The Founder Hour cover image

The Founder Hour

Mark Gainey | How Strava Made Running and Cycling Social

Feb 15, 2022
Mark Gainey, co-founder of Strava, discusses his upbringing, early career, and what inspired him to start the company. They also explore the changing mindset of athletes influenced by media, the significance of perspective, and the challenge of balancing personal aspirations with social media validation. Gainey reflects on embracing struggle, building a great team, and their pivot from building a virtual locker room to developing software for managing customer emails.
01:08:16

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Mark Gainey's passion for outdoor activities like skiing and running played a significant role in inspiring him to start Strava and build a community of athletes.
  • Mark emphasizes the importance of solving a personal problem and building a trusted consumer brand as the driving force behind starting Strava.

Deep dives

Mark's Upbringing and Love for Outdoor Activities

Mark talks about growing up in Reno, Nevada and how he enjoyed outdoor activities like skiing, biking, and playing soccer. He also shares his passion for running and how it became a significant part of his life.

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