Woman to Watch :: Kate Reimann :: Rogue Wave

Meet Kate Reimann, the spirited founder behind Rogue Wave and a champion for our oceans. What began as an impromptu beach rescue mission—snatching plastic toys from the surf—sparked a life-changing realization: our everyday choices affect the planet our kids will inherit. With a master’s in education, a background as a spin instructor, and a career in writing, Kate could never have predicted she’d be on this eco-entrepreneurial path. Yet here she is—leveraging her teaching, storytelling, and motivational skills to pioneer compostable, plant-based beach toys that emit 80% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional plastic ones. Passionate, purpose-driven, and ready to make waves—Kate’s mission is simple: love the ocean, cherish it, and protect it for the next generation.

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Tell us a little about yourself and your story.

I started Rogue Wave after a rogue wave swept my kids’ plastic beach toys into the ocean. As I pulled them from the water, I realized how my choices didn’t align with the future I wanted for my kids—one without microplastics. On the drive home, I searched for sustainable beach toys and found nothing. So, I created them: compostable, plant-based toys that produce 80% fewer emissions.

I never planned to start a company—I was a writer with a master’s in education and a spin instructor. But once I saw the ocean through new eyes, I couldn’t unsee the impact. I had to be part of the solution.

How did you get to where you are today?

This business has always been about the mission—without it, I would’ve stopped a long time ago. Starting your own company is hard, whether it’s service- or product-based, but creating something from a material that’s never been used like this? That’s a whole different challenge.

There’s so much education involved—helping people understand why compostable plastics matter. And I had to learn everything from scratch: how to run a business, design a product, 3D print, navigate injection molding, and handle marketing and sales. The only reason I’m still here is because the mission keeps me going. We still need real solutions to our plastic problem—and I’ll be here until we get them.

What do you think has helped you the most with your success?

Our community. Without a doubt. The customers who waited three years for their pre-orders and wouldn’t let me quit because they believed in the vision, they saw the bigger picture. This business is what it is because of their belief and ability to see the need for conventional plastic alternatives.

What has been the biggest challenge you have overcome in order to achieve your goals?

My biggest challenge was losing my mom right as we were about to begin production of the product. The business really needed me

but I was consumed by grief, and even the smallest things, like making a phone call to my manufacturer, seemed like monumental tasks requiring so much strength. I just didn’t have it. Fortunately, I had an incredible team who stepped in and took the wheel, which allowed me to take a breath and regroup. If not for that, and for my customers who encouraged me to keep going, even if slowly, the business wouldn’t be here.

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of going from an idea that day at the beach to a product that I can hold in my hands, and that people are using on beaches and in sandboxes across the United States and Canada…and that I had the stamina to get there. I’m also really proud of my two patents on the toys! And receiving Hawaii’s Sustainable Champion Award. Those were exciting days.

What are three pieces of advice you could give to our readers?

• Do you. When I first started, no one really got it—compostable beach toys? But I couldn’t let the idea go. If something lights you up, that’s your calling. It’s not meant to make sense to everyone else.

• Take breaks. I wish I had listened to my gut—and my advisors—after my mom passed. I kept pushing through even though I was grieving and exhausted, afraid the business would fall apart if I stopped. Looking back, I know I needed rest more than anything. It’s okay to pause, to heal, and to come back stronger.

• Find your people. There will always be critics and people who think they know better. But unless they’re in the arena with you, their opinions are just noise. Surround yourself with the ones who believe in you, who cheer you on, and who remind you why you started.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I started a Substack to share a more inside, personal look at my life – where motherhood, grief, creating a new category of product, and the messiness of life all collide. It’s raw and honest. If readers want to connect, they can find me at Regenerate with Kate on Substack or connect with me on LinkedIn. I would love to help support other women doing courageous, important work, regardless of industry or scale!