When I started Fika's Freaky Friends, I had just overcome what was one of the most challenging times in my life. Recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, I had a mental breakdown that would dramatically change the path I was on.

I was working full time at a start-up and getting my MBA at the same time. I was also potty training my would be co-founder! One day, it all became too much and I realizedI had to press the brakes and take time to recover. So I quit my job and I put my studies on hold for a semester.

With my newfound free time and space to reflect on what I truly wanted out of life, I realized that I wanted to work somewhere I could be 100% myself. And working for someone else wouldn't allow me to do that. I would always have to put on a mask when going to work and I no longer had it in me to pretend to be someone else for a paycheck.

That's when the idea for Fika's Freaky Friends came to me. So I started designing and these weird little characters were born.

During testing, I started inventing personalities for each character while playing with Fika. Since launching this brand was such an important part of my mental health recovery, it felt right to incorporate little stories inspired from experiences I've had in my own journey to bring joy to people who may have experienced or continue to experience similar things.

I never wanted Fika's Freaky Friends to be just a dog toy company. I wanted to create a community in which people aren't afraid to share their stories or be themselves. Fika's Freaky Friends is all about embracing our weirdness because our weirdness is what makes us special. And I want to inspire people to be kinder to themselves because I know we all need that reminder sometimes.

I hope that you find yourself in one of our many Freaky Friends. I promise you, whether you have big dreams like Pickle Monkey or you’re a positive thinker like Strawberry Pig, there’s a Freaky Friend for you to share with your pup!