Hardware Podcasts

Rad Power Bikes: Mike Radenbaugh

How I Built This · 7 Sept 2020 · 1h 10m

What this episode covers

Mike Radenbaugh, founder and CEO of Rad Power Bikes, explains how he launched the largest U.S. e-bike brand by starting with DIY conversions in high school and scaling through a successful Indiegogo campaign. He details the critical decision to design a fat-tire e-bike with a throttle for the American market, the operational nightmare of fixing backwards-installed brakes from a Chinese factory, and the strategic pivot to direct-to-consumer sales via Shopify. Radenbaugh also discusses navigating supply chain disruptions, including Section 301 tariffs, and managing explosive growth driven by the pandemic.

Most relevant to

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

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Rad Power Bikes, Golfboard, Tesla, RadioShack, eBay
Tools
Shopify
Also
Indiegogo

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