Meet Claudia Prado | Founder, Yum Pup

We had the good fortune of connecting with Claudia Prado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claudia, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Our Yum Pup story goes back to when a tiny 2lb Yorkshire Terrier named Blue, after the leading bird in the Pixar movie Rio, came into my life. From the second we met it was love at first sight! Since then, I have dedicated our time together to make Blue’s quality of life the best possible and maximize our time together. Because if it were up to me, pups would live forever.

One day while driving to the airport, I came across the factory that made the food I was feeding Blue at the time. The image of these huge, looming towers with smoke coming out of them, so far away from home, still haunts me to this day. At that moment I made the decision to transition Blue to a different food, one that included a balanced diet using ingredients that I knew were healthy for him, that I could see in the bowl and that didn’t include preservatives or fillers.

After tons of research and countless conversations with vets, our recipes were born. Blue enjoyed our food in private for a while until my other half (the human one) encouraged me to share them with other obsessed dog parents. Today other dog parents can be part of our Yum Pup movement, one that believes in empty bowls, happy tummies and big smiles.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Yum Pup is a specialty dog food online service with quality ingredients, free of preservatives and fillers. Our goal is to make fresh, healthy dog food accessible to parents and pups by offering affordable prices and being completely commitment-free. Think of us as a private chef for your pup: you order, we cook, your pup’s day gets better!

Each Yum Pup recipe – Chica Chica Chicken, Totally Turkey, La La Lamb and Big & Beefy – is kettle-cooked in small batches, which allows us to modify each recipe depending on food allergies. For every purchase we receive, we donate to local shelters rescuing and providing a second opportunities to unfortunate animals.

At Yum Pup, our pup and CEO Blue is our favorite family member. That means giving him the best nutrition and care we can possibly imagine. He has taken this family tradition to the workplace and, as a good furry CEO, he doesn’t sell a batch that he hasn’t tasted himself.

When it comes to me, I was born in Latin America and migrated with my family to the United States when I was a teenager. Growing up my love for animals always came through – that’s right, I prefer to hang out with dogs over people (and who doesn’t?). After I graduated high school, I completed my undergrad and graduate degrees in Business Administration. While in college, I learned about a work study program at one the largest television networks in the country. There, I was introduced to the corporate social responsibility world and to say that I felt in love with the work the company was doing to empower minorities is an understatement. For the past decade, I have been leading programs to improve the lives of undeserved communities around the country and now I’m using my experience in business driving purpose-driven initiatives to develop one of my passions and make an impact in the lives of pups through Yum Pup, while giving back to organizations that are changing the lives of less fortunate animals.

Launching Yum Pup wasn’t an easy ride. I like to compare the journey of opening a business to running a marathon, you have to physically, emotionally and financially prepare to take on the challenge (funding and market research). Once you start running (building the infrastructure of the business) you must pace yourself, be disciplined, you must block all the mental doubts and overcome every obstacle you encounter until you cross the finish line (business launch). I think the only difference is that once you cross the finish line in a marathon you choose if you want to participate in another one, but with a business you just keep running uphill.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When our friends come to visit there are two things they can always count on: amazing food and the best pet-friendly spots. Any trip needs to start with a quick stop at Islas Canarias Restaurant to eat “croquetas”, which in Blue’s humble opinion are the best ones in town.

From there, a visit to Tinez Farm. This is a small pet-friendly farm close to the Redlands. The farm hosts seasonal events and is home to many rescued animals. Whenever you go don’t forget to say hi to their cow and bulls family “Chocolate”, “Chip” and “Cookie”. You can also feed the other animals, grab a shake and take IG-worthy photos for your pup’s account.

Every time Blue wants to escape the busy CEO life, we go to Baker’s Cay Resort in the Florida Keys. We LOVE this place. Lately I have found myself only enjoying places where Blue is welcomed. At Baker’s Cay Resort, dogs are not only allowed but they are considered the most important hotel guests. From welcome bags to dog-friendly beaches and restaurants, to scavenger hunts you can enjoy with your bestie, you will have an unforgettable stay. The hotel also has a love and friendship lock arch, where you can hang your personalized lock. You guessed it! Blue and I have our very own lock.

The Alchemist needs to be part of the plan. This is a trendy restaurant with great photo-ops and yummy food. Here you can have breakfast with your friends while your pup feels like an influencer.

Next stop, Lokal. Not only the restaurant offers delicious human food, but their doggie menu makes a visit with your pup more fun. Nothing beats seeing the waiter bring your burger and fries along with Yeyo’s Chicken & Rice for Blue.

For dinner, sushi! We haven’t been to Casa Sensai in a while and Blue is starting to miss his doggy sushi. This place combines my love for Blue and obsession with sushi. They have exquisite rolls and offer two sushi options for pups, rice and chicken or rice and veggies. Lastly, if you are in the mood for dessert, you need to make a quick stop at Lulu’s ice cream. And of course, they have something for Blue too.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Becoming an entrepreneur can be the most rewarding, yet scariest decision a person can make. Starting this journey can feel lonely, you give all you have and the return on investment is very slow. It’s easier to give up than to continue an unknown, and in many cases, challenging path. This is when unconditional support comes into place, and can be the difference between succeeding and quitting.

I’m very fortunate to have a family that believes I’m capable of anything. Every day they push me to be better and achieve my goals. This is dedicated to them, and of course, my little Blue!

Website: www.shopyumpup.com

Instagram: @yumpup

Facebook: Yum Pup

Other: @bluetheceo_ is the IG account of our CEO Blue Prado.