Our Story
In July 2021, I was on a road trip through Montana with Dawson, a trained service dog, riding in the front seat. As we drove, I found myself worrying—was she actually safe in the event of a crash? That question stuck with me.
Later that day, I researched existing pet safety solutions and realized they weren’t built for real-world, high-speed collisions. Service dogs are tens of thousands of dollars to purchase and train—they are a lifeline for their owners and an irreplaceable emotional and financial investment. Yet, the current harnesses on the market weren’t good enough to truly protect them.
That was the moment Kyōnia was born.
The Dawson Project
- The Beginning
In July 2021, I was on a road trip through Montana with Dawson, a trained service dog, riding in the front seat. As we drove, I found myself worrying—was she actually safe in the event of a crash? That question stuck with me.
Later that day, I researched existing pet safety solutions and realized they weren’t built for real-world high-speed collisions. Service dogs are tens of thousands of dollars to purchase and train—they are a lifeline for their owners and an irreplaceable emotional and financial investment. Yet, the current harnesses on the market weren’t good enough to truly protect them.
That was the moment Kyōnia was born.
From Bed Sheets to Breakthrough Design
Being an architect by trade, I knew how to design and build, but textiles were a new challenge. With no existing solution available, I started from scratch.
First prototype: A crude design made of bed sheets, duct tape, and string .
Version two: I dissected a sailing personal flotation device, searching for structural inspiration.
Breakthrough moment: Partnering with a custom spring manufacturer led to a mechanical trigger system, eliminating the need for electronics or charging—something no other pet safety harness had achieved.
With limited financial resources, no outside funding, and a full-time architecture job, I bootstrapped Kyōnia from the ground up—working nights, weekends, and whenever I could find time. The road wasn’t easy, but the mission kept me going.
Sheets to Leashes
The first prototype took shape on the kitchen floor with bed sheets, duct tape, and string. As an architect, I know how to design and build, but textiles were new to me. Dawson, always the trooper, happily let me use her as the model. After some iterations, I realized I could do better, so I started dissecting my sailing personal flotation device for ideas
Building the Future of Pet Safety
In 2024, Kyōnia graduated from Founder Institute NYC, one of the world’s top startup accelerators. With expert mentorship and an expanding team, we refined our vision and built a board of advisors with industry leaders:
Steve Edwards – Former Director of Safety for cart Racing
Brian Pasalich – Serial entrepreneur and growth strategist
Don Samoil – Go-to-market strategy expert & Founder Institute Chapter Leader
Abdellah Aouf – Talent acquisition expert & serial entrepreneur
With their guidance, Kyōnia isn’t just a product,—it’s a category—defining solution at the forefront of pet safety innovation.
Manufacturing & U.S.-Based Production
We take safety seriously, which is why Kyōnia harnesses are designed, sourced, and assembled in the USA.
-Components from New Jersey, Florida, Michigan, and Utah
-Assembled in Utah, where Kyōnia is headquartered
-Built with input from vehicular safety experts
The Wagging Tail of Production
After multiple prototypes and safety tests, we are finalizing our design across three different harness sizes. Our focus is on a non-electrical trigger system, so customers won’t need to worry about recharging.
With Fox Valley Restoration leading our manufacturing efforts in Utah, we are gearing up for our first production run with 100% U.S.-based sourcing and assembly. To make this a reality, we are securing funding to scale production and optimize our tooling process.
Join Us – Be Part of the Future of Pet Safety
We’ve built the foundation—now it’s time to launch. As we prepare for fundraising, early traction, and partnerships, we invite you to join the movement and help us revolutionize pet safety.
Want to support our mission? Be part of the launch by pre-ordering a harness or partnering with us.
Interested in investing? Let’s talk—help us take Kyōnia to the next level.