Kindness + Connection + Technology = A Virtual Hug

A serial entrepreneur and a 35-year tech product management and innovation expert, our guest Jon Werner’s first startup story began in 2002 when he founded Bones in Motion, a mobile lifestyle services company that developed mobile phone applications and web services that monitored and tracked outdoor enthusiasts in real-time. He raised $2.7 million in angel funding to scale the business and he had the best of outcomes in 2009 when he sold the business to Adidas. Woo Hoo!

Jon spent over 9 years at Adidas as an Innovation Explorer, where he created and led the IoT apparel and footwear project using NFC to engage consumers.

In 2018 Jon and his family founded KOYA Innovations. KOYA is short for kindness on ya! KOYA pairs kindness and connection to create personalized messages between family and friends … anywhere in the world.

And yes, when I say Jon and his family, it's his wife Cherie, the Chief Kindness Officer, and their two Millennial daughters, Caryn - the creative director and Courtney, the marketing director.

John shares:

* his fascinating pioneering background in technology
* the roller coaster ride from launching a GPS mobile phone technology business in 2002 - waaay before smart phones!
* the BEST Angel Investor Story EVER
* his answer when asked by his family "Hey dad, do you have any dreams you want to do next?”

Please visit https://getkoya.com to learn more and follow KOYA via:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/givekoya
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/givekoya/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/givekoya/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/koya-innovations/

You can download the KOYA app on Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/koya-make-someones-day/id1463530485?ls=1 and Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koya.android

If you’d like to receive an alert whenever I post a new episode, please follow the Startup Life Show wherever you listen to podcasts, including: Stitcher, Spotify or Apple/Google Podcasts… and let’s connect on social media!

Do you have a startup story you’d like to share on the Startup Life Show podcast? Please reach out to me via email – [email protected].

You'll find tons of curated DIY startup advice on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/AndeliciousAdvice and my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/boards/.

Are you ready for 1 on 1 founder coaching? Please schedule a free convo with me here: https://andelyons.as.me/

Listeners - thank you so much for tuning in - I am genuinely grateful for your time and presence. Stay strong, stay focused – and please remember – you’ve got this – Cheers!

Ande ♥