Summary: <br> <a href="https://mymobo.com/">MOBO</a> is a single myofascial release tool designed and created by Dr. Christie Powell. Her inventor story is different than the ones we have heard previously.<br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="https://sportsmedicinebroadcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/paddleboardcp.jpg"></a><br> <br> <br> <br> MOBO is only offered in blue…why blue?<br> <br> <br> <br> I have scaled back the company and product offering<br> <br> <br> <br> We got a huge verbal order before COVID that wanted blue.<br> <br> <br> <br> Happy accident since we had to order 10,000 units<br> <br> <br> <br> How did you get started?<br> <br> <br> <br> As a smaller person performing myofascial release on large D1 athletes.<br> <br> <br> <br> I kept having to McGyver things together to teach the patients how to do the work at home.<br> <br> <br> <br> At a huge CrossFit event, the contestants all had 10+ devices and that was a huge inspiration.<br> <br> <br> <br> I wanted one device that could replace most of those.<br> <br> <br> <br> I reached out to an engineering friend and we worked together.<br> <br> <br> <br> You mentioned getting funding for MOBO…can you share?<br> <br> <br> <br> It is so complicated, I am a PT and I just want something for my patients.<br> <br> <br> <br> We had to create CAD drawings<br> <br> <br> <br> Film videos<br> <br> <br> <br> Pay someone to listen to your idea<br> <br> <br> <br> The very first prototype was $1000 to produce.<br> <br> <br> <br> We connected with a producer that worked out in our gym and he was our first funder.<br> <br> <br> <br> $10,000 seemed like so much but that went through really quickly<br> <br> <br> <br> He hooked us up with the filming studio.<br> <br> <br> <br> We launched a Kickstarter to produce about 1000 units.<br> <br> <br> <br> All my friends were product models and my gym was always the setting for photo shoots.<br> <br> <br> <br> We did a “Meet and Greet” and the people donated about $20,000 which allowed us to make our first order.<br> <br> <br> <br> We had trouble sourcing the materials in the US so we had a big process of finding the materials that were responsible.<br> <br> <br> <br> We got another couple hundred thousand dollars from customers. This was a personal loan-type investment.<br> <br> <br> <br> I had to bring on some business partners and there was much more stress.<br> <br> <br> <br> So much time lapsed between a problem and a solution because they were being made overseas.<br> <br> <br> <br> The last round of funding happened right at COVID. We had put in all the work and fine-tuned the process.<br> <br> <br> <br> We took away all of the moving parts to limit the possible breakages.<br> <br> <br> <br> We simplified the tool, but of course, that costs money and time.<br> <br> <br> <br> We got 1.5 million dollars from one investor and that was in January 2020…right before COVID.<br> <br> <br> <br> We now have to spend all this time filming and creating a website and an online shop.<br> <br> <br> <br> Discuss the MOBO licensing deal<br> <br> <br> <br> I felt like I was letting my baby leave the house.<br> <br> <br> <br> Our deal was with DICK’S Sporting Goods.<br> <br> <br> <br> We actually shared their manufacturing facility and they felt our tool would help them reach the adventure sports crowd.<br> <br> <br> <br> We had to negotiate so many things to produce the product cheaper.<br> <br> <br> <br> We knew there were certain areas we could not compromise on certain components.<br> <br> <br> <br> What would you do differently if you were starting over?<br> <br> <br> <br> Everything got me to where I am now with the product and c...
