David Simnick
CEO & Co-Founder at Soapbox
About
David Simnick is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, investor, and board member best known as the Co-Founder and CEO of Soapbox, one of the fastest-growing social impact beauty brands in the United States. Under his leadership, Soapbox has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list over eight times, expanded to major retailers like Walmart, Target, CVS, Amazon, and Kroger, and distributed products across North America, Europe, and Asia. Beyond building a thriving consumer brand, David has led Soapbox in donating over 50 million bars of soap to communities in need through global partners such as The Carter Center, American Red Cross, and EcoSoap Bank. As an active investor and advisor in 20+ ventures, David brings his expertise in scaling mission-oriented companies to help emerging founders achieve sustainable growth. He also serves on the boards of Clean the World Foundation, Flags of Valor, and The Orchestra of the Americas Group, advancing causes that empower veterans, musicians, and global health initiatives. Before Soapbox, David taught with Teach for America and began his career in policy and development roles. He holds a BA in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government from American University, and briefly pursued an MA in Education at the University of Pennsylvania before launching Soapbox. How David Can Help: 1. Build and scale socially responsible consumer brands 2. Develop omnichannel retail and distribution strategies 3. Create authentic impact-driven marketing campaigns 4. Raise capital and attract investors aligned with mission and growth 5. Lead with purpose while managing operational scale
Experience
CEO & Co-Founder
Soapbox, Jan 2010 – Present
Investor/Advisor
SKU, Jan 2022 – Present
Board Member
Clean the World Foundation, Jun 2018 – Present Flags of Valor, Jan 2023 – Present The Orchestra of the Americas Group, Dec 2022 – Present
Links from David
Episode # 114 Interview with David Simnick-the cofounder and CEO of the personal care brand- Soapbox
Today we speak with David Simnick, the cofounder and CEO of the mission driven personal care brand- Soapbox. David and his team have been building Soapbox for over a dozen years. He candidly shares the highs and lows of starting and running an emerging brand and how the team's desire to 'give back' led to their mission to provide personal cleansing products to those in need. Learn more at www.road2retail.com.
S13E24: Making a difference whilst beating the multinationals, David Simnick (CEO, Soapbox)
"Don't start a company to make money, start a company to change something." We're continuing our season on "business as a force for good", Richard speaks with Dave Simnick, the CEO and co-founder of Soapbox – a company whose mission is to empower customers with the ability to change the world through everyday, quality purchases. Soapbox has donated over 36 million bars of soap to local homeless shelters and food pantries. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why David chose the humble bar of soap for his mission-driven business. What Soapbox "messed up for years" before finally beating multinationals at their own game. The three qualities David hires for – and the interview question he uses to identify those traits. The three key roles of every startup CEO.
5.0
Ian Rollin B
David was incredibly generous with his time and insight. This wasn’t a surface-level mentorship call or generic advice. He took the time to understand where my business is and then gave very practical, experience-backed guidance on where the real leverage is. What stood out most was how actionable the conversation was. David didn’t just talk in theory—he made concrete introductions and helped me simplify the path forward instead of overcomplicating it. If you’re looking for honest, straight-to-the-point advice from someone who’s actually built and scaled in e-comm and retail, this is an easy recommendation. Quit overthinking and book right now.
Erin F
David helped me think through retail expansion with clarity and practicality. He quickly highlighted the key levers that matter and shared guidance grounded in real experience. I left with a clearer path and a stronger sense of direction. His perspective was sharp, honest, and actionable. A short conversation saved me a lot of guesswork, and I’ll definitely be reaching out again as we continue to grow.