They say necessity is the mother of invention, but sometimes, inspiration strikes from the most unexpected places. My journey from founding Pet Wireless, an animal health company, to navigating the complexities of global contract manufacturing was anything but conventional. What started as an MBA project fueled by personal loss led to a breakthrough in feline health monitoring and, ultimately, to a deep understanding of how companies bring innovative products to market.
A Personal Loss, A Big Idea
My venture into animal health began not as a lifelong passion but as a response to a personal tragedy. Peach, our beloved family cat, succumbed to cancer, and we only caught it because we noticed his weight loss too late. That experience made me realize that subtle changes in a pet’s health often go unnoticed until it’s too late. As an MBA student with an engineering background, I saw an opportunity: What if we could track a cat’s weight and litter box habits in real time?
From that idea, Pet Wireless was born. We developed Tailio, a Wi-Fi-connected weight scale designed to sit discreetly under a litter box. By monitoring weight fluctuations and bathroom habits and using machine learning, we could detect early signs of diabetes, urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism—conditions that, if caught early, could dramatically extend a cat’s life.
From Prototype to Veterinary Hospitals
Bringing Tailio to life was no small feat. We collaborated with multiple veterinary hospitals, collected invaluable data, and refined our technology to ensure accuracy and reliability. The results were profound—not only did Tailio help pets live longer, healthier lives, but it also strengthened the bond between veterinarians, pet owners, and the broader animal health ecosystem.
As Tailio gained traction, it was later acquired by Nestle Purina. Today, it continues to be used in the field as a Petivity Smart Litter Box Monitor System, helping advance remote monitoring in veterinary health.
Building a Product: Lessons in Manufacturing
Bringing Tailio to market required navigating the complex world of contract manufacturing. We produced our units using facilities in San Diego, Tijuana, and Shenzhen—each offering unique advantages in cost, quality, and scalability. That experience gave me firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities of offshore manufacturing—knowledge that would prove invaluable later.
The Unexpected Evolution
After my experience with animal health technology, fellow entrepreneurs and startups frequently sought advice on how and where to design and manufacture their products. Having worked with trusted contract manufacturers, I was happy to connect others to reliable partners. I saw it as a way to pay it forward, just as many had helped me along the way.
Then, about a year and a half ago, one of my contract manufacturing partners asked me a simple yet profound question: “Why do you keep working for free? How about we pay you commissions?” That was my lightbulb moment. I had been enjoying this work so much that I never considered making it a professional pursuit. This is how Make Offshore was born. I’ve helped dozens of innovators bring their products to market while having the satisfaction of becoming an authority in the field.
This transition from animal health technology to broader manufacturing advisory work is a testament to how unexpected opportunities arise when expertise meets curiosity. Learning how to bring a veterinary product to market gave me insight into the intricate world of global supply chains and medical manufacturing.
Turning Passion into Industry Knowledge
Looking back, my career path has been anything but traditional. I entered the animal health space with no prior experience, driven by a personal loss, and ended up creating a product that saved lives. That journey led me to a new passion—helping other innovators navigate the manufacturing landscape. As Confucius wisely said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
This evolution—from an idea sparked by personal experience to working at the intersection of healthcare, veterinary science, and global manufacturing—has reinforced an important lesson: Innovation rarely follows a straight path. Whether in animal health, human health, or technology, opportunities emerge from unexpected places, and adaptability is key to making a lasting impact.
About the Author
Alex Triener holds a Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering and an MBA. An inventor with nearly 20 patents, he is a serial entrepreneur who has founded four companies and successfully sold one. Throughout his entire career spanning 30 years, he’s been developing and manufacturing hardware products.
He worked for Illumina in its early days and recently authored the fiction novel “9 ½ Months: An Engineering Saga,” inspired by real events in the biotech industry. His journey reflects a passion for innovation, bridging industries, and bringing ideas to life.