# Headspace: Andy Puddicombe and Rich Pierson

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-09-23
- Length: 1h 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-09-23-headspace-andy-puddicombe-and-rich-pierson

## Summary

Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk, and Rich Pierson, a former advertising executive, co-founded the meditation app Headspace after meeting in London. They initially attempted to scale meditation through live events and physical collateral before pivoting to a digital app, securing early funding from Pierson’s father and leveraging partnerships with Virgin Atlantic and The Guardian for distribution. The episode also covers the postscript story of Jensen Brehm and Nikolai Paloni, who founded Ombraz Sunglasses after a broken pair of glasses inspired them to create armless shades using waxed cords.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-09-23-headspace-andy-puddicombe-and-rich-pierson#t=0) Introduction: Andy Puddicombe and Rich Pierson
- [3:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-09-23-headspace-andy-puddicombe-and-rich-pierson#t=201) Andy’s Journey: From Monk to Meditation Teacher
- [24:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-09-23-headspace-andy-puddicombe-and-rich-pierson#t=1446) Meeting Rich Pierson and the Initial Skill Swap
- [35:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-09-23-headspace-andy-puddicombe-and-rich-pierson#t=2148) Early Business Model: Live Events and Physical Collateral
- [46:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-09-23-headspace-andy-puddicombe-and-rich-pierson#t=2775) Pivoting to the App and Early Distribution Strategy
- [51:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-09-23-headspace-andy-puddicombe-and-rich-pierson#t=3084) Relocating to LA, Cancer Diagnosis, and Fundraising
- [1:08:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-09-23-headspace-andy-puddicombe-and-rich-pierson#t=4138) Postscript: Jensen Brehm and the Origin of Ombraz Sunglasses

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Headspace (product)
- Ombraz Sunglasses (product)
- Virgin Atlantic (company)
- The Guardian (company)
- BBH (company)
- Indiegogo (other)
- REI (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#028 - Meet the creators of FitBit for medication, with Peter Havas of PillDrill, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-31-028-meet-the-creators-of-fitbit-for-medication-with-peter-havas-of-pilldrill-usa) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-18-founder-fundraising-journey-craig-dubitsky-happy-products) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 3  - Robert Brunner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-28-afterschool-podcast-episode-3-robert-brunner) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Daniela Suarez of iCalm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-11-01-founder-feature-daniela-suarez-of-icalm) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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