87:60 by Virtuoso Shaping CT's Future Pitch Competition: Kim Conti, Founder, Orbit Crates
Aug 13, 2025
Kim Conti, the founder of Orbit Crates, is on a mission to transform playtime with her innovative toy rental subscription service, aimed at reducing overconsumption. She shares insights from her journey as a former tech executive who pivoted to tackle both environmental waste and family budgets. Kim discusses her acquisition strategies, early success metrics, and partnerships aimed at promoting intentional play. Discover how she's envisioning a sustainable future for toys and the importance of community engagement in her ambitious growth plans.
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Origin Story From Frustrated Parent
- Kim describes noticing repetitive toy purchases across playdates and realizing families needed another option to consume fewer toys.
- She piloted a rental model while still working and saw strong initial customer interest that validated the idea.
Subscription Model Reduces Friction
- Orbit Crates uses a Netflix-style subscription where members rent eight toys at a time and swap whenever they want.
- The model removes marketplace friction and provides curated, sanitized, delivered toys to reduce parental stress.
Use Personalization To Combat Choice Overload
- Let customers pick from a curated library but invest in personalization to simplify choices for busy parents.
- Pilot AI recommendations trained on customer data and educators to improve matching over time.