CO-FOUNDER • CLEAN REPUBLIC • BOULDER , COLORADO

WHEN HUGH HUFFAKER WENT FOR A TRAIL RUN THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO in his native Boulder , Colorado , he had no idea that it would lead to the launch of two companies and change his life .

On that trail , Huffaker met Jake Piccoli , who was also out with his dog . The two had never met before , but as they began chatting , they quickly realized they had a lot in common , and a business partnership soon blossomed . They launched a company called Plant Aid , which sold a cleaning spray for crops to the agricultural industry . Then in October 2019 , Huffaker and Piccoli launched Clean Republic , which was intended to sell cleaning supplies to the spa industry but is now selling them to the general public due to COVID-19 .

Huffaker looks back three years ago and laughs at how his family and friends thought he was crazy to start a company with someone he barely knew . But Huffaker trusts his instincts .

“ Every business that people start , some are really weird ideas , but I think you just have to go with your gut ,” Huffaker says . “ I had known Jake for a week , maybe two weeks , before we started a company together . But he just felt like a brother from another mother . He ’ s become a lifetime best friend and a true brother .”

Unfortunately , Huffaker and Piccoli had their own personal experience with coronavirus . They were in China in January to look into manufacturing there , and after walking around wet markets and eating produce and fruit , they returned to the United States with what they believed to be COVID-19 . Huffaker says it was like a “ really , really bad case of the flu .”

Though Clean Republic is new , Huffaker is no stranger to

the spa industry , as he had already sold products to spas through his company CAUSE + MEDIC . It ’ s been an interesting challenge to try to build a new brand during a pandemic , but Huffaker is used to these sorts of challenges . After all , he has started three companies . Though the circumstances around Clean Republic aren ’ t something other brands will likely experience , Huffaker does have advice for those just starting out : plow through the challenging times , which are inevitable for any new company .

“ Just try to enjoy the horrendous moments , because there ’ s usually more scary moments than really great moments running a business . But the great moments make it so worth it ,” Huffaker says .“ The entrepreneurial life is a grind , but the freedom that you get from it , you just got to stick with it . … It seems like you ’ re going one step forward , two steps back , but you ’ re making progress . Your costs are going to go down and so just keep grinding it out and try to enjoy it , if possible .” n

56 PULSE ^■ OCTOBER 2020