By writing 136 poems and harnessing the power of the internet, I believe I helped spark the Beanie Babies craze in the 1990s

Yoonji HanAug 7, 2023, 19:22 IST

Lina Trivedi with a big Beanie Baby, then and now.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

Beanie Babies exploded in popularity in the '90s, sparking a collector frenzy over the toys.
Lina Trivedi was in college when she joined Ty, Inc. and created a website and accompanying poems for Beanie Babies.

Lina Trivedi is an Indian American entrepreneur who helped catapult the Beanie Babies into a worldwide phenomenon in the 90s when she was just a college student. Her role in the Beanie Babies craze was documented in the recent movie "The Beanie Bubble." She has since launched a few tech startups in the AI and content generation space.

This article is based on a conversation with Trivedi, as told to Insider reporter Yoonji Han. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I'd describe myself as the godmother of the internet. I wrote around 136 poems for Beanie Babies and created the website that helped turn them into a pop culture sensation.

Lina Trivedi at Ty, Inc. with stuffed animals.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

I'd describe myself as the godmother of the internet. I wrote around 136 poems for Beanie Babies and created the website that helped turn them into a pop culture sensation.

My parents came from India in 1972, and I was born the year after in 1973. I was raised with very typical immigrant values: I did well in school, especially math.

A young Lina Trivedi and her mother.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

When I was 7 years old, my parents bought the IBM 5150, the first-ever PC. My mom made me read the DOS 1.0 manual three times. Because math came naturally to me, computer programming did, too.

Lina Trivedi learned computer programming when she was in the second grade at a gifted program, pictured above.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

When I was 7 years old, my parents bought the IBM 5150, the first-ever PC. My mom made me read the DOS 1.0 manual three times. Because math came naturally to me, computer programming did, too.

In college, I was looking through newspaper ads for a part-time job when I came across an ad for Ty, Inc. I gave them a call and basically landed the job on the spot.

Lina Trivedi in 1994.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

In 1993, a year after I began working at Ty, Inc., Beanie Babies were born. I thought they were cute and addicting: Once you pick them up, they're difficult to put down because the beans in them make them fun to play with.

Ty Warner, founder of Ty, Inc.Peter Barreras/AP

In 1993, a year after I began working at Ty, Inc., Beanie Babies were born. I thought they were cute and addicting: Once you pick them up, they're difficult to put down because the beans in them make them fun to play with.

In early 1995, I approached Ty Warner, the founder of Ty, Inc., and pitched the idea of creating a website for Beanie Babies. It was like being in the eye of the perfect storm. The impact of Beanie Babies without the internet just wouldn't have been the same. We had people going out to get computers just to access the Ty website.

A screenshot of the early Beanie Babies website.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

In early 1995, I approached Ty Warner, the founder of Ty, Inc., and pitched the idea of creating a website for Beanie Babies. It was like being in the eye of the perfect storm. The impact of Beanie Babies without the internet just wouldn't have been the same. We had people going out to get computers just to access the Ty website.

The website was a way of connecting with customers. We tapped into the people. I think I was the only person in the entire company that had a pulse on what people on the outside really wanted. All the physical mail — artwork, letters, cards — and emails were read by me and my brother. We soaked in information from collectors and customers.

Lina Trivedi's desk at the Ty, Inc.'s office.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

The website was a way of connecting with customers. We tapped into the people. I think I was the only person in the entire company that had a pulse on what people on the outside really wanted. All the physical mail — artwork, letters, cards — and emails were read by me and my brother. We soaked in information from collectors and customers.

I also pitched the idea for poems in Beanie Babies' tags. I had a couple of Beanie Babies on my monitor, and was trying to figure out what to put out there in terms of content. There are so many plush animals outside of Beanie Babies — what would make someone pick this up out of the hundreds of others? I wanted it to personally connect to someone.

The first-ever poem Lina Trivedi wrote for Beanie Babies.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

I also pitched the idea for poems in Beanie Babies' tags. I had a couple of Beanie Babies on my monitor, and was trying to figure out what to put out there in terms of content. There are so many plush animals outside of Beanie Babies — what would make someone pick this up out of the hundreds of others? I wanted it to personally connect to someone.

Beanie Babies have come full circle for me now, because I have a daughter who loves collecting them. I now understand how mothers back then were embracing the hobby of collecting Beanie Babies with their children. It ignites all these positive memories and fun experiences that we otherwise wouldn't have had.

Lina Trivedi’s daughter with her collection of Beanie Babies and other toys.Courtesy of Lina Trivedi

Beanie Babies have come full circle for me now, because I have a daughter who loves collecting them. I now understand how mothers back then were embracing the hobby of collecting Beanie Babies with their children. It ignites all these positive memories and fun experiences that we otherwise wouldn't have had.

New York City's viral diner is a family affair. See how dad, mom, brother and sister took Datz Deli from $300 a day in revenue to $7,000.

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

By writing 136 poems and harnessing the power of the internet, I believe I helped spark the Beanie Babies craze in the 1990s

I'd describe myself as the godmother of the internet. I wrote around 136 poems for Beanie Babies and created the website that helped turn them into a pop culture sensation.

My parents came from India in 1972, and I was born the year after in 1973. I was raised with very typical immigrant values: I did well in school, especially math.

When I was 7 years old, my parents bought the IBM 5150, the first-ever PC. My mom made me read the DOS 1.0 manual three times. Because math came naturally to me, computer programming did, too.

In college, I was looking through newspaper ads for a part-time job when I came across an ad for Ty, Inc. I gave them a call and basically landed the job on the spot.

In 1993, a year after I began working at Ty, Inc., Beanie Babies were born. I thought they were cute and addicting: Once you pick them up, they're difficult to put down because the beans in them make them fun to play with.