Ep. 104: Building Your Team & Product in Tandem—with Sam Cole & Sameer Baroova of FitXR

Here at Boost VC, we define a startup as an organism in which the founders work to attract the smartest, most dynamic people to solve the problem they believe is most important. Yes, their ultimate goal is to build a product. But more importantly, they are building a talented team that will actualize that product together.

CEO Sam Cole and CPO Sameer Baroova are the Cofounders of FitXR, a startup that is putting the fun back into fitness by way of award-winning virtual reality fitness experiences. In FitXR’s virtual gym, users have access to 20-plus hours of boxing and dance workouts choreographed by professional fitness instructors. Sam draws on his background in consulting and private equity to lead the FitXR team and Sameer’s experience in the gaming industry informs his work around product creation.

On this episode of Boost VC, Sam and Sameer join us to describe their dynamic as cofounders, discussing what they do to navigate disagreements and how brutal conversations early on served to strengthen their relationship. They explore their inherent drive to be entrepreneurs and share the lessons learned from their struggle to raise money for FitXR. Listen in to understand why fitness is the killer app of VR and learn how Sam and Sameer are building a dynamic team that makes progress—with or without their meddling!

Topics Covered

Why Sam & Sameer think fitness is the killer app of VR

• Most fun way to work out at home
• Transport self to completely different world

Public assumptions re: VR based on the hype of 2015

• Cumbersome tech with lots of cables
• For gaming only, doesn’t scale

How Sam & Sameer met and became cofounders

• Discussed idea at business school interview
• Founded FitXR 12 months after graduation

Why Sam & Sameer work well together as cofounders

• Shared ideals and work ethic
• Candid communication (brutal conversations)

How Sam & Sameer navigate disagreements

• Listen to each other and respect expertise
• Bring in data, ask team for input on decisions

How Sam & Sameer divide up responsibilities

• Sameer responsible for product creation
• Sam works with all department leads

The fundraising challenges Sam & Sameer faced

• Lessons learned from struggle (be cockroach)
• Easier as more understand + respect space

Sam & Sameer’s drive for entrepreneurship

• Encouraged by parents, support of partners
• Always entrepreneurial but risk averse

The most fun part of Sam & Sameer’s day-to-day

• Build team and watch company grow
• Progress made without their direct touch

Sam & Sameer’s definition of success

• Goal-driven to accomplish mission
• See work through to end (good or bad)

Connect with Sam & Sameer

FitXR https://fitxr.com/

FitXR on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WeAreFitXR/

FitXR on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wearefitxr/

FitXR on Twitter https://twitter.com/weareFitXR

FitXR on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5j5_pTobcYj50xfaxE68Ng

Resources

Beat Saber https://beatsaber.com/

Oculus Quest 2 https://www.oculus.com/quest-2/

Accepted https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384793/

Startup School https://www.startupschool.org/

Minecraft https://www.minecraft.net/en-us

FIFA 21 https://www.ea.com/games/fifa/fifa-21

Super Smash Bros. https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/

Planet Earth https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mywy

Connect with Boost VC

Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/

Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/

Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/