# WHOOP: Will Ahmed

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2025-07-21
- Length: 1h 05m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed

## Summary

Will Ahmed, founder of WHOOP, explains how his experience with overtraining as a Harvard squash player led to the creation of a wearable device focused on continuous physiological monitoring rather than simple step counting. He details the early struggles of prototyping with engineering labs, recruiting a small team including John Capalupo and Aurelia Nicolai, and the strategic decision to target elite athletes like LeBron James and Michael Phelps to build credibility. Ahmed describes the company's pivot from a high upfront hardware cost to a subscription model, which ultimately saved the business and allowed WHOOP to compete against giants like Nike, Apple, and Amazon.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=0) Introduction: Will Ahmed and the Origin of WHOOP
- [3:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=201) Harvard Squash and the Problem of Overtraining
- [8:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=529) Identifying Key Metrics: Sleep, ECG, and Heart Rate
- [11:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=695) Prototyping with Engineering Labs and the First Team
- [16:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=995) Fundraising, Rejection, and the Nike Fuel Band Context
- [26:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=1595) Developing the First Prototype and HRV Technology
- [30:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=1817) Solving Technical Challenges: Skin Tone and Motion
- [38:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=2296) Naming the Company and Launching with Elite Athletes
- [47:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=2843) The Consumer Launch Failure and Business Model Pivot
- [54:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-07-21-whoop-will-ahmed#t=3256) Amazon's Entry, the Halo Copy, and Final Strategy

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- WHOOP (product)
- Fitbit (product)
- Nike (company)
- Apple (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Jawbone (company)
- LeBron James (other)
- Michael Phelps (other)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (other)
- Amazon Halo (product)

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- [095: Solve End-User Pain for Consumer Product Success](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success) (Product Startup)
- [#012 - Feel the beat - creating the world’s first wearable device for musicians, with Florian Simmendinger of Soundbrenner, Germany - Hong Kong](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-02-08-012-feel-the-beat-creating-the-worlds-first-wearable-device-for-musicians-with-f) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [S2E13 Relentless Empathy & Going Deep On Understanding The Problem | Ryan Eder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-03-19-s2e13-relentless-empathy-going-deep-on-understanding-the-problem-ryan-eder) (Being an Engineer)
- [Tips for Early-Stage Smart Device Prototyping](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-03-24-tips-for-early-stage-smart-device-prototyping) (Over the Air)

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