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Inventing Independence: The Snapslide Story

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Manage episode 483622485 series 3648117
Content provided by Matthew Mulvey. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Matthew Mulvey or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

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What happens when someone refuses to accept "that's how it's always been done" as an answer? Rocky Batzel's story proves that persistence against overwhelming skepticism can transform lives.
When Rocky's grandmother complained about struggling to open her prescription bottles, he noticed a problem hiding in plain sight: medication packaging hadn't meaningfully changed since 1974. Traditional child-resistant closures require two hands, significant strength, and dexterity – making them nearly impossible for millions of Americans to use independently. As an ex-medical student with no background in manufacturing or packaging, Rocky seemed unlikely to disrupt this established industry.
The solution Rocky developed – Snapslide – replaces twisting motions with an intuitive sliding mechanism that requires just one hand to operate. The cap never detaches, eliminating dropped or misplaced caps while providing an audible "snap" that confirms secure closure. By removing threads entirely, the design reduces plastic usage by 27% while maintaining full child-resistance.
Rocky's journey exemplifies the realities of innovation: multiple iterations, consumer testing with different populations, and unexpected setbacks (including a factory fire that destroyed his first $50,000 mold). Rather than giving up, he refined his design to accommodate industry constraints – where pennies matter more than dollars, and change is resisted unless absolutely necessary.
At disability expos, users frequently describe Snapslide as "life-changing," restoring independence to people who previously required assistance for the simple act of accessing medication. This human impact earned Snapslide recognition from the Plastics Industry Association with their Sustainability Award – the first for a non-publicly traded company in five years.
Subscribe to hear more stories about packaging innovations that solve real human problems and the perseverance required to bring them to market in an industry resistant to change.

https://www.snapslide.com/

  continue reading

Chapters

1. Inventing Independence: The Snapslide Story (00:00:00)

2. Meet Rocky Batesel (00:01:20)

3. The Evolution of Snapslide Design (00:07:08)

4. Target Demographics and Accessibility (00:18:25)

5. Material Choices and Sustainability (00:28:38)

6. Fighting Through Setbacks (00:36:38)

7. Golf, Fishing, and Random Innovations (00:43:59)

9 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 483622485 series 3648117
Content provided by Matthew Mulvey. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Matthew Mulvey or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send us a text

What happens when someone refuses to accept "that's how it's always been done" as an answer? Rocky Batzel's story proves that persistence against overwhelming skepticism can transform lives.
When Rocky's grandmother complained about struggling to open her prescription bottles, he noticed a problem hiding in plain sight: medication packaging hadn't meaningfully changed since 1974. Traditional child-resistant closures require two hands, significant strength, and dexterity – making them nearly impossible for millions of Americans to use independently. As an ex-medical student with no background in manufacturing or packaging, Rocky seemed unlikely to disrupt this established industry.
The solution Rocky developed – Snapslide – replaces twisting motions with an intuitive sliding mechanism that requires just one hand to operate. The cap never detaches, eliminating dropped or misplaced caps while providing an audible "snap" that confirms secure closure. By removing threads entirely, the design reduces plastic usage by 27% while maintaining full child-resistance.
Rocky's journey exemplifies the realities of innovation: multiple iterations, consumer testing with different populations, and unexpected setbacks (including a factory fire that destroyed his first $50,000 mold). Rather than giving up, he refined his design to accommodate industry constraints – where pennies matter more than dollars, and change is resisted unless absolutely necessary.
At disability expos, users frequently describe Snapslide as "life-changing," restoring independence to people who previously required assistance for the simple act of accessing medication. This human impact earned Snapslide recognition from the Plastics Industry Association with their Sustainability Award – the first for a non-publicly traded company in five years.
Subscribe to hear more stories about packaging innovations that solve real human problems and the perseverance required to bring them to market in an industry resistant to change.

https://www.snapslide.com/

  continue reading

Chapters

1. Inventing Independence: The Snapslide Story (00:00:00)

2. Meet Rocky Batesel (00:01:20)

3. The Evolution of Snapslide Design (00:07:08)

4. Target Demographics and Accessibility (00:18:25)

5. Material Choices and Sustainability (00:28:38)

6. Fighting Through Setbacks (00:36:38)

7. Golf, Fishing, and Random Innovations (00:43:59)

9 episodes

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