Episode

E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
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1:47:10
Published: Mon Oct 24 2022
Description

Will Ahmed is the founder of Whoop, the fitness monitoring app worn by LeBron James and Michael Phelps, and which goes toe to toe with Apple, Google and Amazon. Will is the classic example that business and entrepreneurial drive follow on from being obsessed with a problem.  After repeatedly getting injured in his college sports career, Will became obsessed with understanding his own body. He read over five hundred medical papers and realised the product he was pining for didn’t exist, so he invented it. Will has one of the most original perspectives on how to bring your personality to your business that we’ve ever seen. Employees at Whoop get a bonus if their sleep is good, and the company is ruthless in its priorities to make sure it’s only focused on a couple of things at a time. All of this means Whoop has some of the best wearable tech on the market, despite only a fraction of the resources of its competitors. Topics: Early years What was it that made you obsessed with optimising performance? Are you a curious person? Your business becoming your identity How to stay calm in the chaos Did you have doubt in the early days? Co-founders The most difficult time for you Like style hacks - your day to day routines Heart rate variability Blue light blocking Strain on the body Employee sleep bonus How do you keep your innovative nature when growing Focusing Competition The importance of the right investors We both hate networking Listening to feedback with a different perspective Being counterintuitive Were you wrong about anything with Whoop? Offers to buy whoop Whats next The last guest question Will: https://bit.ly/3VX7chq Whoop: https://bit.ly/3F46h97 Wait list for The Diary - add your name here: bit.ly/3fUcF8q Watch the episodes on Youtube: https://g2ul0.app.link/3kxINCANKsb Follow us on Telegram: https://g2ul0.app.link/E5re0ADNKsb Sponsors: Amex - https://bit.ly/3TATNKc Huel - https://g2ul0.app.link/G4RjcdKNKsb Mercedes-Benz - https://bit.ly/3yXTQI1 Craftd - https://g2ul0.app.link/gZ8in6Dsvsb

Chapters
The founder of Whoop shares insights on building a $3.6 billion company and the company's approach to health monitoring, as well as counterintuitive decisions made along the way.
00:00 - 00:38 (00:38)
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Health Monitoring
Summary

The founder of Whoop shares insights on building a $3.6 billion company and the company's approach to health monitoring, as well as counterintuitive decisions made along the way.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
A discussion on the physiological effects of overreaching and burnout in the tech industry, how technology has evolved and the challenges of choosing a career in tech versus finance.
00:38 - 10:11 (09:32)
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Technology
Summary

A discussion on the physiological effects of overreaching and burnout in the tech industry, how technology has evolved and the challenges of choosing a career in tech versus finance.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
As a young entrepreneur, it is important to do as much work as possible to build up confidence and understand that the learning will come fast once you make the commitment.
10:11 - 23:13 (13:02)
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Entrepreneurship
Summary

As a young entrepreneur, it is important to do as much work as possible to build up confidence and understand that the learning will come fast once you make the commitment. Disassociating one's identity from the company is also crucial.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The first seven years of building a startup are enormously hard, from a technology development and capital raising standpoint.
23:13 - 30:58 (07:45)
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Startups
Summary

The first seven years of building a startup are enormously hard, from a technology development and capital raising standpoint. It is important for co-founders to have commitment, intensity, humility, and recognize that they may not have all the answers.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The CEO reflects on a difficult time where the company was struggling financially and talks about the perspective it gave her on facing future challenges with gratitude and humility.
30:58 - 37:27 (06:28)
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Business
Summary

The CEO reflects on a difficult time where the company was struggling financially and talks about the perspective it gave her on facing future challenges with gratitude and humility.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Tim Ferriss shares his personal morning rituals that set him up for success, including meditation, exercise, hot and cold transitions, and gratitude.
37:27 - 41:52 (04:25)
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Morning routine
Summary

Tim Ferriss shares his personal morning rituals that set him up for success, including meditation, exercise, hot and cold transitions, and gratitude.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
WHOOP uses heart rate variability to monitor physical health by measuring factors like dehydration, poor diet, heavy exercise, and psychological stress that can decrease it.
41:52 - 50:40 (08:47)
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Heart Rate Variability
Summary

WHOOP uses heart rate variability to monitor physical health by measuring factors like dehydration, poor diet, heavy exercise, and psychological stress that can decrease it. This tool can also help predict future heart attacks and detect potential deception in lie detection tests used by the CIA.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The seven hours spent in bed are divided into time spent awake, in light sleep, slow-wave sleep or REM sleep, and the difference can significantly affect performance and mood.
50:40 - 56:51 (06:10)
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Sleep
Summary

The seven hours spent in bed are divided into time spent awake, in light sleep, slow-wave sleep or REM sleep, and the difference can significantly affect performance and mood. Wearing blue light blocking glasses can help boost REM and slow-wave sleep according to WHOOP.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The importance of sleep in fitness and physical activities is highlighted wherein how to get REM sleep, get the right supplements, and incorporate mindfulness and breathing techniques can impact recovery is explained.
56:51 - 1:02:11 (05:20)
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Fitness, Sleep Optimization
Summary

The importance of sleep in fitness and physical activities is highlighted wherein how to get REM sleep, get the right supplements, and incorporate mindfulness and breathing techniques can impact recovery is explained.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Technology companies often suffer from scope creep when introducing new products, as they try to pack in more features and capabilities.
1:02:11 - 1:12:14 (10:02)
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First Principles
Summary

Technology companies often suffer from scope creep when introducing new products, as they try to pack in more features and capabilities. By sticking to first principles and maintaining focus, companies can avoid losing sight of their original identity and purpose.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Building a successful product requires intense focus and attention to detail, and success can sometimes lead to arrogance and the belief that an individual can abandon that level of intensity.
1:12:14 - 1:22:03 (09:49)
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Building a Successful Product
Summary

Building a successful product requires intense focus and attention to detail, and success can sometimes lead to arrogance and the belief that an individual can abandon that level of intensity. However, it's important to continue dreaming and exploring new directions for the company.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The importance of managing your board and investors when things go wrong, and building a positive identity for your company.
1:22:03 - 1:29:25 (07:21)
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Business Management
Summary

The importance of managing your board and investors when things go wrong, and building a positive identity for your company. Aligning with investors on the purpose of the company and capital is crucial.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Will Ahmed, founder of Whoop, shares his insights on the importance of balancing gratitude with ambition, and how challenges can ultimately help you find your identity as an entrepreneur.
1:29:26 - 1:44:46 (15:20)
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Entrepreneurship
Summary

Will Ahmed, founder of Whoop, shares his insights on the importance of balancing gratitude with ambition, and how challenges can ultimately help you find your identity as an entrepreneur.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The Mercedes-Benz EQ, an all electric car range, is changing the game in terms of sustainable benefits for businesses.
1:44:46 - 1:46:35 (01:49)
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Mercedes-Benz EQ
Summary

The Mercedes-Benz EQ, an all electric car range, is changing the game in terms of sustainable benefits for businesses. Through their innovative next generation technology, they are striving to create a better tomorrow.

Episode
E189: Whoop Founder: How I Built A $3.6 BILLION Company & BEAT Apple! Will Ahmed
Podcast
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett