That Entrepreneur Show #460: Invent, Fail, Scale with GRABO Co-Founder Nimo Rotem
What does it take to scale a hardware product globally—without outside debt—and land a co-branded deal with an industry giant like DeWalt? In this episode of That Entrepreneur Show, visionary entrepreneur, engineer, and maker Nimo Rotem shares his journey from failed startups to global success with Grabo, a revolutionary power tool transforming the construction and manufacturing space.
Nimo discusses his early lessons from building a 3D-printed insole startup fresh out of college, the harsh realities of hardware versus software entrepreneurship, and how bootstrapping with strategic patience paved the way for long-term growth. He dives into scaling across continents, managing teams in China and the U.S., and negotiating co-branding deals without giving up ownership.
Whether you're in your first year or scaling to new heights, this episode is packed with practical advice on manufacturing, product development, and financial strategy—all from someone who built a global company from scratch.
Key Topics:
- Why Nimo avoids borrowing money—even in hardware startups
- Lessons from a failed first venture
- Grabo’s origin story and industry disruption
- Partnering with DeWalt while retaining control
- The high stakes of hardware quality and scaling
Tune in to get inspired, learn from the bumps in the road, and hear how one founder turned his prototype into a worldwide product line.
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Show Partners:
Coming Alive Podcast Production: www.comingalivepodcastproduction.com
John Ford's Empathy Card Set and App: https://www.empathyset.com/
Music Credits: Copyright Free Music from Adventure by MusicbyAden.