Simon Bruno ‘18, economics major and avid enthusiast of playing cards, is the founder and president of Glassback Playing Cards, a business that produces stained glass theme-designed decks of cards. Bruno was able to achieve his childhood dream of mass-producing playing cards with the help of Siena’s Creative Arts Department, Marketing Department, and The David ’73 and Christine Spicer ’75 Stack Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
“Simon is passionate about playing cards and is motivated to make the creatively designed Glassback a success,” said Assistant Director of the Stack Center, Charles Rancourt.
From traveling in the New York Business Plan Competition and winning Siena’s Third Annual Spark Tank competition his freshman year, Bruno was inspired and determined to market his product on a bigger scale.
“It was a learning experience [through trial-and-error] … from building a website to [conducting] international business,” said Bruno. “The greatest part is having the opportunities to get feedback.”
With the help of Siena artist and graduate Hyun Yoo ’15 during the Spring 2015 semester, Bruno joined Kickstarter, an online benefit corporation that focuses on creativity via global crowdfunding, to launch his campaign in April 2015. In less than two days, Bruno reached 53% of his initial $7,000 goal; by the end of the campaign, he surpassed his goal by more than $600. Through the power of social media, he was able to market and sell his distinctive deck design to consumers in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Bruno will continue to work with the Stack Center faculty during his academic career, and plans on developing and selling another deck design by the time he graduates from Siena.
For more information regarding the Stack Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, visit https://siena.dev.fastspot.com/centers-institutes/center-for-entrepreneurship-and-innovation .
