INNOVATORS VS COVID 19

A Word from the CURB

Published

3 years ago

11/05/2020

Kokou Adzo

We talked to Anna Gannon of Curbicus about transforming the urban pawprint during the COVID times.

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times?

Anna Gannon: After the initial shock of having to quarantine, we’ve gotten used to the isolation and the “new normal.” Unfortunately, my son and his girlfriend contracted COVID-19 in mid-March. They both had relatively mild cases; however, we’re still thinking about the long term side effects with uncertainty.

Tell us about you, your career, how you founded Curbicus.

Anna Gannon: I’ve co-founded and acquired other companies in the past. Curbicus, my current company, is based on a hardware device that I invented. Curbicus is a direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand offering a sustainable solution to conveniently collecting and disposing of dog waste.

How does Curbicus innovate?

Anna Gannon: As a startup, by definition, we have to be nimble and responsive. COVID has highlighted how easily viruses can spread disease, which works in our favor.

How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping?

Anna Gannon: It has delayed our product launch and shifted our strategy. We’re planning on doing a KickStarter campaign. We’re very optimistic about the company’s future.

Our team has always been remote, so the team is used to working independently.

Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned?

Anna Gannon: We’ve had to change our strategy, which was a pivot. We learned that we have to expect the unexpected and react quickly.

How do you deal with stress and anxiety? How do you project yourself and Curbicus in the future?

Anna Gannon: Personally, I continue to exercise, meditate, and spend time with family. There will always be ups and downs; however, I have every confidence that Curbicus will succeed.

Who are your competitors? And how do you plan to stay in the game?

Anna Gannon: Our competitors are dog waste, bag manufacturers. Our strategy is to educate consumers on the hazards of coming in contact with dog waste and the harmful environmental effects of plastic and biodegradable bags.

Your final thoughts?

Anna Gannon: This is an unprecedented time for everyone, and I’d like to hope that we appreciate how resilient we are and remain optimistic about the future.