Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandy Brimhall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brandy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

AquaBandz, LLC was born from a very personal place—my own lifelong experience of being left on the sidelines during water activities.

For my entire life, I’ve had to miss out on swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and other water adventures because of my inability to prevent water over-exposure to my ears. I’ve watched family and friends make memories in the water while I stayed back, disconnected and limited—not for lack of desire, but for lack of a real solution. That can be an incredibly isolating experience.

For me, that all changed in 2023.

On a trip to Maui, I once again found myself in an environment where I would be sitting it out while everyone else enjoyed the water. Frustrated but determined, I decided to design my own solution. That first handmade prototype allowed me to snorkel, swim, and surf without discomfort or limitation. For the first time, I was part of the experience, not separated from it.

That design became the first AquaBandz prototype. After returning home, I knew this mission needed to extend beyond having found my own solution. It became dedicated to help millions of others—kids, adults, and seniors—who face similar limitations due to water sensitivity or ear conditions.

AquaBandz isn’t just a product—it’s personal. It’s about reclaiming moments, making memories, and feeling connected with family, friends and others in the same environment. Our goal is simple: to make water activities more inclusive, more comfortable, and more joyful for everyone.

Brandy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

While my primary profession is in the healthcare arena, the creation of AquaBandz came from a very personal place—a decision to finally solve a problem that had followed me my entire life.

I didn’t enter this industry as a product developer—I came into it with firsthand experience that helped me understand both the physical and emotional impact of water sensitivity to the ears. I also knew I wasn’t alone. From children with ear tubes to adults with recurring infections or hearing devices, along with various other water-related sensitivities, or even just simply personal preference – millions of people of all ages are limited in the water by the same types of challenges.

AquaBandz, a water-resistant head/ear band is designed to solve a real, widespread problem: the lack of a comfortable, secure and effective way to minimize or prevent water over-exposure to the ears.

It minimizes or prevents water exposure to the ears during water activities,

Offers a pressure-free, adjustable fit,

Comes in 2 sizes, Pediatric and Standard,

Is compatible with goggles, masks, and earplugs,

Has a comfort fit design to cup over and around the ears, allow them to maintain their natural position

Again, AquaBandz is more than just a product—it’s a solution born from lived experience. It’s about being comfortably able to participate without limitation, being part of those memories, and feeling confident in the water. Our mission is to make water activities more inclusive, accessible and enjoyable for those who have been left on the sidelines.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

AquaBandz was initially entirely self-funded. I believed so intently in the need for this product—and in the difference it could make—that I used my personal savings to bring the idea to life. From product development to engineering, legal and early prototypes, I invested everything I could to move it forward, driven by firsthand experience and a strong sense of purpose.

As the business began to grow, I started exploring outside funding—looking into angel investor groups and other early-stage opportunities. But in a truly unexpected and inspiring turn, the majority of investors came from a much closer circle: my own family, friends, and longtime acquaintances.

What made this especially meaningful is that I never actively asked them for investment. I simply shared my story—what led me to create AquaBandz, the problem it solves, and the mission to help others who face similar limitations in the water.

Those who knew my journey personally, and even those hearing it for the first time, often related on a personal level—thinking of their own children, grandchildren, spouses, or friends who had struggled with ear sensitivity or water-related challenges. That personal connection inspired many to become part of the AquaBandz mission and journey.

This organic, mission-driven support has become one of the most powerful foundations of the brand—and a reminder that when a product is rooted in real need and genuine passion, people show up not just to invest, but to stand behind the purpose.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I once heard Robert Herjavec, one of the hosts of Shark Tank, say something that really stuck with me: “Being an entrepreneur is spending a lot of your time doing the things nobody really cares about.”

That resonated with me because it’s exactly what this journey has felt like.

So much of building AquaBandz has been about pouring time, energy, and focus into the back-end work—the unseen things that are absolutely essential. It’s the foundation. It’s the long hours, the constant adjustments, and the nonstop effort to keep everything on track, even when there’s often no visible result from those specific efforts. It’s spending almost every moment making sure the small things are in place so the big things can actually happen.

When I’ve shared what I’ve been working on, more than once I have been told, “I can see why so many people don’t pursue their own ideas—or why they give up along the way.” And that’s always stuck with me too. Because they’re right. It’s hard and it’s time-consuming.

For me, hearing those comments increased my determination and motivation – they were fuel. They reminded me why AquaBandz exists and the mission behind it. AquaBandz was never just about creating a product. It was about solving something that has affected me personally my entire life—and that affects millions of others too. No more of having to be on the outside, looking in.

That’s really the heart of it. Every late night, every quiet step forward, every detail that no one else may ever notice—it’s all a reflection of the mission behind AquaBandz and a reminder of the value of perseverance.

If you would like to join our mission as an investor, please reach out to us through our website at www.myaquabandz.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.myaquabandz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myaquabandz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564886797108
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-brimhall-cpc-cpco-cccpc-cmco-cpma-92844517/
• Twitter: https://x.com/myaquabandz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AQUABANDZ
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myaquabandz?lang=en

Image Credits

Patrick Crane