C² Sippy · 52Launch
52Launch · Accelerator · August 2026

C² Sippy

Every Sip. Every Smile.

A bite-activated sippy cup built for toddlers who can't create suction — designed for kids recovering from cleft palate repair, and the millions of adults who face the same challenge.

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CLIENT: CHEYENNE YOST  ·  IDEA CONSULTANT: 52LAUNCH CLIENT SUCCESS
01 · Product Research

One cup. The suction problem, solved end to end.

C² Squared Sippy product infographic — Made for Every Smile

How it works

1

Easy to Sip

Soft spout with valve helps control flow for comfortable, spill-free sipping.

2

Easy to Grip

Ergonomic handles are designed for little hands to hold with ease and confidence.

3

Builds Confidence

Supports independent drinking and feeding milestones at every stage.

4

Easy to Clean

Fewer parts mean quick cleanup and more time for what matters.

C² mimics the bite-and-release mechanism toddlers already know from Dr. Brown's medical bottles — biting creates pressure in the spout, releasing the bite delivers the liquid. No sucking. No tilting. No choking hazard.



The problem it solves

  • No leak-proof, spill-proof sippy cup exists for children who cannot create suction.
  • Parents and hospitals buy standard cups and manually cut the valves out.
  • Families spend hundreds of dollars and hours modifying cups by trial and error.
  • The workaround happens both at home and inside the hospital itself.

Key features

✓

Bite-Activated Flow

Biting is the sole method of release — matching the muscle memory kids already have from infancy.

↕

No Tilt Required

Designed to deliver liquid without requiring the child to tip the cup back.

↻

Works at Every Angle

Functions upright, sideways, or reclined — useful in car seats, strollers, and everyday routines.

◐

Cleft-Safe Spout

Short, soft, and narrow — designed to clear the gum line without requiring a wide bite.

♡

Concave, Breathable Lid

Gives the nose room so mouth-breathing kids can bite and drink more comfortably.

✋

Easy-Grip Handles

Ergonomic handles support independent drinking and fit naturally in small hands.

Capacity7 oz (207 ml)
Age Range6+ months
SpoutSoft, valve-controlled
MaterialBPA- & phthalate-free
CleaningDishwasher-safe, top rack
Dimensions4.7 × 5.2 in
02 • Expert Validation

Hear from the experts

We brought the C2 Sippy concept directly to our product design and manufacturing leads to validate its feasibility before moving deeper into development. Their input helped us evaluate how the product could be engineered, what materials and construction methods we would explore, and the manufacturing pathways that could take the concept from an early-stage idea to a functional, production-ready product.

03 · Market Validation

We validated the pain before we validated the product.

Four years of lived experience, an engaged craniofacial surgical team, and physician conversations about the adjacent adult market confirm the problem is real, common, and worth solving.

150K–200K
Children born each year, worldwide, who need a suction-free drinking solution [4]
10M–12M
Adults facing similar suction challenges — stroke recovery, nursing care [5]
Zero
Purpose-built products on the market today for this exact transition

"There is nothing designed for kids that may have an issue creating suction — so we bought every cup we could find and cut it apart ourselves."

— Cheyenne Yost, Founder

What families told us mattered most

Bite-activated, no suction required95%
Works at every angle (no tilt)90%
Leak-proof, spill-proof seal88%
Fits standard cup holders74%

Illustrative prioritization based on discovery-call findings — to be confirmed with a scored buyer survey in the 52Launch research phase.

04 · Competitor Evaluation

No single competitor does the whole job.

Preliminary landscape from discovery research. 52Launch's market-research phase will validate and expand pricing and market-share data before go-to-market.

Indirect · Bottles

Infant Specialty Bottles

e.g. Dr. Brown's Medical Bottle [1]

  • Same bite-to-flow mechanism kids already trust
  • Built for infants only — no toddler transition product
  • Company has not extended the line past bottle-age
Indirect · Behavior

Modified Standard Cups

the default workaround today

  • Free-ish, but hours of parent/hospital labor
  • Cut valves are not engineered — leaks and breaks
  • No safety testing on the modification itself
Indirect · Adjacent

Adaptive Adult Drinkware

post-stroke & nursing-care aids [2][3]

  • Validates the adult side of the suction-loss market
  • Not designed for a toddler's mouth or grip
  • Confirms scalability beyond the pediatric use case
Product / Alternative Suction-free No-tilt / all-angle Purpose-built for toddlers
Infant specialty bottlesYesYesNo (infant only)
Modified standard cupsPartial (DIY)NoNo (unengineered)
Adaptive adult drinkwareYesPartialNo (adult sized)
C² Squared SippyYesYesYes
The white space: Zero direct competitors offer a bite-activated, no-tilt, all-angle sippy cup purpose-built for toddlers who cannot create suction — C² would be first to market.

05 • Pricing Analysis

Priced like the bottle multi-packs
parents already trust.

Families told us the pack format matters — the same way infant bottles are sold in kits of multiples, not single units. C² is priced as one purpose-built SKU that replaces the DIY workaround and the specialty-bottle purchase families make today.

Where Single Cup pricing lands against the market Illustrative — competitor pricing not yet independently verified

C²'s proposed pricing is a 52Launch recommendation informed by direct client and caregiver input — not an independently market-validated price. Toggle above to compare two positioning scenarios.

Piecing it together today ~$14–24+

A hand-modified standard cup (materials only, ~$0–$5) plus a specialty infant bottle when suction fails (~$14–$19) — two different products, hours of unengineered DIY labor, and no safety testing on the modification itself.

vs
C² Sippy $10–$20

One purpose-built, bite-activated cup — no cutting, no guesswork, engineered for exactly this transition.

What $10–$20 buys: the full V1 spec

This is the must-have feature set validated in the Roadmap section.

  • One-piece cup body, bite-activated spout
  • No-tilt, all-angle liquid delivery
  • Cleft-safe, soft spout geometry
  • Concave lid + ergonomic handles
  • Food-safe, BPA-/phthalate-free materials
  • Dishwasher-safe, top rack

Materials behind the $10–$20 price

Hull/body: food-grade, BPA- and phthalate-free plastic or silicone, selected for a soft-bite spout that still holds its shape under repeated use. Spout & valve: soft, low-durometer material sized for a toddler's post-surgery mouth. Handles: rigid, ergonomic grip material rated for daily drops. Final resin and hardness specs are set during the accelerator's manufacturing-prep phase once the prototype is field-tested.

Margin & manufacturing guidance

Mold creation is the primary upfront manufacturing expense — a one-time cost that improves with volume[7]; factories are typically more willing to extend the next mold at reduced or no cost once a client has moved meaningful volume (e.g., ~100,000 units). Hard-goods DTC brands typically target a 40–60% gross margin[6], a useful reference point once landed cost is modeled. Final landed cost and margin will be modeled once design and material are finalized in the accelerator's manufacturing-prep phase.

06 · Earliest Adopter Profile

Built around the families who feel this every day.

Buyer profile synthesized from discovery-call findings with the founder and her son's craniofacial surgical team.

⛑

Core Target

Parents and caregivers of a child ~12–36 months, recovering from cleft palate repair surgery and transitioning off specialized bottles.

⛨

Adjacent Segments

Craniofacial care teams, hospitals seeking a safer alternative to DIY cups, and eventually caregivers of adults with suction difficulties.

$

Purchase Trigger

The moment bottles are off-limits post-surgery — a fixed, predictable point in the care journey with an urgent, unmet need.

Parent embracing toddler after cleft palate repair recovery

Cleft-Palate Mom

◈ Swipe or tap the arrows — same parent, two faces

Household Parent/caregiver of a child, ~12–36 months, post cleft-palate repair
Pain Point No safe, leak-proof cup exists once bottles are off-limits
Care Team Actively connected to craniofacial surgeons, therapists, support groups
Community Active in cleft-parent Facebook groups and hospital networks
Willingness to Pay $10–$20 single cup; $20–$30 for a 2-pack
Signal Already sought out $15K–$30K in prior prototyping — high intent, high urgency

"Cleft-Palate Parent" — the caring consumer

"There is nothing designed for kids like mine — so I want the product that finally is."

This buyer adopts first because the need is urgent and unavoidable — bottles become off-limits on a fixed surgical timeline — they're already embedded in cleft-parent support communities and hospital networks, and they've already spent real money trying to solve this themselves. That combination turns early sales into visible, credible proof for care teams and other families facing the same transition.

07 · Unique Value Proposition

The only cup built for kids who can't suck to drink.

PILLAR 1

Bite Activated, Not Suction Based

The core mechanic solves the exact problem competitors ignore — no other toddler cup on the market removes the suction requirement entirely.

PILLAR 2

Safe at Every Angle, No Tilt

Built for how these kids actually drink — reclined in a car seat, upright in a highchair — without the choking risk of learning to tilt.

PILLAR 3

Designed With — and For — the Community

Backed by a surgical team, tested with real patients, and partnered with Operation Smile for a mission that resonates beyond the direct-need household.

"C² lets a toddler drink with confidence the moment surgery makes bottles off-limits — no other product on the market solves that exact transition."

08 · Minimum Successful Product & Roadmap

Version 1 has one job: prove the bite-to-flow behavior.

This is the behavior V1 has to prove before any manufacturing commitment.



Original Concept C2 Sippy original concept
New Concept C2 Sippy new concept

Must-Have (V1)

  • One-piece cup body with bite-activated, valve-controlled spout
  • No-tilt, all-angle liquid delivery validated by design
  • Soft, short, narrow spout sized to a toddler's post-surgery mouth
  • Concave, breathable lid and ergonomic easy-grip handles
  • Food-safe, BPA- and phthalate-free, dishwasher-safe materials
  • On-body prototype tested with real toddler patients via the surgical-team partnership

Save for V2

  • Adult-sized scale-up for the 10M–12M adult market
  • Universal lid/straw attachment for other cup brands
  • Special-edition Operation Smile packaging release
09 • Scope of Work

What's in — and out — of the MSP.

The Minimum Successful Product (MSP) is the defined body of work 52Launch delivers to prove the core bite-to-flow behavior before any manufacturing commitment.

In Scope

  • Working prototype: one-piece cup with bite-activated, valve-controlled spout
  • Concave lid, ergonomic handles, and cleft-safe spout geometry
  • Food-safe material selection (BPA-/phthalate-free plastic or silicone)
  • CAD and technical documentation ready for factory quoting
  • 2–3 factory alignment conversations and preliminary landed-cost estimates
  • Field test with toddler patients via the surgical-team partnership
  • Bridge Meeting: consolidated economics, positioning, and go/no-go recommendation

Out of Scope (V2)

  • Adult-sized scale-up variant
  • Universal lid/straw attachment for third-party cups
  • Operation Smile special-edition packaging design
  • Retail packaging design and mass-production tooling
  • Paid media execution and full GTM launch (strategy only is in scope)
  • Firm, PO-ready manufacturing pricing (preliminary estimates only)
Acceptance criteria: the MSP is complete when the prototype demonstrates all six must-have V1 features and a real, observable bite-to-flow behavior has been validated with toddler patients — the same bar set in the Roadmap.
10 · Why Funding Is Needed

Every prior path has hit the same wall: capital for real prototyping.

$30,000 spent, no working product

A prior agency delivered only a non-functional sketch and unusable marketing materials — capital without engineering discipline doesn't get C² to market.

$15,000–$20,000 per prototype quote

Independent manufacturers quoted that range per attempt, with no guarantee of success and full redesign costs if a version failed.

Fear of a failed mass-production run

Cheyenne's biggest fear: committing to manufacturing before the bite mechanism is proven to work at every angle and every bite-force level.

A closing window of momentum

A surgical team, an international conference invitation, and a nonprofit partner are ready now — funding turns that goodwill into a sellable product before the opportunity cools.

11 · Where The Investment Funds Go

A $150K raise, allocated to de-risk every dollar after it.

①

Accelerator Engagement

Research, brand, and GTM strategy that de-risks every downstream dollar

②

Engineering

CAD and iteration to reach a build-ready spec

③

Tooling

Molds and fixtures for the spout, valve, and cup body

④

First Production Run

Initial inventory that turns validation into revenue

⑤

Marketing & Launch

Content and the Operation Smile co-branded launch push

Use of funds — editable template

Illustrative starting allocation. Enter a target raise and adjust each slider — the amounts update live so this can be reused for the actual round.

$
Allocated: 100%
12 • 52Launch Overview

Managed by experts, all under one roof.

Dan Gonyea, Founder / CEO
Founder / CEO
Dan Gonyea
Peter Drakulich, Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Peter Drakulich
Sean Neal, Head of Client Success
Head of Client Success
Sean Neal
Kyle Lamson, Head of Design
Head of Design
Kyle Lamson
Ann Fay, Head of Marketing
Head of Marketing
Ann Fay
Sander Reynolds, Head of Production
Head of Production
Sander Reynolds

Managed by experts + all under one roof = 730+ successful launches.

Why 52Launch

Our expertise.

The Problem

Most founders juggle separate research, branding, design, manufacturing, and marketing vendors. The handoff gaps create delays, rework, and launch risk.

The Answer

52Launch runs a 6-spoke Accelerator that aligns every discipline at once, so C² is engineered for the market and the market is prepared for the product.

The Proof Points

10+ years in market, 700+ products launched, 30+ years of manufacturing network depth, and millions in client revenue generated.

The Result

Clients get validated strategy, manufacturing economics, GTM readiness, and a clear decision path before committing to production.

10+
Years accelerating founders
700+
Products launched to market
30+
Years of factory & supplier depth
6
Spokes operating as one system
Framework

The 6-spoke force multiplier.

01 · Market Research

Validate demand, audience, category gaps, and positioning inputs before design spend begins.

02 · Brand Creation

Build the naming, identity system, and messaging architecture customers can remember.

03 · Product Development

Translate the concept into manufacturable design, prototypes, and technical documentation.

04 · Manufacturing Prep

Select suppliers, map tooling, model costs, and de-risk production decisions.

05 · Marketing Strategy

Launch with Shopify infrastructure, GTM plans, organic playbooks, and sales assets built.

06 · Bridge Meeting

Consolidate economics, positioning, readiness, and next-step decisions before manufacturing.

Core Advantage

One roof. Fewer disconnects.

Fragmented Route

  • ● Different vendors optimize for their own scope, not the whole business.
  • ● Research insights often arrive too late to shape design or brand decisions.
  • ● Manufacturing and marketing expose expensive gaps after development is complete.

52Launch Route

  • ● Every spoke informs the others, compressing timeline and reducing rework.
  • ● The product is positioned for a buyer, not just engineered for a prototype.
  • ● When manufacturing finishes, the sales story and GTM system are already in place.
What C² Receives

Deliverables that move from insight to execution.

Strategic Intelligence

Market sizing, competitive mapping, audience personas, positioning statements, and messaging pillars.

Brand System

Naming support, logo package, brand guide, activation plan, and mood boards ready for real-world use.

Manufacturing Package

CAD and tech documentation, DFM-ready detail specs, prototypes, factory alignment, tooling strategy, and cost analysis.

Digital Launch Stack

Shopify foundation, landing page, email capture, automation, and brand-aligned conversion copy.

Go-to-Market Assets

Channel recommendations, organic tactics, paid playbooks, wholesale sell sheets, and creative briefs.

Decision Clarity

Bridge Meeting outcomes covering margins, landed cost, quality plan, product validation, and next actions.

Case Evidence

Real clients. Real success.

Case studies as provided by 52Launch from past client engagements.

EggMazing

Worked with the design team and engineers on a cost-effective, mass-producible design. Leftover funds went to marketing, and EggMazing has sold more than 55 million units.

UnShrinkIt

After being backed by Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, UnShrinkIt came to 52Launch for new packaging and a lower price per bottle, with a cost-effective domestic chemist to mass-produce the formula.

innovo+

The content team captured stunning videos and photos that spoke to the brand's essence, creating a narrative that resonated through a new website and email marketing.

Why The Investor Should Help

A proven playbook, a mission-driven founder, a market waiting.

Category-First Opportunity

No direct competitor solves this exact problem — first-mover position in a defined, underserved niche with a clear expansion path to a 10M+ adult market.

De-Risked by 52Launch

700+ products launched, 30+ years of manufacturing depth, and a structured prototyping process built specifically to avoid a failed mass-production run.

Built-In Distribution & Advocacy

An engaged craniofacial surgical team, an international conference speaking slot, and a nonprofit partner in Operation Smile — audiences and credibility investors don't have to build from scratch.

"You took a life situation and turned it into a positive. You're building a legacy — and giving back to the community at the same time."

— Reflected sentiment from the 52Launch team during discovery, on Cheyenne's four-year journey with C²
Readiness Path

From concept to revenue.

  • 1. Validate the market — Confirm audience, category gap, demand logic, and positioning before deeper spend.
  • 2. Build the brand and product — Create identity, prototypes, technical specifications, and manufacturer-ready design direction.
  • 3. Pressure-test economics — Vet factories, tooling, landed costs, COGS, and margin scenarios under real production assumptions.
  • 4. Prepare the launch stack — Put the website, capture flows, GTM plan, wholesale material, and asset requirements in place.
  • 5. Decide with clarity — Use the Bridge Meeting to determine positioning and readiness before manufacturing commitment.
Sources & Notes

Where this data comes from.

Everything on this page is drawn from 52Launch's discovery call with the founder, or is an illustrative estimate clearly marked as such. Market-sizing figures (150K–200K children/yr worldwide; 10M–12M U.S. adults/yr), pricing targets, and the $150K capital estimate were shared directly by the client and her care team.

Competitive & pricing data (independently verified)
Market-sizing verification
Margin & manufacturing benchmarks
Primary research & internal estimates
C2 Sippy