This is the real life “Cinderella story” of Julie Aigner-Clark, a stay-at-home mom who transformed her “basement startup” into a multi-million dollar empire, which she later sold to Disney…
Driven by vision rather than market research and launched with personal savings, The Baby Einstein Company was founded by Julie to give her own child exposure to the arts. Five years after its ‘birth’, and with the help of her CFO husband Bill, Baby Einstein was a highly-profitable, boutique publisher that generated more than $20 million in annual revenue. Julie recognized that the company’s next growth stage would require professional management, complex operations and substantial financial resources. Having drawn the attention of several large media conglomerates, the Clarks sold Baby Einstein to The Walt Disney Company in 2001, and Julie returned to her first love - parenting.
Continually inspired by her own children for ideas, Julie is now creating programs designed to address children’s safety concerns. Most recently, she has partnered with John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted to launch The Safe Side, an original video series that teaches young children to make good choices in difficult situations. The company generates funds for The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Julie envisions this brand as having tremendous social benefits, as well as the potential for growth that surpasses Baby Einstein’s success.
About Julie Aigner-Clark
Julie is the recipient of Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year Award," as well as Working Mother's "Entrepreneur of the Year Award" in three categories - Most Philanthropic Company, Most Innovative Business and Best Small Company. In 2003, she received The Distinguished Alumni Award from The College of Arts and Letters of Michigan State University, from where she had graduated with a degree in education and English literature. In the citation, Julie was credited with starting a billion-dollar media industry centered on stimulating the minds of infants and toddlers. In 2004, at the age of 37, Julie received a new title: breast cancer survivor. Julie is a stay-at-home mom and currently lives in Colorado with her husband and two daughters.