In this episode of SaaS Fuel, Jeff delves into the remarkable journey of Steven Webster, the founder of Asensei - who leverages AI and computer vision technology to transform traditional fitness equipment into ‘smart’ devices that provide real-time coaching and movement recognition, enhancing user engagement and performance in both home and gym settings. Steven shares how his passion for sports and technology led him to study computer science, sell a company to Adobe, and work on groundbreaking projects at Microsoft.

Discover how Asensei is revolutionizing the fitness and healthcare industries with AI and computer vision, turning traditional fitness equipment ‘smart’ and meeting the growing demand for home fitness solutions.

Tune in to learn about the future of fitness technology, including DNA-assessing smart mirrors and gamified boxing bags, and how martial arts principles have shaped Steven’s entrepreneurial success.

00:00 Entrepreneurs must embrace giving back early.

04:37 Employee excitement fosters purpose, unity, and giving.

06:15 Integrate purpose into business for lasting impact.

10:23 Left Microsoft to lead in movement recognition.

14:32 Early company focus on problem-solving and monetization.

17:58 Encouraging others to unlock athletic potential at home.

20:15 Track and customize workouts with smart technology.

22:29 Challenges of building a startup during uncertainty.

26:32 Developed rowing app, built partnerships, gained popularity.

31:38 Entrepreneurs succeed by building products for others.

33:52 Assisted stretching workshops with technology for customer acquisition.

38:23 Accountability is key to maintaining motivation.

42:11 Tracking whole body, skeleton and biomechanics.

42:55 Ascensi innovated smart textiles for wearable tech.

46:45 Love problem, pivot, technology, improve, find success.

51:13 Lessons learned: grow into higher valuation.

55:46 Reps, persistence, and refining for success in business.

57:22 Steven shares journey, insights, offers more info.

“It's not a transition as much as a journey. Yeah, it kind of feels like I'm at the place I was always destined to go.” - 00:00:15 Steven Webster

“That the way for us to be a pervasive technology was to be an ingredient in other people's products, rather than to be direct to consumer, right?” - 00:06:50 Steven Webster

“So we give a lot of control to the end customer on what the user experience will be, but we give them all the ingredients and the underlying AI that can capture movement and understand movement.” - 00:07:57 Steven Webster

“One in two people don't ever join a gym or join a yoga class because they're intimidated or because they don't have the confidence to do it. And so, at home is a great place to break down those barriers.” - 00:10:07 Steven Webster

“So Post-it notes and Excel spreadsheets are great clues for opportunities for innovation.” - 00:23:11 Steven Webster

1. Leverage Passion for...