We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Downs recently and have shared our conversation below.
Stephanie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for Uncaged’s unique approach to recreating leather came from analyzing traditional leather and its unique properties. Our CTO, Dr. Xiaokun Wang, tested hundreds of biomaterials in thousands of combinations to find the perfect formula.
Stephanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Uncaged Innovations strives to bridge the gap in the next-gen leather market. Our first product, a bio-leather, is made from a variety of plant ingredients and natural rubbers. And after years of testing thousands of plant ingredient combinations, I am proud to say our formulation has the same stretch, elasticity, and durability as traditional leather. It is also cruelty-free, environmentally-friendly, and plastic-free!
I started my first business in 1999, and then sold it to a VC firm about eight years ago. After I sold my first venture, I was part of starting the largest plant-based meat company in India. I later sold my interest in that company, and then decided to focus on launching the biomaterials company, Uncaged Innovations in 2020.
I overcame many challenges as an entrepreneur by giving back to the community, surrounding myself with the right team members, and being persistent in all of my entrepreneurial endeavors. I’ve experienced firsthand how joining a community or organization can have a significant impact on your success as a business owner. Additionally, I have learned that surrounding yourself with people who are experts in their field is crucial to launch or grow your business. And last, I’ve learned that persistence is the key to entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurs need to be persistent and keep pushing forward even when things don’t seem to be going their way.
The most important lesson I’ve learned throughout my career as an entrepreneur is to know when to walk away from a project that is just not going anywhere. Learn from that failure, move on, and invest your mental energy in the next project. But be smart—make sure you do your research to maximize your chances of success.
From my passion for animal welfare and the desire to create a better future for all species, Uncaged Innovations was born. We strive to find creative solutions to remove animals from the supply chain and make the world a more humane place.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2008, I decided to step away from my first company and focus on animal welfare. Leaving the lucrative world of business to dedicate your life to giving back was scary, but I’ve never regretted it. I love knowing I’m making the world a better place and this decision put me on a path to work with so many incredible people.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In 2016, I started a plant-based meat company in India. That certainly tested my resilience. Starting any company is difficult, but starting one in a foreign country where business is done very differently was a monumental challenge.
From culture to language to even currency, everything was different. However, for me, it was about the cause and getting a vegan food movement going in India. We launched in a big way and it was worth every difficult moment when I look at the outcome!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.uncagedinnovations.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncagedinnovations/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncaged