Where are you from originally? What did you do before starting Smalls?
I’m from Portland, Oregon—and I was a terrible student. I got fired from every job I ever had. I had a big chip on my shoulder and this belief that once I found the right opportunity, I’d figure it out and my brain would finally shine.
That moment came when my co-founder and I became the first and second employees at THINX. When I showed up, there weren’t even desks or company email addresses, so I went to Home Depot, bought some wood, and built our first desk. That’s where I learned that if I dug in, committed, believed in myself, and spoke up about what I wanted, I could really make things happen.
How would you describe yourself as a kid?
I split my time between New York City and Topanga, California. I caught the surfing bug as a way to take the edge off work stress.
I’m a big small-groups person—and surfing is one of the few things I actually prefer to do alone. It’s become a form of self-care. When I’m in the up-and-down of the ocean, I feel small and unimportant in the best possible way.
When did you first become a cat person? Tell us about your first cat.
My first cat was named Kiki. We got her when I was a kid. She was a tiny black cat, and she’s actually the reason Smalls exists—we started cooking food at home for her. She really deserves all the credit.
What’s the correct cat-to-human ratio in a home?
Two cats, one person per home. Dogs optional :)
When did you realize cat food needed to be better—and what made you think you could fix it?
Good food is simple. Making bad food takes a lot of science.
In the cat world, there are plenty of people trying to do their best—wanting to buy healthy food—but the system makes it hard. Pet food regulations are weak at best, and there are so many brands that look healthy but really aren’t.
I realized we could do better—and that if we focused entirely on cats, we could give them the same quality and care people expect for themselves.
Tell us about your business partner. How did you meet, and why do you work so well together?
Veronica and I met when I was in college. I was an intern and she was a brand manager at MassChallenge, a venture incubator in Boston. We clicked immediately and became close friends.
Later, when I visited her in New York—where she’d become the first employee at THINX—I met her boss, the founder, and got hired on the spot. No interview, no process. I moved to New York, finished college online, and became the second employee at THINX. We’ve been partners in crime ever since.
What are your thoughts on dogs? Would you ever branch out into food for them?
Absolutely not—zero percent chance. We’re cat-first, cat-only, forever.
Our biggest advantage as a business is that we build for one customer and one customer only—a customer who’s almost never prioritized.
Where did the name “Smalls” come from?
Our first kitchen was in the old Pfizer Building at Pilotworks in Brooklyn, right next to the Marcy Projects—where Biggie Smalls grew up. That’s where the name came from.
If you’re careful about what you feed your pets, what else do you do to keep your home a safe place for them (and for kids)?
What you keep in your home matters just as much as what you put in your body. We stay mindful about the products we use—avoiding harsh chemicals and sticking to gentle, science-backed cleaners like Dirty Labs. It’s better for the cats, better for us, and better for the planet.
