Grid110 Founder Story: Struct Club

Struct Club is a transformed company because of Grid110. As a human being, I’ll reemphasize that the friendships I’ve made through Grid110 have been priceless.

Say Hello to Amira Polack from Struct Club! Struct Club was part of our 2018 Residency Grid110 cohort (applications for our 2019 fall programs are open now!) Struct Club is a tool for indoor cycle instructors to design classes with ease and lead their classes with confidence. While Amira’s early career started in Tech, her passion for indoor cycling classes motivated her to become certified as a cycle coach.

Going through the certification process for the first six months of teaching was an unexpected struggle for Amira. Think about giving a 45-minute motivational speech, add in a workout — that you’re doing, choreographed to loud music — that you’re talking over. Then add in thirty clients whose safety and individual needs are all in your hands. Amira wanted something to allow her to choreograph her session one time, have a teleprompter for class, then scale her style through smart algorithms and peer-sharing..and that’s where the journey of Struct Club and Grid110 began.

Check the full transcript below to learn more about Amira’s journey and experience over the last few years!

Full Transcript:

What is your venture? How do you seek to change the world?

Struct Club brings structure to instructors of music-inspired fitness classes. We’ve crafted a tool that is live on the App Store for cycle instructors to design classes with ease and lead the pack with confidence. Starting from our core values of authenticity, impact, and inclusion, we seek to change the world by making awesome fitness accessible.

We dramatically simplify what it takes for a coach to ace classes (#flawless). As it happens, the majority of our current community comprises female coaches with predominantly female clients. We are proud to get to stand behind the working woman whose mission is to strengthen other women.

What prompted you to start your venture? Where did the idea come from?

Spoiler: I happen to be a cycle instructor myself! Struct Club started as a prototype to help me solve my own coaching needs! I grew up here in LA, and when I wasn’t in school, I danced, swam, and played the oboe competitively. So, while my early career was spent in Silicon Valley tech by day, by night indoor cycling class was my jam. It was like the ultimate hobby, combining all these things that give me so much joy. I also love being a mentor and coach, so thought maybe someday I could try instructing!

While in grad school, I decided to get my Schwinn indoor cycling coach certification, and even with my background, struggled my way through my first six months of teaching. I probably took 5 hours to prepare for my first-ever class, only to jump in and always feel like I was grasping to remember, “what’s next?”

Think about giving a 45-minute motivational speech, add in a workout — that you’re doing, choreographed to loud music — that you’re talking over. Then add in thirty clients whose safety and individual needs are all in your hands. Hit the lights, adjust the fans, crank the volume — it’s a workout! I just wanted something to allow me to choreograph my session one time, have a teleprompter for class, then scale my style through smart algorithms and peer-sharing.

What’s special and advantageous about being in LA (if applicable, DTLA) for you and your venture?

It’s no secret that fitness and creativity are rife in LA, which makes this city the #1 spot for a company like Struct Club to thrive in. I also have a lot of family in the area who are all deeply supportive of Struct Club, and that’s special to me.

As you think back to your Grid110 experience, what are the 1–2 lessons or takeaways that still stick out to you?

I’ll never forget the first day of my Grid110 experience. After a decade-long hiatus between getting my degrees and kicking off my career, starting Grid110 was like a homecoming in some ways but also felt like the advent of a new chapter.

Off-the-bat, a major takeaway was that the startup scene here is serious, with the most impressive, diverse, and multi-talented founder community I have ever met. I have so much love for our Cohort 5 sister companies: Groov3, holisticism, Kitchen Table, 7Till8, Lipslut, and Aella. The friendships with these teams, the Grid110 team, and the broader Grid family have meant everything.

Considering what Grid110 provides and offers, what has been the most impactful to you as a founder and business? How has the Grid110 experience influenced your entrepreneurial journey?

Let me count the ways Grid110 has helped Struct Club get sh*t done: team growth, product progress, serious business contacts, office space, affordable access to exclusive networking opportunities, free credits for tech — just to start. Struct Club is a transformed company because of Grid110. As a human being, I’ll reemphasize that the friendships I’ve made through Grid110 have been priceless.

Fun Questions

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A teacher! I revered my teachers growing up. I guess that dream is a partial reality today.

What is your spirit animal?

The wolf is my spirit animal. Awoo!

Who is your personal role model?

My mom is my ultimate hero.

If you could have a meal with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be? Why?

My partner. I know that sounds low-key, but having a meal together is genuinely one of my favorite things to do on any given day.

If you were a superhero, what would be your superpower? Your super weakness?

Is Everlasting Cardio a superpower? I think so. Can I get a Batmobile? My super weakness is peanut butter filled pretzels…am I answering this question correctly?

Random Fun Fact — Wild Round!

A fun fact about me is that, indeed, workout clothes make up most of my day-to-day work attire.

Download Struct Club in the App Store today, and tell all your fitness instructor friends too!

About Grid110

Grid110 provides mentoring & key resources for early-stage entrepreneurs in underserved regions. We support early-stage companies by connecting them to office space, mentors, and important resources during the most critical phase of their business life-cycle through education programs.