Looking for a baby monitor that goes beyond the basics?

Meet Harbor Baby Monitors, a brand redefining peace of mind for parents. In this Q&A with founder Kevin Lavelle, we dive into the inspiration behind Harbor, its innovative features, and exciting future plans, including the Remote Night Nanny service—offering sleep for parents and safety for little ones. 

Discover how Harbor is becoming a trusted name in baby monitors, featured in WIRED as one of the best on the market. Read on to learn how Harbor is bringing reliability and calm to modern parenthood.

1. What were you doing before Harbor?

After graduating from SMU, I worked as a consultant and investment analyst for Oliver Wyman and Hunt Consolidated in Dallas. While I was in Washington D.C. for a meeting, I saw a staffer run up the steps to the Capitol Building soaked in sweat, which gave me the idea for Mizzen+Main, the first performance fabric dress shirt. I founded Mizzen+Main in 2012 and grew the business as Founder and CEO over 7 years to be one of the leading DTC brands in menswear and am currently serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In 2019, I moved on from Mizzen+Main to take a VP role at Stand Together to lead initiatives working with the next generation of principled entrepreneurs.

2. What inspired you to create Harbor?

Seven years ago, my son was asleep in his nursery upstairs. I rolled over to check the Nanit app on my phone, only to find that it had closed out. With no idea how long the app had been off, I sprinted upstairs in a panic. To my great relief, he was fine. (As it turns out, kids are far more resilient than we first-time parents give them credit for.) To discover that my baby “monitor” had left me in the dark was alarming, to say the least.

3. Can you share the story behind the brand's name?

In the ever-changing world of parenthood, finding a place of calm and security can feel overwhelming and is often filled with moments of uncertainty, sleepless nights, and the desire to create a safe haven for your little one. After several ideation sessions, we settled on “Harbor”. Just as a harbor offers a safe and secure place for ships to dock amidst turbulent water, Harbor is designed to be a reliable tool for parents seeking peace of mind in the unpredictable journey early childhood.

4. What’s one thing you want current and future Harbor customers to know?

Sleep and sanity are within reach. The early days of parenthood are hard. We’ve personally been there. We have firsthand experience and have partnered with Pediatric Sleep Experts to develop healthier sleep habits to give you the support and confidence you need.

5. How do you balance running a company with your personal life, especially since you have a family of your own?

Balancing the demands of running Harbor with my personal life as a father of two young kids and a husband is certainly a challenge, but it's one that I take very seriously. Here’s how I navigate this important aspect of my life:

• Prioritization: I prioritize my time and focus on what truly matters: my family. That requires tradeoffs in other parts of my life to adequately dedicate time to the mission of Harbor while making sure my family is always my first priority. I’ve learned to set clear boundaries between work and home life (though I have to remain adaptable). This means being fully present with my kids when I’m at home, making the most of our time together, and putting work aside during family moments and dedicated time.
• Time Management: Effective time management is crucial. I schedule my work hours intentionally, ensuring I dedicate time to both strategic company initiatives and family activities.
• Support System: I’m fortunate to have a supportive wife who shares in the parenting responsibilities and understands the demands of running a business (we founded Mizzen+Main together)!
• Maintaining personal balance: I have to keep my health and wellbeing in a manageable place too!

At the end of the day, it’s about finding harmony and making conscious choices that support both my role as a CEO and as a dedicated husband and father. I believe that when we prioritize what matters most, we can truly thrive in both our personal and professional lives.

6. When you think about your journey with Harbor so far, what's the one thing you’re most proud of?

I’m most proud to hear parents tell us that we’ve changed their lives. Nearly everyone says they want to work on something that matters - how incredible is it to hear people say Harbor changed their lives?!

"But while most monitors are either Wi-Fi– or radio-based, the Harbor has both. You can sync the camera to Wi-Fi to use with the included 10.1-inch monitor and the Harbor app, and if the Wi-Fi goes down the camera and monitor can switch over to non Wi-Fi."