As the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread across the globe earlier this year, 19-year-old Charles Robinson's life was at a crossroads.
"I was taking some time out from university, just trying to have a period of self-reflection," he told Business Insider. "I basically realized this was the last point in my life I would ever be free of debt or responsibility."
As countries around the world were forced into lockdown, sales of hand sanitizers boomed in some parts of the world, prompting a brainwave in Robinson's mind.
On a previous trip to Italy, he had come across a basic version of what would become Gelcard, a portable cleaning product for contact lenses. "I realized there was a superb product here, fulfilling only a fraction of its potential."
Teaming up with Paul Schmitz-Gielsdorf, a friend and fellow student at University College London, the pair tracked down the manufacturer in Milan and struck a deal to ship their new product — a credit card-thin snap packet of hand sanitizer — around the world.
"We had no idea what we were doing, to be honest," said Robinson. "We just knew we had a good product. We started reaching out to whoever we could, over Linkedin and email. I was literally writing letters to CEOs by hand."
Before long, the pair's hard work paid off: Gelcard has inked deals with The Wolseley and Brasserie Zedel, two of the most popular high-end restaurants in London, and with hotel chain Park Plaza all around Europe.
Gelcard was only incorporated in the UK in April this year. Apart from Charles Robinson, his father Craig Robinson is listed as a major shareholder.
The firm's turnover, Robinson said, is £120,000 ($163,000) and the startup is seeking seed funding.
"It's bizarre. I never would have described myself as entrepreneurial before," Robinson added. "When founders talk about their younger selves, it's always about how they sold sweets in the playground and stuff. But that wasn't me, I thought I was going to be an academic."
The firm is currently taking in part in University College London's startup hub, BaseKX, with support from experts in business management.
You can learn more about Gelcard here.
