How I Built This with Guy Raz
On athletic shoes: Olivier Bernhard and Caspar Coppetti
Jul 22, 2024
Olivier Bernhard, a Swiss triathlete and Ironman champion, co-founded On to revolutionize athletic shoes, inspired by a prototype using garden hose strips. Alongside Caspar Coppetti, an expert in branding, they faced skepticism from major sneaker brands. Their groundbreaking shoe eventually caught the eye of Roger Federer, transforming On into a $2 billion company. The pair share tales of innovation, resilience against industry giants, and the blend of hard work and luck that propelled their success.
01:15:59
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Quick takeaways
- Innovative design with a garden hose prototype led to On's inception and revolutionized running shoes.
- Challenges in brand recognition required engaging retailers directly to demonstrate shoe performance.
Deep dives
Innovative Running Shoe Technology
The podcast features the story of how a new sneaker brand, 'On,' revolutionized the running shoe industry. The company was founded by three individuals with limited capital and experience in apparel. The shoe's development involved unconventional methods, such as using pieces of garden hose glued to the sole for enhanced running performance. Despite facing initial rejections from major companies, the founders persisted in creating a distinct shoe with a rigid plate, known as the SpeedBolt, between soft surface elements, which significantly impacted shoe performance.
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