Show Notes:

Channeling the entrepreneurial spirit. “I was a business lawyer working in one of the largest law firms in Europe during the financial crisis of 2008. As the market slowed, I began feeling bored and unfulfilled. That’s when my co-founder and I decided to channel our entrepreneurial spirit into a side project. We worked from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM at our law firm jobs, and then from 10:00 PM onward on our business. This was the beginning of our first company, which was profitable from day one without needing to raise capital. However, my real passion lay in technology and wellness, which eventually led to the founding of Eight Sleep.”

Bringing technology to bed. “Productivity has always fascinated me, and I couldn’t understand why I’d spend eight hours in bed yet feel unrested. There’s technology in every part of our lives except sleep, which is why at Eight Sleep, we’re focused on creating something that makes sleep more efficient. By leveraging technology to control temperature and other factors of the sleep environment, we can align with your biometrics to help you sleep six hours but feel like you’ve slept eight. Our mission isn’t just about better sleep — it’s about potentially saving lives and enhancing overall well-being.”

Overcoming early challenges. “Selling 8,000 units in pre-orders before manufacturing taught us a lot. With no background in manufacturing, I flew to China to address production issues head-on, telling my wife, ‘I’ll be back once it’s fixed.’ This hands-on experience, coupled with building relationships in the manufacturing sector, was critical for delivering on our promises. Those initial challenges were tough, but they taught us resilience and the value of directly engaging with all aspects of business.”

Creating a high-performance culture. “At Eight Sleep, we operate like a sports team playing in the playoffs — focused, fast, and efficient. We place a high value on clarity and getting things done with minimal resources. I regularly ask my executives, ‘Who are your best people?’ We create opportunities for these individuals to advance quickly, supporting their growth because they may lead the innovations of tomorrow. As former athletes, we embrace the everyday athlete mindset, promoting self-awareness and balance alongside high performance without burning out.”

Making strategic decisions. “In decision-making, I use a framework that considers both expertise and the potential risk to the company. If a decision is critical yet falls within my knowledge area, I stay closely involved. For lower-impact decisions in areas beyond my expertise, I delegate to qualified team members. It’s critical for leaders to remain adaptable and adjust their approach based on the decision’s impact and team member capabilities.”

Driving innovation through partnerships. “Our partnership with the Mercedes F1 team was as exciting as it was unexpected. As a lifelong F1 fan, joining forces with Mercedes-F1 was a dream come true. They reached out, and we met during the Austin Grand Prix. This collaboration underlines the product’s value where recovery is crucial. It isn’t just F1 drivers; we have top athletes from various professional sports, like NFL and NBA players, and even CrossFit champions using Eight Sleep to enhance their rest and performance, underscoring its impact across high-performance fields.”