CanvasRebel Interview

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Callie Saeher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Callie below.

Alright, Callie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

Ubae began with Max, our first dog, who had a particularly sensitive stomach and skin. Watching him struggled with treats and food sensitivities was heart-wrenching. I began experimenting with purple sweet potatoes and coconut to improve his gut and skin health, and I was amazed by the dramatic improvements we saw.

This experience inspired us to start Ubae. As we spoke with other pet parents, we became increasingly convinced that there was a real need for healthy treats specifically designed for pets with sensitive stomachs and skin. I spent a year planning everything meticulously— from the website and product photos to the packaging—to ensure that Ubae would truly reflect the quality and care we wanted to offer all our beloved pets. I had to figure out how to introduce the products to the market. So far, most of our focus is on events and direct interaction with consumers. I like getting feedbacks and improving the products based on customers’ needs and suggestions. I put my heart and soul into ubae, and I’m very happy to see that customers can see and feel this.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Callie, and I’m a research scientist. My doctoral research focused on antibiotic resistance, and my postdoctoral work has centered on studying proteins involved in cancer activation pathways. It was during this time that I became fascinated with antioxidants and their potential to combat cancer. I discovered that purple sweet potatoes contain anthocyanins, natural antioxidants responsible for their vibrant color, and these compounds have cancer-fighting properties.

The more I delved into the benefits of purple sweet potatoes, the more intrigued I became. What sets Ubae apart from other companies is the rigorous research that goes into selecting every ingredient to ensure it has proven health benefits for our pets. This is where I’ve been able to blend my passion for science with my love for pets. I am extremely happy and proud of what ubae has been able to do in the pet industry.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of the craziest marketing campaigned I’ve run so far is the poop campaign! I asked our customers to submit photos of their pets pooping. People thought I was crazy but the point was to emphasize that ubae helps with gut health. It was a super fun challenge and I definitely enjoyed all the photos we got from our customers!!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe in the power of building a community. Having a supportive network is invaluable, especially in entrepreneurship, which can often feel isolating. Being able to connect with others and share challenges has been incredibly helpful for me. I have such awesome ambassadors for ubae that I’m so grateful for.

I also prioritize the quality of our ingredients. We source everything to be human-grade and organic, which means we invest significantly in product development. Ultimately, if we maintain high standards and our customers recognize this commitment, our products will naturally succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ubae.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubae.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ubaeformybae/
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/ubae_co