Founder and CEO of Hydrow:
Bruce Smith and the journey of changing Rowing
In this podcast, we connected with Bruce Smith, founder and CEO of Hydrow. I was really excited to have this discussion with Bruce since he built one of the most successful companies in our space, changing rowing for good. The company has raised over $370 million in funding and sold thousands of rowers worldwide. In the discussion, we went in-depth about the journey, and there are many learnings for every entrepreneur building in this space.
For the full video podcast on Spotify, Apple, and Google Podcasts, visit Terra Podcast.
Here are some insights from the conversation:
The idea originated from a frustration with rowing machines which taught individual, not collective, rowing. Hydrow synchronizes individual rowers through screens, creating an environment similar to team rowing.
Hydrow was fortunate to attract top-tier talent, including Chief Technology Officer Chris Paul, who helped build an innovative, patented algorithm for rowing machine design. The company’s technology enhanced the rowing experience by delivering a water-like feel and dynamically adjusting resistance.
Building warm relationships with key partners, such as manufacturers in Taiwan, contributed significantly to Hydrow’s success. This and strategic marketing techniques like a productive Indiegogo campaign helped establish a proof of concept and create a wider audience.
Looking forward, Hydrow aims to utilize personalized data for crafting experiences users will love, paired with insights about whole health for optimized results.
With Kevin Hart on board and a new innovative program known as Hydrow High, the future of Hydro includes a better understanding of individual users, climate change combat, and promoting better decision-making through more detailed training.
00:00 Intro
00:01 Making rowing accessible to everyone and delivering the benefits to a global audience.
05:18 Hiring the best talent from Harvard and MIT
10:29 The Leap Forward
15:47 The Indiegogo campaign and selling close to a thousand units
20:46 Finding manufacturing partners in Taiwan
25:33 Building relationships with key partners
30:12 Going to industry shows and understanding the market
35:02 How to build warm introductions
39:57 Personalised data
45:00 Hydrow High and Kevin Hart
49:52 The Future of Hydrow
