# 018: Re-inventing the walker with Jennifer Harris of Motivo

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2016-09-13
- Length: 55m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo
- Listen: http://theproductstartup.com/tps018-jennifer-harris-motivo/

## Summary

Jennifer Harris, co-founder of Motivo, explains how she and her design partner Jeremy Canopo reinvented the mobility walker by applying user-centered design to a stagnant market. They worked with over 300 users to develop the Motivo Tour, a sleek, contemporary walker that addresses the stigma and ergonomic failures of traditional bent-tube models. The episode details their journey from garage prototyping to scaling production, highlighting their decision to manufacture in the USA and maintain control over shipping and quality to ensure a premium customer experience.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo#t=0) Introduction: Motivo and the Walker Problem
- [2:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo#t=164) Founding Motivo and Identifying the Market Gap
- [9:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo#t=544) User-Centered Design and the Motivo Tour Features
- [17:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo#t=1047) Recruiting Users and Iterating on Prototypes
- [24:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo#t=1476) Raising Capital and Protecting Intellectual Property
- [29:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo#t=1749) Sourcing Manufacturers and Domestic Production Strategy
- [36:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo#t=2200) Building the Team and Controlling Fulfillment
- [44:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-09-13-018-re-inventing-the-walker-with-jennifer-harris-of-motivo#t=2678) Leadership, Challenges, and Advice for Founders

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Motivo (company)
- Motivo Tour (product)
- Jeremy Canopo (other)
- Motivolife.com (other)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Live Episode! Walker & Company: Tristan Walker (2019)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-02-28-live-episode-walker-company-tristan-walker-2019) (How I Built This)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 11 - Marco Perry and Mark Prommel of Pensa (11/12)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-12-afterschool-podcast-episode-11-marco-perry-and-mark-prommel-of-pensa-11-12) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 19 - Craighton Berman, Founder of Manual (04/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-04-16-afterschool-podcast-episode-19-craighton-berman-founder-of-manual-04-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [#019 - Chairless chair, with Keith Gunura of noonee, Switzerland](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-03-29-019-chairless-chair-with-keith-gunura-of-noonee-switzerland) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Away: Jen Rubio](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-03-18-away-jen-rubio) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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