CutterPillar’s journey began in 2011 when Kelly Thompson, inspired by his printing industry experience, envisioned a better way to cut paper. After numerous prototypes and late nights, he created the revolutionary CutterPillar Pro. The demand for this new tool was so great that Kelly’s brother, Jack, joined him in 2012 to help sell the product at trade shows. Soon, the entire family got involved, with their mother, Laura, managing customer service and other relatives pitching in at events.

Their approach was simple—connect with customers face-to-face to demonstrate CutterPillar’s products and gather feedback. This direct interaction fueled the company’s growth and innovation. Expanding beyond paper crafting, Kelly and Jack developed cutting-edge light boards that found widespread use in quilting, sewing, and fiber arts, tapping into their own sewing skills learned from their mother.