Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1324: The Tesla of Motorcycles? How Damon is Engineering the Future of Rider Safety w/ Dom Kwong
In this episode, Brian sits down with Dom Kwong, the engineer-turned-CEO who is revolutionizing personal mobility with Damon Motors. Dom shares the inside story of how he’s tackling one of the biggest challenges in transportation—motorcycle safety—by applying advanced technology and data analytics in ways the industry has never seen before. This episode is a masterclass in innovation, showing how personal experience can fuel a world-changing business idea. For wantrepreneurs and entrepreneurs, Dom provides a powerful blueprint for identifying massive market gaps, adapting proven tech from other industries, and building a mission-driven company that creates something the world desperately needs (and thinks is incredibly cool).
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- How to turn a deeply personal problem into a scalable, tech-driven business.
- The strategy of adapting proven technology (like automotive sensors) to innovate in a completely different industry.
- Why data and context are the keys to creating next-level value and insights for your customers.
- A lesson in market adoption: Why "safety" by itself doesn't sell, but integrating it into a cool, desirable product does.
- How to build a demonstrator product to prove your concept and open up massive licensing opportunities.
- Why literally becoming your customer is non-negotiable for developing breakthrough products.
- The financial models, like subscription services, that can lower the barrier to entry for mass adoption of new technology.
📝 About Dom Kwong
Dom Kwong is the CEO of Damon Motors, an electric motorcycle company on a mission to make personal mobility safer for everyone. With over 25 years of experience in hardware engineering and manufacturing, Dom has led global teams at companies like Intel and developed groundbreaking products, from the world's first sports heads-up display to smartphones. He holds numerous US and international patents and brings a unique engineer's perspective to solving complex, real-world problems. Dom's passion is driven by his firsthand experience as a motorcyclist, giving him an unparalleled understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the industry he is transforming.
🎯 Dom’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
You must understand the problem you are trying to solve by putting yourself directly in your customer’s position—not just in their shoes. To truly innovate, you have to live the pain points and experience the world exactly as they do.
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “The problems that we try to solve are the ones that we experience firsthand.” – Dom Kwong
- “The rider is always in control... because you're in control, that gives you greater confidence of your surroundings and that makes you safe.” – Dom Kwong
- “Motorcyclists develop motorcycle technology. That's it. You know, full stop.” – Dom Kwong
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- Look at adjacent industries for inspiration. Identify proven technologies that you can adapt to create a breakthrough in your own field.
- Don't just sell a feature (like safety). Integrate your core value proposition into an aspirational product that people desire for its overall appeal.
- If you lead a team, ensure they are deeply connected to the customer's experience. If they aren't, find ways to immerse them in it.
- Embrace "imposter syndrome" as a tool to stay humble and continuously listen to your team, your customers, and your industry.
🔗 Links & Resources