Prior to launching Bearaby in 2018, Kathrin worked for the World Bank as an economist and was almost constantly airbound. It was that experience that ultimately led her to creating Bearaby - as the constant travel had her looking for natural (pill-free) solutions to jet lag and chronic insomnia.

After trying everything (and she means everything) she felt the pressure of a medical-grade weighted blanket and woke up several hours later to the lightbulb moment that became Bearaby. Weighted blankets had been used in the medical community for decades, but Kathrin and her team are credited for bringing these innovations to consumers by making them look and feel completely different from clinical products.

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Offering consumers functional sleep solutions that can double as trendy, stylish home decor has always been a critical component of our product crafting process. With a renewed interest in more maximalist, “dopamine decor” trends, I’m excited to see what avenues this could open up for the home design category.

What have you learned through your startup journey that you wished you’d known one year in?

If you're starting a new business and looking to scale quickly, it’s incredibly helpful to secure robust manufacturing capacity. I learned early on in my startup journey that having multiple manufacturers keeps your supply chain agile and able to adequately meet changing market demands.

What is happening in the sleep industry right now?

The most recent research shows that roughly one in three Americans is not getting enough sleep. So, while people’s general awareness of the importance of rest and prioritizing sleep is steadily increasing—the search term “sleep” reached an all-time high in 2023—there remains a strong focus on improving the quality of the general population’s sleep health.

The importance of supporting and resetting the nervous system for optimal rest also continues to be a hot topic in the industry.

Have you raised money for Bearaby? What was the process like and if you didn’t raise, why not? Do you have lessons for others considering a raise?

We brought on investors nearly five years after starting the business. At this point, we knew we had secured product-market fit and felt ready to raise our first round of capital. What’s been successful for us has been to invite investors onboard who have been interested in the brand’s journey even while we were bootstrapped, who had been supporting from the sidelines for quite some time, and who we knew were like-minded partners.

Do you have one secret to your success?

Keep an open mind. Agile thinking and the willingness to pivot when necessary are crucial to maintaining continued success. ‍

Who is a woman you admire?

Tory Burch—I admire what she is achieving through the Tory Burch Foundation. Her commitment to giving back to other women entrepreneurs continues to inspire me.

What’s one thing you can’t live without?

My weighted blanket!

What is one big trend you’re excited about in 2024?

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