“It started like most good ideas: out of frustration,” laughs Melbourne dad and NATPAT co-founder Michael Jankie. “One of my kids was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, and everything we found was full of chemicals or just didn’t work.

“One day I was chatting to one of my oldest mates and we were laughing about how someone should invent ‘stickers that keep mozzies away’. And then we realised… that someone was us. A few prototypes later, the kitchen smelled like a eucalyptus forest, and NATPAT was born.”

That lightbulb moment and a kitchen table full of makeshift mozzie patches were the beginning of what would become one of Australia’s most talked-about family businesses. Today, NATPAT sells its all-natural wellness stickers in more than 30 countries, including through major retailers like Target, and has even caught the attention of Kim Kardashian. Not bad for an idea that started between mates, a cuppa, and a couple of itchy kids.

From chaos to creation

Ask Michael what those early days were like, and his answer comes with a grin. “Fun, exciting – chaos!” he says. “There were boxes everywhere, our babies and kids testing stickers before school, and my dog stealing our prototypes.”

The family’s home quickly turned into a makeshift HQ.

“We worked from the dining table and kitchen bench, taking customer service emails between making lunch and bedtime stories,” Michael recalls. “The hardest part was trying to act like a real company when we were still figuring everything out.”

What kept them going through the madness were the messages from other parents.

“People would write to say, ‘Your stickers actually worked!’ That made every late-night packing session worth it.”

The kids packing Natpat products at the kitchen table.

Three families, one vision

You could say NATPAT is an extended family business – it’s three families rolled into one. “Three mates who are the face, and our partners and most importantly our kids in the background,” says Michael. “We somehow turned parenthood and curiosity into a company.”

Between the trio of founders, they’ve got every angle covered.

“I’m the strategist and storyteller, Gary makes sure everything actually works, and Andrei is the data and science brain who makes the numbers dance,” Michael explains. “Around us is a small remote team that feels like extended family, spread across the world but always in sync.”

The viral moment that changed the business

While many businesses grind for years before catching a break, NATPAT’s came straight out of the gate.

“Day one, BuzzPatch went viral online,” says Michael. “Suddenly, we were getting orders from everywhere: the US, Canada, Europe, places we couldn’t even pronounce properly.”

Then came the moment every brand dreams of. “Kim Kardashian posted about us,” Michael says, still slightly incredulous. “That was the moment we knew it was real.”

From their Melbourne kitchen to global fame, the brand’s meteoric rise didn’t change their approach. “Every idea still starts with a problem at home and ends with a sticker that helps solve it,” Michael says.

Buzz mosquito stickers let kids have fun without having to worry about mozzies

Family and friends, keeping it real

Running a business with your best mates sounds like a recipe for disaster, but for NATPAT, it’s the secret sauce. “We’ve learnt that you can be brutally honest and still deeply respectful,” says Michael. “We know who needs coffee before feedback, who gets big ideas at midnight, and who’s best left alone before their first email of the day.”

Of course, not every discussion is calm and quiet.

“We listen. We talk. Sometimes loudly,” Michael admits. “But there’s never been a direction we couldn’t solve with a bit of exploring (or a bad dad joke).”

A family-first philosophy

Every decision at NATPAT is seen through a family lens. It all comes back to one question: Would we use this on our own kids or pets?

“If the answer isn’t yes, it doesn’t leave the table. We’re protective, we care deeply, and we don’t take shortcuts. That’s our family in a nutshell,” says Michael.

That integrity hasn’t gone unnoticed by parents around the world. NATPAT’s stickers, from BuzzPatch mosquito repellents to sleepy-time and focus patches, have become staples in homes that want natural solutions without the nasties.

“We make stickers that make life easier,” says Michael. “They smell good, they work, and they make wellness fun instead of a chore.”

Little ones get a good night’s sleep with Natpat’s bedtime stickers

Business pride

For all the viral fame, Michael says one moment stands out above the rest.

“Walking into a Target store for the first time and seeing BuzzPatch on the shelf,” he recalls. “We stood there grinning like idiots, taking photos like proud parents at a school play. It’s still surreal.”

Despite its global success, NATPAT hasn’t lost sight of its community roots.

“We support schools, local fundraisers, and community events wherever we can,” says Michael. “The best part of having a family business is being part of something bigger than yourself… Helping other families, not just selling to them.”

Dreaming big

With products now sold in 32 countries, the team shows no sign of slowing down.

“We’ve got new products and formulations in the works that build on what we’ve learned about scent, science, and mood,” says Michael. “Think less about wellness as a routine, and more as a superpower you can wear.”

And with NATPAT now a finalist in Australia’s Favourite Family Business 2025, there’s plenty to celebrate.

“Honestly? We were shocked,” Michael admits. “There are so many amazing family businesses out there, and to even be in the same conversation feels pretty special.”

For Michael and his co-founders, the recognition is about more than accolades. “It’s a reminder that you can build something global without losing your heart,” he says. “And it makes all the late nights and wild ideas feel worth it.”

So, what’s the secret to turning a family idea into a global success? Michael’s advice is simple:

“Start before you’re ready. You’ll figure it out along the way. And make sure you actually like the people you’re starting it with, you’re going to see a lot of each other.”

As for the legacy he hopes NATPAT will leave?

“That having fun and embracing kindness scales,” says Michael. “That you can build something meaningful without cutting corners. And that the world still has room for good ideas dreamt up around the kitchen table.”

NATPAT is a finalist in Australia’s Favourite Family Business Competition. You can vote for them and find out more about the rest of our finalists here.

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