We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Clovia McIntosh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Clovia , appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The concept for Tubee came struck me when I was giving my nephew a bath and he slipped. Fortunately, he was fine but I did realize he had outgrown his infant size tub and was still too small for a full size bathtub. This frightening moment made me acutely aware of the hidden dangers of what many consider a safe, routine activity for kids. Motivated by this scare, I delved into researching child bath safety and discovered a significant gap in the market: there was nothing adequately safe for toddlers transitioning out of baby bathtubs. Realizing I could offer a solution that provided safety and reassurance to parents while conserving water, I was excited by the potential impact.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I attended the University of Bridgeport and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Immediately after graduating, I began working for JP Morgan Chase in New York for 4 years followed by ventures into creative arts, social working, and teaching. Over these 10 years of career exploration, I continued thinking of products that I would love to have to make my everyday life easier. This birth the name of my holding company, IRL Innovations- standing appropriately enough for “in real life” innovations. I had a knack for creating consumer products. I enrolled back at the University of Bridgeport to help gain some insight in the entrepreneurial venture. I was inspired to enter the child safety product industry after a personal experience showed me the risks toddlers face in adult bathtubs which led to the creation of Tubee, a collapsible, non-slip bathtub specifically designed for toddlers, focusing on safety, fun, and water conservation. What sets Tubee apart is its focus on this often-overlooked age group, providing a safer bathing solution that caters to their needs. I’m proud of transforming Tubee from an idea into a product that enhances both child safety and parental peace of mind, aiming to continuously innovate to make every bath time a secure and enjoyable experience for our community.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I initially explored creating a blender but soon realized the complexity involved; it required both mechanical and electrical engineering skills, which were beyond my expertise. Recognizing these challenges, I shifted focus to a previous idea: developing a safer bathtub for toddlers. This pivot, while challenging, was essential. It taught me the fundamental skills needed to transform a concept into a tangible product, ultimately leading to the creation of Tubee.

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

From my childhood migration from Jamaica to America, I’ve faced and embraced numerous challenges. Settling in a new country with my grandparents, I quickly learned the importance of adaptability and resilience. These early experiences paved the way for my diverse career ventures. When I decided to develop Tubee, I was diving into the unknown territories of product development and business management. This endeavor wasn’t just about launching a product; it was a test of my ability to learn and adapt under pressure, pushing me to acquire new skills in unfamiliar industries. I am continuously learning and my resilience is often tested but with a good support system, anything is possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tubeetub.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tubeetub/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tubeetub
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/irl-innovations/?viewAsMember=true

Image Credits

University of Bridgeport