From Sun Protection Struggles to Stylish Solutions for Kids: How Sugar Water Baby Was Born
As Big Day of Giving approaches on May 5, we’re sharing the stories of local founders who are building startups with purpose thanks in part to support from StartupSac’s programs. One such founder is Whitney Tep, whose company, Sugar Water Baby, was born from a simple parenting dilemma: how do you keep your kids safe from the sun without the constant hassle of sunscreen? In the Q&A below, Whitney shares how StartupSac helped her find clarity in her entrepreneurial journey and why support for programs like ours can truly change the course of a small business.
The Inspiration Behind Sugar Water Baby
1.Can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to start your business?
Whitney: My name is Whitney Tep and I live in Sacramento with my husband and three young kiddos! I was inspired to create Sugar Water Baby, which is a company created to design and sell children’s sun-protective clothing, because I simply do not have the time to apply sunscreen on all of my kids every day. Since we are a family that tries to spend as much time as we can outdoors playing, this quick sun protection was important. When I looked at what was available on the market I just couldn’t find something that was both aesthetically pleasing and sun-protective. I have a bachelor’s degree in apparel merchandising so everything just seemed to align to bring this dream to life!
A Better Solution for Busy Families
2.Tell us about your business—what do you do, and who do you serve?
Sugar Water Baby is a company that designs and sells children’s sun-protective clothing made of UPF50+ rated, environmentally conscious fabric. I serve families of young children who spend time outdoors and are mindful of protecting their skin from sun exposure for long periods of time. There are several challenges that come with alternatives like sunscreen. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied throughout the day which is challenging or impossible to do when kids spend 6+ hours at school. It is also often not applied properly so that it thoroughly protects the skin as it’s easy to miss spots, and the chemicals in sunscreen can be harmful to the environment. Sugar Water Baby provides an effective, environmentally conscious, aesthetically pleasing option!
Overcoming Obstacles with Community Support
3.What challenges have you faced in your entrepreneurial journey, and how have you overcome them?
Whitney: There are a few challenges that I’ve come across on my entrepreneurial journey thus far. The first being that I didn’t realize manufacturing clothing doesn’t result in exact numbers due to products not passing quality assurance and whatnot. I had initially planned to sell hoodie/jogger sets. However, since I don’t have an equal number of each in each pattern, I will need to sell them separately.
Another challenge has been to figure out sustainable pricing due to recent changes in tariffs. Due to StartupSac, I was introduced to the World Trade Center Northern California and they were able to explain to me potential impacts to my cost of goods sold.
My current challenge is figuring out how to market my brand and bring my products to market successfully and smoothly. Again, due to StartupSac, I have a wonderful mentor in marketing who is currently guiding me through this!
Fueling the Journey
4. What motivates you to keep going, even when things get tough?
Whitney: I really want to see this project through. For me, Sugar Water Baby isn’t just about creating a product that I believe in and making it available to consumers, it’s also an opportunity to learn, grow, and be resilient whether it “succeeds” or “fails”.
Solving a Common Yet Overlooked Problem
5.What problem does your business solve and why is that important to you?
Whitney: The problem that Sugar Water Baby solves is the challenges that come with other forms of sun protection like sunscreen which is messy, often not applied properly, time consuming, and needs to be reapplied throughout the day. Sugar Water Baby clothing is made of fabric that is 90% bamboo/10% spandex so it is lightweight, environmentally conscious, and rated UPF 50+. It takes 10 seconds to put on and offers all day sun protection. For busy families this is a quick, easy solution for protecting skin from harmful rays.
This project is important to me because I believe being outdoors and playing outside is one of the most important activities for children. It keeps them off screens, engages their imagination and promotes exploration. Not having to worry about sunburns or sun damage is a cherry on top!
Looking to the Future
6.What impact do you hope your business will have on your community or industry?
Whitney: I hope that my business normalizes sun-protective clothing. You have to wear clothes anyway, so why not wear clothes that protects from the sun! As a busy parent myself I know first hand how hard it is to find time for everything, so anything that can save time is helpful.
If at some point I can grow Sugar Water Baby into a brick and mortar I would love to also offer a place where families with young children can come together to play, create, and explore through various art classes or creative movement classes and sensory play. Parenting is hard and can be isolating at times so I would love to see a supportive community of young families come together.
Finding the Right Support at the Right Time
7.How did you hear about our Fasttrac program, and what made you decide to join?
Whitney: I heard about StartupSac through an instagram post on the city’s instagram page. I decided to join because I felt really lost in my entrepreneurial journey and felt I could benefit from some tangible guidance. StartupSac has proven to be nothing short of phenomenal, offering endless resources and opportunities! It truly is such a gift at exactly the right time for me.
Making Entrepreneurship Accessible
8.How do you think programs like this one help entrepreneurs like you succeed?
Whitney: StartupSac provides access to the Kauffman FastTrac course, hosts various speakers that present on topics such as marketing, accounting, and trademarking, and offers a mentorship program. These are invaluable resources for a person totally new to business, trying to launch a small business. It really creates accessibility for those who wouldn’t otherwise have it.
Personally, StartupSac has opened up so many windows of opportunity through the weekly meetings, special events, and network. I know so much more now and feel so much more prepared for launch than I would have without the program. If my business is successful, I would absolutely without a doubt say it wouldn’t have been possible without StartupSac!
Why Support Matters
9.What would you say to someone thinking about supporting this program with a donation?
Whitney: This program truly makes it possible for new entrepreneurs to be successful. The program provides the information, tools, resources, and network for those that are willing to put in the work. As a result, it has the potential to bring really cool ideas to life in Sacramento which is a benefit to the entire community!
Wrap-Up
Whitney’s journey with Sugar Water Baby is exactly the kind of story that shows how early support can help a great idea grow into something impactful. With your help this Big Day of Giving, StartupSac can continue offering that support—so more founders like Whitney can build the future right here in Sacramento. Early giving is already open, and your donation can make all the difference.
Interested in more Startup Stories? Check them out here.