At just 17 years old, Bella Lin, a Summer 2023 BizWorld YES! Program alumna, has taken the small pet industry by storm with her company GuineaLoft. Featured recently on CNBC, Bella shared her inspiring story of turning her passion for guinea pigs into a thriving business.
GuineaLoft, which sells products for small pets including cages, bedding, food feeders, and water bottles, has seen incredible growth. In 2024, the company is averaging roughly $71,000 per month in revenue, more than doubling last year’s average of $34,000 per month. In total, GuineaLoft brought in an impressive $409,000 in 2023.
“I have always wanted to be self-employed,” said Bella. “I’m really lucky to run a company like GuineaLoft where this is my passion. I’ve had these pets forever. I love caring for them.”
Bella’s entrepreneurial spirit started young, with various small businesses like hand knitting, lemonade stands, and even a slime business in middle school. But it was her own experience as a guinea pig owner that sparked the idea for GuineaLoft.
Dissatisfied with store-bought cages, Bella started sketching designs for the ideal guinea pig habitat. When the first 100 units of the GuineaLoft cage sold out on Amazon, she knew she had to go all in.
Despite the challenges of juggling high school and running a business, Bella’s dedication and hard work have paid off. She credits the BizWorld YES! Program for providing the foundation and inspiration to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams.
Here at BizWorld we’re honored to have aided not only in Bella’s success with GuineaLoft, but also in a prior successful endeavor TLeggings, which she grew through our Winter 2021 YES! cohort.
“I 100% plan on running GuineaLoft while I’m in college, and hopefully if it lasts the next four years, out of college as well. The ultimate goal that I have for GuineaLoft is to be the top recognized small pet brand.” – Bella Lin
Bella’s story is a testament to the power of the entrepreneurial spirit and the impact that programs like BizWorld YES! can have on young minds. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this inspiring young entrepreneur!
