GoKawiilKey Takeaways Bapu and Wilson raised $160,000 on Kickstarter to help bring their side hustle Houndsy to life.
Both co-founders quit their 9-5 jobs by 2023 to focus on the business full time.
Houndsy has seen $15 million in lifetime revenue — and is on track for another $15 million this year.
This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Pavan Bapu, 40, of Chicago, Illinois. Bapu and his co-founder Luke Wilson started their side hustle Houndsy, which sells dog feeders that don’t require people to bend down, in 2021. Houndsy generated more than $450,000 in revenue during its first year and is on track to surpass $15 million in 2026. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Image Credit: Houndsy. Pavan Bapu and Luke Wilson.
What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
I worked as director of growth marketing for a hardware and software company that makes computer-controlled carving machines for small businesses.
A viral TikTok video inspired co-workers to start a side hustle
When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
I started a side hustle with my co-side-hustler Luke Wilson in May 2021. He worked at the same company as a senior product manager. One day, he casually shared a TikTok video of an original dog feeder he built that garnered over 15 million views.
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