Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Schauf.
Hi Christian, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I grew up on a dairy farm in Northern Wisconsin and lived a very typical farm kid’s life. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I toured the world with my band for almost a decade, including nearly 40 trips to Kuwait and Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Once I returned home, I spent most of my time out in nature. Whether I was climbing, hunting, or biking, I always felt drawn to adventure. In my late twenties, a job offer brought me to Southern California, where I went from living in open spaces to a much more urban existence. During that time, it became apparent that the world was changing, and population centers, in particular, couldn’t adequately care for people in a large-scale emergency. The right products for unforeseen emergencies didn’t exist, so I set out to change that.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Smooth is the last word to describe my experience building Uncharted Supply Co. Every entrepreneur faces unforeseen challenges, and our path has been no different. While there are significant opportunities in redefining and developing a new category, there are also substantial challenges around determining the products people will buy and educating and convincing people to be proactive vs. reactive regarding emergencies. We’ve faced hurdles from every angle, but we get a little stronger every day we show up to work, and our brand has seen fantastic growth. Knowing that our products are trusted worldwide by the average citizen, top professionals and government organizations has been a meaningful experience. We are making the world a safer place on a grand scale, which has been the goal since day one.
We’ve been impressed with Uncharted Supply Co., but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
Uncharted manufactures high-quality emergency preparedness products designed to provide peace of mind in emergencies. More than that, we build hip packs for outdoor recreation, first aid kits, portable jump starters for day-to-day mishaps and survival kits designed for multiple people in the case of large-scale emergencies. We specialize in first aid preparedness for pets, families, and hard-core adventure seekers, and we pride ourselves on three critical components for every product: high-quality materials, dependable organization, and expert instruction. Our brand goes beyond products, as we’ve also worked with experts in the fields of the outdoors, medicine, fitness, and more to create a weekly “4 Pillars” newsletter that provides subscribers with four tips a week on the topic of Resources, Resourcefulness, Community, and Mental and Physical Fitness.
Many people recognize us from Shark Tank, where we successfully presented our flagship product, The Seventy2 Survival System. Since 95% of all survival situations are resolved within 72 hours, having the right gear can mean the difference between life and death. We worked closely with first responders, doctors, special forces operators, mountain guides, and other experts to develop the world’s best survival kit for one person. Since then, we’ve expanded that product by creating the Seventy2 Pro, built to support two people. Most recently, we’re incredibly proud to be entering the pet-preparedness space on June 10 with the launch of the Wolf Pack, the only dog collar with a built-in first aid kit. After a snowboarding accident almost took the life of my dog and Uncharted’s beloved mascot, Barron, I wanted to build a collar that could prepare dogs and their owners for these unexpected emergencies, giving them a two-in-one option: a lightweight collar + durable first aid kit that protects against bites, cuts, stings and more.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Don’t give up, and don’t overreact. There will be days when you feel like you’ve got nothing left in the tank, but being able to push through those times is when you find what you’re truly made of. Bluntly, you must get used to challenges while building a company because that’s the reality of entrepreneurship. Building a great business takes resilience and consistent dedication to your work, and you have to trust that your vision is achievable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unchartedsupplyco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unchartedsupplyco/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unchartedsupplyco/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncharted-supply-company/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/UnchartedSupplyCo
- Other: https://unchartedsupplyco.com/pages/the-four-pillars
Image Credits
Uncharted Supply Co.
