Helaine Knapp (CITYROW) - How Running Injuries Led Her To Start Boutique Rowing Fitness Gyms and Transforming The Studio Experience to At-Home

Thank you Katie Shea for introducing me to today's guest Helaine Knapp, founder and CEO of CITYROW. CITYROW is a boutique fitness studio which started in New York City that specializes in a total body, high-intensity, low-impact workout using a water-based rowing machine and strength-training exercises. They have since launched Cityrow go, taking the boutique rowing experience into your home with on demand classes.I highly recommend following her on twitter @HelaineKnappA few books that inspired Helaine:The Four Agreements by Don Miguel RuizShoe Dog by Phil KnightGood to Great by Jim CollinsQuestions I ask Helaine:Let's begin before you became an entrepreneur. How did your experiences at Olapic and Buddy Media help you as a founder?What was your attraction to fitness and athletics?What was the insight the led you to founding CITY ROW?Why rowers?What were some of the biggest hurdles when starting out?Why did you decide on the franchise model?Since we haven't discussed the franchise model on this show before, could you walk us through some of the innerworkings?How did you think about growth?What led you to create CITY ROW Go?What were some of the biggest challenges when you decided to introduce this product?What has been some of the challenges with the roll out?What has been some of the effects of COVID?How do you think about the future of the in store rowing experience once we all have the vaccines and people are able to work out in studios and gyms?Walk me through your fundraising process.What was the biggest hangup from investors?People invest in what you knowWhat's one thing you would change about the fundraising process?Not so much of a dance, wish more of a equalityWhat's one book that inspired you personally and one book that inspired you professionally?What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?What's one piece of advice for founders?

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The Consumer VC takes a look into early-stage consumer investing and venture capital. If you are interested in learning about consumer trends, have a b2c business and interested in learning about the fundraising process at the early stage, you have come to the right place. Mike interviews some of the top venture capitalists in the world that focus on B2C and consumer type companies or have a deep track record investing in these categories such as marketplaces, SaaS, social, CPG and non-tech subscription. Mike also interviews founders that are building some of the most disruptive consumer facing companies in the world. The conversation usually includes the insight the founder discovered, fundraising strategy, and the pitch. This podcast also includes bonus episodes. Each bonus episode dives into a particular subject that might not have to due with the fundraise or venture capital, but still would be helpful to founders. For example, a bonus episode on brand strategy or how to construct a board of directors. All bonus episodes will be clearly labeled. For all episodes, please visit www.theconsumervc.com. For updates, you can follow @mikegelb on Twitter.