the importance of vetting suppliers carefully.
Another obstacle was finding a manufacturer capable of making such a unique product. The design of Chapie required special production techniques to create a small, effective vacuum-insulated container. It took months of trial and error to find the right manufacturer willing to work with me to refine the product. I also had to learn how to balance quality control, timelines, and costs. Every production run involved tweaking the process and addressing new issues, so it was a constant learning curve.
Scaling was another challenge. As Chapie started gaining popularity, I had to find ways to meet demand without sacrificing quality. Managing inventory, logistics, and customer service alone was overwhelming. It became clear that building a team and investing in the right systems were essential to keep up with growth, so I began outsourcing fulfillment, customer support, and eventually hired help to handle marketing and product development.
In 2023, I expanded into new projects with Coolio and Boatie, which came with their own unique set of hurdles. Designing Coolio, an all-in-one outdoor backpack cooler, was a complex process that involved integrating features like floating capability, a built-in battery, and water-resistant storage. Each of these features added new design and manufacturing challenges, and the testing phase was intense to ensure it could stand up to real-world conditions.
Boatie, the app for delivering food and drinks to boaters in South Florida taught me a lot about leveraging tech and logistics. Building an app and coordinating with delivery drivers and local vendors brought in a lot of new moving parts. I teamed up with developers from UC Berkeley to help, but we’re still fine-tuning and adapting as we learn what works best in this market.
Overall, the journey has been far from smooth, but each setback has taught me something invaluable. I’ve learned the importance of resilience, meticulous planning, and constant adaptation. Each challenge reinforced that setbacks are part of the process and that building a company—especially one with innovative products—requires grit, patience, and a willingness to learn from every obstacle along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Chapie x Coolio x Boatie?
Chapie is all about creating innovative, heat-resistant containers designed to solve real-world problems for people on the go. We launched with our original product, a vacuum-insulated lip balm holder, to solve a simple but frustrating issue: melted lip balm. Since then, we’ve grown to offer five different Chapie models that keep cosmetics of all sizes protected, even in extreme heat. Our focus has always been on creating products that combine functionality and durability with a sleek, stylish design, making Chapie not only a useful tool but also a lifestyle accessory.
What sets us apart is our commitment to high-quality, innovative designs that are unique in the market. Unlike most brands, which target mass-market solutions, Chapie focuses on creating niche, thoughtfully designed products for specific needs. We’re the only brand with vacuum-insulated lip balm holders, and we’re in the process of developing a new proprietary insulation technology that will raise the bar for temperature control in small containers. We also focus heavily on customer feedback, which has shaped each iteration of Chapie and led to product expansions and improvements.
Beyond Chapie, we recently launched Coolio, the ultimate outdoor backpack cooler. Coolio is designed with the adventurer in mind, offering floating capability, a built-in battery, water-resistant storage, and other unique features that make it more than just a cooler—it’s an all-in-one outdoor companion. We’ve also developed Boatie, a food and drink delivery app for boaters in South Florida, making it easy to order food & drinks while out on the water. Both Coolio and Boatie are in their early stages, but they’re built on the same core mission: to improve outdoor experiences with innovative, high-quality products.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the way we’ve connected with our customers and how we’ve built a brand that’s both functional and relatable. Chapie isn’t just a product; it’s an experience, and we’re dedicated to making sure every part of that experience—from the product design to customer support—meets the highest standards. I want readers to know that we are a brand focused on solving real problems with thoughtful design and uncompromising quality. Whether you’re looking for a reliable lip balm holder, an outdoor-ready cooler, or a way to get food delivered to your boat, we’re committed to offering products that make your life easier and more enjoyable.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Absolutely, I couldn’t have gotten here without a solid group of mentors, supporters, and advocates. First and foremost, my fiancé deserves a huge amount of credit. From the start, she’s been my biggest cheerleader, especially in those early days when I wasn’t sure Chapie would work. Her excitement about the initial idea was what convinced me to go for it, and she’s been a constant source of encouragement through every high and low.
Another key supporter has been my friend and former intern, Jason Masri. When I was in college, Jason and I worked together on a social media marketing venture, and though it didn’t take off, he later found massive success with his own e-commerce brand. His advice and example gave me the confidence to launch my Shopify store for Chapie, and his guidance on everything from e-commerce strategies to operational hacks has been invaluable.
I also owe a lot to Dyllan Liu and Hugo Zhan, the cofounders of Boatie. Their technical expertise has been crucial to getting the app off the ground. They’ve brought so much insight and innovation to the project, and their support has helped turn an idea into a fully functional product.
On the manufacturing and logistics side, I’ve worked with a few standout manufacturers who took a chance on Chapie’s unique design requirements. It wasn’t easy finding partners willing to tackle such an unconventional product, but their commitment to making it work played a huge role in turning Chapie into a reality.
Lastly, our customers deserve a lot of credit. Their feedback and support have not only shaped the Chapie products but also provided the motivation to keep pushing forward and expanding. From suggestions to social media engagement, their enthusiasm for Chapie has been a massive driving force, inspiring us to innovate and create products that make their lives easier.
These mentors, friends, collaborators, and customers have been instrumental in the journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for each one of them.
Pricing:
- Chapie OG – $39.75
- Chapie Plus – $27.75
- Chapie Max – $34.75
- Chapie Pro – $49.75
- Coolio Cooler – $195.75
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mychapie.com/ – https://www.mycoolio.com/ – https://boatie.vercel.app/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mychapie/ – https://www.instagram.com/jacob.kirstein/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyChapie.US/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mychapie
