On today’s episode, we welcome Jacob Zuppke, CEO of Whisker — the company behind Litter-Robot, one of the most iconic and trusted products in modern pet care.
Under Jacob’s leadership, Whisker has grown into a multi-hundred-million-dollar consumer technology company, surpassing $1 billion in revenue over the past four years—all without raising a single dollar of venture capital. What began as a niche solution for cat owners has evolved into a category-defining brand built on product obsession, deep customer insight, and a relentless focus on design, performance, and autonomy.
In this episode, Jacob shares how Whisker transformed convenience into connected care, why data and design are shaping the future of intelligent pet care, and what it takes to build a true consumer love brand outside Silicon Valley. We also dive into scaling DTC alongside retail, leading without VC pressure, and how Whisker’s newest generation of products is moving beyond cleaning into personalized, proactive pet health. This conversation is packed with insights for founders, operators, and anyone building enduring consumer brands.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at karagoldin@gmail.com. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Jacob Zuppke and Whisker:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobzuppke/ LinkedIn
https://www.instagram.com/jzuppke/
https://www.instagram.com/thelitterrobot/
https://www.whisker.com

Sponsored By:

BetterWild – up to 40% off your order at betterwild.com/KARAGOLDIN

LinkedIn Jobs – Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free.

Wix -Ready to create your website? Sign up for free at Wix.com

Stamps.com – Go to Stamps.com and use code kara to get sixty days risk-free!

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/789