On this episode of the CEO Podcast, Clint chats with Rockwell Shah, the CEO of Ozlo Sleep, about his incredible journey from a remote tech support agent to leading a company focused on innovative sleep solutions. Rockwell shares the story behind the Ozlo Sleep Buds, a revolutionary product designed to enhance sleep quality by blocking out noise and streaming audio. He discusses the success of their crowdfunding campaign, the challenges of hardware manufacturing, and the importance of customer feedback in product development. Additionally, Rockwell reflects on his personal experiences, including the joys of fatherhood and the impact of macroeconomic conditions on consumer products. Join us for an insightful conversation filled with valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts alike!

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Rockwell and Oswell Sleep
00:20 - Rockwell's Journey to CEO
01:02 - Transition from B2B to Consumer Apps
01:56 - The Bose Sleepbuds Experience
02:52 - Acquisition of Bose's IP
03:57 - The Importance of Sleep and Snoring Solutions
05:02 - Consumer Trends in Sleep Products
06:57 - Success of the Relaunched Sleepbuds
07:47 - Advantages of Crowdfunding
08:12 - Crowdfunding as a Pre-Order Campaign
11:52 - Using Both Kickstarter and Indiegogo
13:13 - Challenges of Hardware Development
15:15 - The Complexity of Manufacturing
16:33 - Navigating Supply Chain Issues
19:02 - The Iterative Process of Product Development
20:29 - The Risks of Hardware Startups
21:25 - Customer Usage Patterns
24:27 - Daily Life and Work Balance
27:02 - The Joys of Fatherhood
28:35 - Information Consumption Preferences
30:35 - The State of E-Commerce and Consumer Products
36:07 - The Importance of Community Support
39:32 - Conclusion and Future Outlook

Ozlo Sleep CEO Rockwell Shah