Episode 20
🎙 Reimagining the Kitchen: Doug Katz on Creating the NULU Knife
In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of From Battle to Business, I talk with Douglas Katz—a veteran, entrepreneur, and creator of the NULU Knife—about how personal frustration and deep empathy led him to redesign a tool we all take for granted: the kitchen knife.
Doug shares how his own challenges with traditional knives after a service-related injury revealed a massive gap in the kitchenware industry. What started as a personal pain point turned into a mission to help others—especially those with disabilities—cook with confidence, safety, and ease. We talk about product innovation, purpose-driven design, and how serving others doesn’t stop after your time in uniform.
This episode is about more than entrepreneurship—it’s about solving problems that matter.
Key Takeaways:
• The moment Doug realized traditional knives weren’t made for people like him.
• Why the kitchen can be an empowering space for people with disabilities.
• How frustration became the spark for innovation.
• The mission behind the NULU Knife and how it’s changing lives.
• How Doug applied military discipline to product design and prototyping.
• Why veterans are uniquely positioned to solve real-world problems.
• Building a business around empathy and inclusion.
• The hidden challenges people with physical limitations face every day.
• What it means to lead with service—again.
Step-by-Step Process Doug Shared:
1. Identify a daily frustration.
Doug experienced firsthand how awkward, unsafe, and ineffective traditional knives were—especially with grip or dexterity limitations.
2. Reframe the problem.
He asked, “What if we didn’t just adapt the tool—but reinvented it entirely?”
3. Prototype with purpose.
Drawing from military precision and process, Doug began developing what would become the NULU Knife—a tool designed from the ground up for ease, safety, and control.
4. Test with the people it’s for.
He worked with individuals with disabilities to ensure the knife addressed real-world challenges.
5. Launch with heart.
More than a product, NULU became a statement: Everyone deserves dignity and independence in the kitchen.
Memorable Quotes:
- “I realized I wasn’t the only one struggling. There were thousands of people who couldn’t use something as basic as a knife safely.”
- “NULU is about restoring confidence—one slice at a time.”
- “People talk about inclusive design, but they don’t live it. We built this knife with the people it’s meant to serve.”
- “It’s not just a kitchen tool. It’s a bridge to independence.”
Resources Mentioned:
• NULU Knife – Doug’s innovative, user-friendly kitchen knife designed specifically for people with disabilities or grip/dexterity challenges.
• The Breakthrough Blueprint – Dean’s system for helping entrepreneurs gain clarity and optimize operations around mission and impact.
My Best Advice:
If you want to create something that matters, don’t start with a trend—start with a pain point. Doug didn’t design the NULU Knife to disrupt an industry. He built it because the tools available didn’t serve people like him. That’s how real innovation happens: empathy plus action.
Connect with Douglas Katz at
CTA: https://linktr.ee/dougkatz
Connect with Dean Van Dyke at The Breakthrough Blueprint
https://www.instagram.com/dhvandyke27/
https://www.facebook.com/thepillarsgroup/
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