Lance Armstrong Rides These Bikes - Ventum (Full Episode)
Channel: Startup to Storefront
Date: 2022-04-05

You probably don’t have to think too hard to recall the early days of the coronavirus lockdowns. When all we wanted was an excuse to get out of our homes, bikes became that excuse. You could head out your front door and get some exercise while maintaining your social distance. It was the perfect pandemic escape. And so it was no big surprise when bike sales skyrocketed. One would think that it would be a great time to be in the cycling business. Instead, a global economy dealing with supply chain delays, factory shutdowns, and parts shortages meant that there was no supply to meet the demand. Not exactly what any business owner would call ideal. Our guest today is Diaa Nour, founder of Ventum, a direct-to-consumer bike brand out of Heber City, Utah. Ventum first burst onto the scene with their triathlon bike, turning heads with its signature Z-shaped frame. From there they quickly expanded their lineup to include road and gravel bikes to mirror national trends. Diaa has big plans on the horizon for Ventum, but before he can accomplish those goals he’s got to maneuver around the global supply chain backup just like the rest of us.

So listen in as we cover everything from why starting a bike company was way more difficult than he initially assumed, why he prioritized sponsoring female triathletes in an effort to level the gender wage gap between men and women, and why he chose to partner with the brand with perhaps the most polarizing figure in cycling, Lance Armstrong.

#entrepreneurship #businessinterview #podcast #podcasts #losangeles #ventum #bikes #bicycle #biking #cycling #racebike

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🚲 Ventum Social Media:
Website: https://ventumracing.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ventumracing/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ventumracing/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ventumracing?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLVrUtr6KfUDT-tHgr5x_tQ

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🎙️ Startup to Storefront Social Media: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuptostorefront/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startuptostorefront
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-to-storefront/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/startuptostore
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/67EyhF5DGLPucswOrS7LhK?si=IUPguzApRm6nnhlIHUBJxQ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/startup-to-storefront/id1477095646 
Website: https://www.startuptostorefront.com/

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😎 Our Team:
Diego Torres-Palma: https://www.instagram.com/diego_ventures/
Nick Conrad: https://www.instagram.com/nickgconrad/
Natalya Cappellini: https://www.instagram.com/natalya_curato/
Lexi Jameson: https://www.instagram.com/lexijamesonyt/
Owen Cappellini: https://www.instagram.com/owencapp/

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🎵 Our Music:
https://www.instagram.com/doubletouchofficial/

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⏱️ Timecodes:
00:00 Intro to Ventum Episode 
1:34 When did you decide to make a bike?
5:41 Diego got lucky when buying a bike
6:24 Warning: Your bike may not be your size
7:47 What's the next step after identifying the problem?
8:09 What did you underestimate in terms of the hard part?
8:42 Why it's so hard to start a bike company
11:28 Is shipping more expensive despite the delays?
12:41 Does this make you rethink the whole industry?
13:49 Where do you produce carbon fiber?
14:08 Can you reuse carbon fiber?
15:29 Why did you start with a triathlon bike?
18:27 Did you know any triathletes?
19:08 Was it difficult sponsoring athletes?
19:39 How many women did you sign and how did it go?
21:09 How do you help athletes not freeze on camera?
21:35 Most pro triathletes barely make any money
23:08 Ventum Sponsored Ironman
24:18 What happened once Ventum was on the main stage?
25:14 Are you raising capital?
26:26 How did you handle self-investing at first?
28:45 Sponsoring Lance Armstrong
31:09 Aspen or Park City?
32:00 Lance Armstong's Legacy
32:30 Livestrong Saves Lives
33:10 Do you blame cycling for the hate against Lance Armstrong?
33:41 How do you value a cycling company?
34:36 Ventum customer journey?
37:49 Ventum Price Points
39:34 How much of the bike's cost is components?
40:20 What did you learn after your breakup?
44:25 Aspen v. Park City
47:48 What is the future of Ventum Bikes?
49:59 His biggest mistake was not investing in Swift