In 2023, two Ohio friends turned a conversation about the high costs of parenting into a thriving business that’s now helping families across America. Jerry Tsai and Phillip Guerra launched The Happy Start, creating affordable, expert-designed baby products available in the Amazon store.
Working with a pediatric occupational therapist, the fathers developed vision cards and books crucial for infant development. Their flagship product is a self-standing board book featuring 14 bold, high-contrast images specifically designed to support early visual and cognitive development in infants. Priced under $10 and available in multiple languages, these tools embody their mission to make “expert-backed products affordable, accessible, and inclusive, ensuring parents and caregivers from all communities have the tools to give children the best start in life.”
Since launching in the Amazon store in September 2023, the company has grown rapidly. Their products are even used in several top U.S. children’s hospitals.
“Growing up in working-class Ohio families, we witnessed firsthand how hard our parents worked to provide us with resources and opportunities they never had. This shaped our values of hard work, giving back, and creating a positive impact in the community,” said the founders.
They’ve stuck to these values. The Happy Start has donated products to over 100 organizations across 19 states and D.C.
Today, The Happy Start ships thousands of products from its Ohio warehouse, reaching families across the country through the Amazon store. “We’re just getting started,” Guerra says. “There are still so many families who need access to these early development tools.”