Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nell Shapiro and Stephanie Merks, founders of Kibou, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are Nell Shapiro and Stephanie Merks, co-founders of Kibou–the very first fanny pack diaper bag complete with a compact changing pad and a built-in wipes pocket. We like to say that if a fanny pack and a diaper bag had a baby, it would be a Kibou.

We met in our Brooklyn neighborhood when our oldest kids were just six months old at a toddler music class. The idea to create Kibou began shortly thereafter. The frustration of overpacked, cumbersome diaper bags led Nell to dream up a compact, function–meets–fashion solution. The idea was simple: fit everything you need and nothing you don't. After surveying hundreds of parents to find out what they never leave home without, we spent two years testing and tweaking the design to create the perfect solution for parents everywhere who were looking to downsize in style.

We first took Kibou to market on Kickstarter for three reasons:

  1. Get the word out! Share Kibou in a place where parents could discover this solution to their pain point, where they feel comfortable and confident investing in a new brand.
  2. Prove our concept: ensure customers are excited and willing to pay the retail price for a Kibou.
  3. Fund our initial inventory, so we never had to take on debt.

Two and a half years later–without a single dollar of investor money, credit, or loans–our sales have grown exponentially. Clearly, there's a market for Kibou, and we're seeing every day that parents–both to babies and dogs–love the Kibou way of life.

Just as Kibou gives parents a hand when they're out and about with their little ones, a central tenet of our business is to give a hand to mothers in need. Through our charitable partnership with Hour Children, Kibou gives 1% of every sale to mothers and children affected by incarceration.

Tell us about yourself

Nell began her career as a teacher and then a school director. While Stephanie hit the ground running as a graphic designer, opening her own design studio Smak Studio less than a decade into her career.

What began as an all-in effort on nights and weekends to bring this vision to life became Nell and Stephanie's passion and livelihood. The name Kibou comes from the phrase "Keep it by you." Our north star is making it as easy as possible to get out and be out of the house with your family–or on your own–feeling confident that you have all you need by your side.

Kibou is hands-free, compact, easily cleanable vegan leather instead of doing the work to keep your diaper bag organized, Kibou does the work for you. You don't have to swap out your diaper bag when you get home to feel more like yourself when you go out for drinks with your friends, Kibou transitions from daytime to date night. It's mom's bag that just happens to be fully functional when you're with your little ones.

Our motivation every day is to make parents' lives just a little bit easier–to give them away to be a little more present and a little less weighed down, confident that they have all they need.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Without a single dollar of investor money, credit or loans, we've done nearly a million dollars in sales in the last two years. Clearly, there's a market for Kibou–and we're seeing every day that parents–both to babies and dogs–love the Kibou way of life.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Balance is an ever-illusive concept. The notion of "switching off" or disconnecting from your own business–especially one that you love and so deeply believe in–is virtually impossible. But you can definitely work to establish habits that support your relationships (e.g., don't bring your phone or laptop to the playroom with the kids or the couch at the end of the day.)

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Ask as many questions as you can. Attend as many webinars as you can. Join networking groups. Say Yes as often as possible. Listen and take notes. There's so much wisdom out there if you aren't afraid to ask. Starting a business has been more of an education than any other experience in our lives.
  2. Find yourself a partner. You can certainly do it alone, but it's lonely. And the saying that two heads are better than one…and three heads are (usually) better than two is spot on. Your partner will share your frustrations and your wins. The right partner will hold up a mirror or a shoulder, and you'll often need both.
  3. Don't give everything up all at once to chase your dream, but don't wait until tomorrow to take a small step. Read a book, subscribe to a podcast, and go buy samples in the Garment District. A year from now, you'll be glad you started today.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

As a woman who grew up without a ton of girlfriends, I've been blown away by the force, the value, and the genuine beauty in female entrepreneur friendships and networks that we've developed. What a gift I might never have known existed without starting Kibou.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://kiboubag.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekiboubag
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiboubag/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nellshapiro/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.