Sabba Keynejad, co-founder of Veed, a popular AI-powered video editing platform, shared an intriguing story about his entrepreneurial journey that started with a simple idea inspired by the hit TV show Breaking Bad. In an interview, Sabba recounted how he and his flatmate, Virgil, came up with the idea to sell Breaking Bad-themed Halloween costumes back in 2013.
As art school students, Sabba and Virgil were avid fans of Breaking Bad and decided to capitalize on their love for the show by creating and selling Halloween costumes based on the characters of Jesse Pinkman and Walter White. The idea struck them one evening when Virgil, wearing a gas mask for spray painting, burst into Sabba’s room exclaiming “BREAKING BAD!” This moment sparked the idea to turn their passion for the show into a business opportunity.
Drawing from his previous entrepreneurial experience of selling American-style red cups and beer pong kits, Sabba saw the Halloween costume venture as a fun side project. They quickly set up a page on eBay, sourced the necessary materials, and created listings for the costumes. To their surprise, they received their first orders within hours of posting the listings, signaling the potential success of their venture.
As orders poured in, Sabba and Virgil found themselves faced with the challenge of managing a growing business from their flat. With the help of their flatmates, they transformed their living space into a makeshift stockroom to fulfill orders. Despite the logistical challenges, they managed to turn over $14,000 in just one week, with each of them making $3,500 in profit.
The success of their Breaking Bad Halloween costume business was not without its obstacles. They encountered competition from other sellers and had to think creatively to stand out. By adding value through unique offerings like fake meth (made from sugar and blue food coloring), they differentiated themselves in the market and engaged with customers in a playful manner.
Eventually, the venture had to come to an end as the UK ran out of the specific hazmat suits they were using for the costumes. However, the experience served as a valuable lesson in entrepreneurship for Sabba, who went on to co-found Veed, a technology startup that has seen significant success. With backing from Sequoia Capital and millions of users worldwide, Veed has become a leading platform for AI-powered video editing.
Sabba’s journey from selling Halloween costumes inspired by a TV show to running a successful tech startup highlights the importance of creativity, adaptability, and seizing opportunities in the world of entrepreneurship. His story serves as a testament to the power of turning a simple idea into a thriving business through passion, innovation, and hard work.
