Hardware Podcasts

Springfree Trampoline: Keith Alexander & Steve Holmes

How I Built This · 1 Apr 2019 · 1h 00m

What this episode covers

Keith Alexander, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Canterbury, invented the Springfree Trampoline to eliminate the dangerous steel springs and frames of traditional models. Steve Holmes, a Canadian businessman, purchased the patent from the university and commercialized the design, initially facing rejection from major retailers like Costco before securing a pivotal partnership with Costco Canada. The company scaled production by moving assembly to China while keeping key fiberglass rod manufacturing in New Zealand, eventually growing to over $50 million in annual sales and selling more than 400,000 units.

Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Costco, University of Canterbury, Dyson
Products
Springfree Trampoline
Also
Jim Sinegal, Siegfried and Roy

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