In this episode of the Founders Playbook, Nelson talks with Jeff Anning, founder of Evolve Skateboards. Jeff shares his journey from a lawnmowing business to building a global electric skateboard brand driven by his passion for snowboarding and surfing. He discusses the importance of a strong team, the influence of figures like Casey Neistat, and key insights on growing a successful brand in a competitive industry.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction 


00:02:04 - Inspiration Behind Evolve Skateboards


00:05:45 - Early Challenges and First Electric Skateboard


00:06:14 - The Feeling of Riding an Electric Skateboard


00:08:29 - Building a Global Company from Passion


00:12:01 - Transition from Landscaping to Electric Skateboards


00:18:14 - Selling the House to Fund the Business


00:27:09 - Learning from Early Manufacturing Issues


00:31:39 - Importance of Speed in Business


00:34:02 - Strategic Waiting Lists and Customer Demand


00:37:08 - Impact of Boosted Board's Exit from the Market


00:41:37 - Evolve's Reaction to Boosted Board's Exit