Grid110 Founder Spotlight: Noah Wossen and Trevor Brown of gthr
This month’s Founder Spotlight is about Noah Wossen, CEO & Co-Founder, and Trevor Brown, COO & Co-Founder of gthr.
Trevor Brown and Noah Wossen met at the Apple Store in Bethesda, MD. Trevor was working at the Apple Store while also finishing his senior year at American University. Noah came into the store to purchase a new laptop before leaving for LA to begin his latest venture, lumasol. Trevor and Noah instantly hit it off, and the two of them kept in touch; soon thereafter, Noah needed a Director of Operations, and they began working together at lumasol. Two great minds (Trevor from Georgetown and Noah from Silver Spring) joined forces. They were ready to start building in the LA community.
Finding compatible riding partners can be challenging because they will either want to go too slow/fast or too short/long. Two avid cyclists, Trevor and Noah, saw this problem in their own lives and immediately began talking to others they knew in the cycling space to understand if others experienced this problem. Cyclists are more prevalent than ever and deserve the ability to build their communities with a seamless digital solution.
The future of cycling is being built today.
To learn more about Noah and Trevor’s entrepreneurship journeys, check out the full interview below.
What is your venture? What do you do?
Gthr is a community-building platform that allows cyclists to find compatible cycling partners in their area. Cyclists can post, join, and manage group rides and easily engage with their local cycling community in one central place. Gthr publicly launched in LA on July 24th and we held a launch party in Venice to celebrate the public launch of gthr on the App Store! The popular event was full of community leaders, athletes, partner brands, and gthr’s biggest fans: our family and friends! We were so elated to see the community’s excitement and support for gthr.
Since our launch party, we have seen a significant increase in downloads and interest. Before the July 24th launch, gthr was in a soft launch phase, testing the app with a small group of cyclists to work on improvements and additions and ensuring a top-notch user experience. We are focused on building gthr’s LA community and programming while honing in on our next city to launch in.
What prompted you to start your venture?
Trevor: After returning to Georgetown, MA, and spending the summer riding with my two closest friends, I returned to LA. I found it challenging to find people to ride with, and even more difficult to find individuals who aligned with my riding style.
Building on my frustration, Noah and I spent the rest of the day searching for solutions locally and on the internet. Coming back empty-handed, we went to the next level to validate the problem by creating a survey to send to cyclists through our network.
The survey validated our problem statement: it’s hard to find compatible cycling partners, and it’s hard to build a community offline. Backed by the continued problem validation, we were energized by bringing a solution to life and immediately began building.
What’s unique and advantageous about being in LA for you and your venture?
We are familiar with what LA offers and have spent time getting to know the local cycling community. Los Angeles already has an incredible cycling community where we can learn from. You can ride year-round in this area which helps avoid seasonality issues.
LA is a unique early-adopter city that gives us an even better chance to get our solution in as many hands as possible.
What advice would you give to Founders who are considering applying to Grid110?
If you’re thinking about applying, the answer is YES. Whether you consider yourself ready or not, go for it. The Grid110 community is full of people who only want to see you succeed. There is a lot of learning potential to keep you hyper-focused on what your business needs to excel. You will also be working with others that are or have been in the same shoes as you.
The startup journey can feel lonely at times, but not when you have the Grid110 community.
Now, time for some more FUN questions about the dynamic duo known as Trevor Noah!
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Trevor: Firefighter
Noah: Brain surgeon → Lawyer → President → Aerospace Engineer → Banker → CEO of gthr
Who is your role model?
Trevor: My Dad, Cory Brown. He passed away from brain cancer this past April. My Dad dedicated his entire life to helping others out even when he was sick by building voicesofempathy.com. His mission was to increase the empathy output of those in patient-facing roles. “If you see something you know is wrong, you need to be part of the solution.”
Noah: My Mother is a single-parent immigrant from Ethiopia. She shows me empathy every day that you can achieve great things even when all odds are stacked against you.
If you could have a meal with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
Trevor: Right now, that person is Alexis Ohanian. First, we have a shared experience of losing a parent to brain cancer in the middle of building our companies which is the worst and most powerful connection to share. Second, the way he uses his platform for advocacy is powerful and inspiring. Third, I believe gthr would be a great match for his fund, 776, combining community and innovation.
Noah: Jackie Robinson. I am often inspired by those who have handled and overcome a great deal of adversity and especially inspired when they have overcome and mastered it.
Any recent books that have inspired you?
Trevor: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Noah: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and The Defining Decade by Meg Jay and Twelve
WILD round — share a random fact about yourself!
Trevor: I was a professional tourism photographer in China from 2017 to 2018.
Noah: My first time horseback riding was when I was in Cuba.
News from gthr team!
Full access to join our gthr network is only available in Los Angeles and soon nationwide! ‘gthr: Cycling Reimagined’ is now live in the App store — Download our app here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gthr-cycling-reimagined/id1560480455
Follow us and stay in touch through social media!
Instagram at @joingthr
Twitter at @joingthr
LinkedIn at @joingthr
About Grid110
Grid110 is an economic and community development nonprofit dedicated to creating clearer pathways to success for early-stage entrepreneurs. Our mission is to foster the most thriving, inviting & inclusive community for entrepreneurs in Los Angeles by making the entrepreneurial path more equitable, inclusive, and accessible. We provide founders with a growing community of fellow entrepreneurs, expert mentorship, and crucial resources through our no-cost, no-equity accelerator programs.
