James Montgomery
Tallahassee, FL (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
CatsOnDeck
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Startup
Location:
Tallahassee
Industry:
Other
Year Founded:
2021
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Business Stage:
Decline
Entity Type:
Limited Liability Company
Description:
This is not a startup with a new product concept. This is a product restart via a new company. Our patented product generated over 2 million dollars, from 1,381 customers. We were on Good Morning America, and Animal Planet. The concept developed while working as a volunteer for an animal rescue group, I learned that pet cats who are let outdoors periodically have a good chance of either being wounded or killed by cars, dogs, and wild animals. The lifespan of indoor cats averages 14 to 16 years, and cats let out periodically averages 7 years.
A cage will not work well for a cat. They need some room and variable height to enjoy the outdoors to its fullest. There are large enclosures available made of wood or metal framing and mesh. They're heavy, bulky and take some skill to assemble with nuts, bolts, screws, (URL removed) they are not easily taken down and reassembled should a move occur. Been there - done that three times. I started to think about a modular easy-to-assemble enclosure would be very attractive to other cat owners and began a design effort in my CAD system. I was introduced to a person at a community gathering who liked my idea, and offered to invest.
We used a dormant corporate shell he had: Creative Product Development (dba CatsOnDeck). When asked how much it would cost to get to develop and manufacture, I told him I wasn't even sure if modularity would provide the structural strength needed until we built a physical prototype. He offered to invest on an as needed basis, and use a small barn, shed, and three car garage to start. I wrongly assumed that once it was developed, patented and proven, we would move to an industrial park.
I set up a web site, and started a promotional campaign and orders started coming in. Was it profitable? NO! Most any other business arrangement besides the one I was in with him would have been quite successful. Details are in the business plan,
In September of 2019, I presented a plan to posture and pursuer additional investment so we could become a profitable business and he finally agreed. I set about making a video, developing a business plan, financials and planning an effort to attract investment. He collapsed in November and was taken to the hospital, After 7 weeks, he was released and called to inform me that he and his wife concluded that it was time for him to focus on family instead of business and were going to shut down Creative Products. Since this was my concept, proven, and patented, I started to prepare and pursue funding via a new company. Covid slowed everything to a crawl. But I am now set with a plan and financials.