Elena DiStefano graduated from Hofstra University in 2023 with a dream – a dream that soon after her graduation would become a reality.
“I actually had the idea on campus. I specifically remember driving with my roommate and I was wearing a claw clip,” DiStefano said. “I just wanted my claw clip to bend when I leaned back, and it didn’t. Then, it just kept happening. I got fed up with my claw clip.”
After noticing how uncomfortable a claw clip left her feeling while in bed, at the gym or in the car, DiStefano searched for a flexible, bendable claw clip and found that none existed. In the summer of 2022, she sought out a way to create her own.
“The Cozy Clip is the first flexible claw clip. It’s designed for comfort and peace of mind. Whether you’re driving, lounging or working out, traditional claw clips are very uncomfortable,” DiStefano said. “Whenever you are wearing it and you lean your head back on something, it flexes and squishes, but it also is able to stay in your hair.”
The first prototypes of the Cozy Clip were made at Hofstra. DiStefano was originally going to craft a bendable hair clip using a broken, hard-plastic claw clip, and each claw would have a hinge so the device could flatten. This first prototype resembled more of a flat clip than a claw clip.
From there, DiStefano began 3D printing designs using the ideaHUb’s Maker Space in the Leo A. Guthart Hall for Innovation and Discovery.
She took part in the Lion’s Den competition in November 2022, Hofstra’s version of Shark Tank, where business students can pitch products for others to invest in. DiStefano won third place with her idea.
“[Third place] gave me the acknowledgement that the idea [was] something worth pursuing,” DiStefano said. “Someone had said to me, ‘You should do the Digital Remedy Venture [Challenge].’ I spent months and months preparing. I’m not even a competitive person or anything, but I really wanted the first-place prize because that was the next level and really would jumpstart my business.”
DiStefano took home the first-place prize from the Digital Remedy Venture Challenge, another one of Hofstra’s Shark Tank-style programs. The competition provided her with mentors who helped her start her business and who still guide her today. She also won the $45,000 prize, allowing her to start investing in her product.
DiStefano’s company has taken off since that competition, with Cozy Clip having over 50 million views across every social media platform. Additionally, Distefano has auditioned for Shark Tank twice, and her product has sold out for every launch.
“I launched my 3D printed versions in January of this year. I was hand-making them [before],” DiStefano said. “I had to sell these limited batches of such a small amount, and then I have videos that are getting millions of views. People are like, ‘Oh, it sold out in under a minute. Is this real?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, it’s real. I’m sorry, but I’m just, like, trying to make it all myself.’”
DiStefano said her favorite part of the process has been the originality of the brand. Cozy Clip prioritizes its customers because DiStefano wants everyone who visits her site to have a great experience. Cozy Clip is a tool to help people feel comfortable because a hard-plastic claw clip can be dangerous in damaging situations, like car accidents.
DiStefano credits Hofstra’s business programs for her success. The school provided ways for her to prepare for Shark Tank auditions and company investments.
“I feel like [the Digital Remedy Venture Challenge] set me up for success, in a way, because I was able to practice my public speaking skills, which is not my forte whatsoever,” DiStefano said. “[Auditioning for Shark Tank] made me feel like I was around other people who were similar to me … I think it was a really great experience, and I’m just excited to do it again. You know, I have high hopes for the next time.”
DiStefano takes a front row seat in running her company by managing all her social media accounts, even as sales boomed. She graduated from Hofstra with a degree in public relations and a desire to become a social media manager. Today, she has reached that goal as Cozy Clip remains active on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
“It was really crazy when I first went viral,” DiStefano said. “I was so happy. I could not get off my phone. I couldn’t stop reading the comments.”
DiStefano remembers viewers liking her brand – all the comments were fairly positive and encouraged her to release the Cozy Clip.
“I definitely went viral before I was totally ready, and that was a challenge,” DiStefano said.
Currently, Cozy Clip only ships to the United States, which has posed a problem as her product has garnered attention worldwide. However, DiStefano hopes to ship internationally soon. The company is also preparing to launch more colors and sizes of the clip.
“Remember,” DiStefano said. “Cozy Clip is the original.”