ecosystem / people / braden-handley
B

Braden Handley

Co-founder, inkbox

ConsumerToronto

Braden Handley co-founded inkbox, the Toronto semi-permanent tattoo company, with his brother Tyler in 2015. BIC bought inkbox for US$65 million in 2022, and the brothers stayed on to run it. In 2025 they launched Olauto, a car fragrance brand, and in January 2026 they were exploring buying inkbox back as BIC moved to close it.

Braden hasn’t spoken on a TechTO, TechVancouver or TechWaterloo stage. This profile is here because Braden co-founded inkbox, which appears in 2 talks in the archive.

Around the web ×3

Quick answers

Who is Braden Handley?

A co-founder of inkbox, which he started in Toronto in 2015 with his brother Tyler, according to Shopify's September 2022 Shopify Masters episode and Beauty Independent (January 2026). Toronto Metropolitan University's alumni news reported in November 2022 that after BIC's US$65 million purchase, the brothers remained in their roles as President and CEO; Beauty Independent says Tyler was the CEO.

How did inkbox start?

Toronto Metropolitan University's November 2022 profile says the idea came from wanting tattoos without being able to test them. In 2014 the brothers found jagua, a Panamanian fruit that changes skin colour, and patented a formula from it, starting with $10,000 from a friend. Shopify reported in September 2022 that their Kickstarter beat its $20,000 goal ten times over.

Where did Braden Handley study?

The Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University (then Ryerson), graduating in Entrepreneurship in 2012, per the university's November 2022 alumni profile. The same profile says he appeared on CBC's Dragons' Den and made the Forbes 30 Under 30 Retail & Ecommerce list in 2019.

What is Braden Handley doing now?

Beauty Independent reported in October 2025 that he and Tyler launched Olauto, a car fragrance brand, in September 2025 with cousins Dylan Bisignano and Victor Chimenti. In January 2026 the same outlet reported the brothers were exploring a buyback of inkbox as BIC prepared to shut the brand. No source found confirms how that ended.

Suggest an edit
This is you? Claim this profileAsk to be removed
Know someone who belongs here? Suggest a profile
Maintained by TechTO · facts sourced and dated · last reviewed Sep 16, 2026