At just 12 years old, Bella Lin spent hours each week scrubbing and power washing the mess from her guinea pig cages. “It was like a mini porta potty,” she recalls.
This challenging and unappealing task motivated Lin to design better cages. She started with sketches on notebook paper, then built prototypes with bricks and plastic in her Sunnyvale, California backyard, and now, her designs are produced in a factory in Hangzhou, China.
Today, Lin, now 17, is the founder and CEO of GuineaLoft, a brand specializing in innovative pet accessories sold on Amazon. Her cages feature acrylic walls and a disposable wax-coated paper bottom, making them easier to clean. Since launching in November 2022 after a year of prototyping, GuineaLoft has achieved impressive growth. The company is currently generating around $71,000 in monthly revenue—more than double the $34,000 average from the previous year—and reported nearly $8,600 in monthly profit.
The major boost came last October when Lin won $10,000 in a pitching competition held by BizWorld, a project-based entrepreneurship program. She used the prize money to purchase an acrylic laser cutter, significantly improving production efficiency and keeping up with demand.
Despite the success, GuineaLoft remains Lin’s side hustle. She recently graduated from high school and is set to attend The University of Chicago this fall to study economics.
Mentorship and Early Ventures
GuineaLoft isn’t Lin’s first foray into entrepreneurship. Since the age of 7, she has explored various ways to earn money, from lemonade stands to selling hand-knit scarves. Her father, a computer programmer with a background in start-ups, has been a major influence and mentor.
One pivotal moment came when Lin noticed the high price of Lululemon leggings. After a discussion with her dad about the markup, she started TLeggings, which peaked at $300,000 in revenue in 2020. Her father also helped connect her with a factory in China for GuineaLoft.
“My dad always treated me as an equal, almost like a colleague,” Lin says. “Many parents might dismiss their kids’ early business ideas, but he supported me.”
Building GuineaLoft
Lin spent about a year developing GuineaLoft’s signature cage from prototype to production. The first 100 units sold out in just two weeks. The company has continued to grow, thanks to the efficiency of three acrylic laser cutters, enhanced marketing efforts, and a broader product range, including hay feeders and no-drip water bottles for various small pets.
However, Lin faced challenges along the way, such as redesigning the hamster cage after receiving poor reviews due to escape issues.
Future Plans
Outside of her entrepreneurial ventures, Lin describes her social circle as lacking other young entrepreneurs. “To my friends, I’m just the guinea pig girl,” she laughs. “But I like that niche.”
Currently balancing 30 hours a week on her side hustle with college courses, Lin initially considered taking a gap year to focus on GuineaLoft but chose to continue her education and expand her network.
Though the business is profitable, Lin hasn’t started drawing a salary. Her parents and a scholarship cover her tuition at The University of Chicago. Instead, she reinvests the profits into GuineaLoft and dreams of expanding to physical retail stores.
“My ultimate goal is for GuineaLoft to become the recognized brand for small pet products,” she says.
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