Oura CEO Tom Hale on Hardware-as-a-Service, navigating ZIRP, journey to CEO & more! | E1812
This Week in Startups
Jason Calacanis
4.2 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 19 September 2023
⏱️ 69 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This Week in Startups is brought to you by…
Embroker. The Embroker Startup Insurance Program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance at a lower cost and with less hassle. Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at Embroker.com/twist. While you’re there, get an extra 10% off using offer code TWIST.
Lemon.io - Hire pre-vetted remote developers, get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
LinkSquares. Life for in-house legal just got a whole lot easier. From contract creation to execution and more, LinkSquares is the go-to for all your legal needs. Learn more at linksquares.com/twist
*
Today’s show:
Oura CEO Tom Hale joins Jason to discuss his journey to becoming CEO of Oura (3:02), subscription-based business models (7:05), navigating ZIRP (39:37), the challenges of scaling a hardware business (45:00), and so much more!
*
Time stamps:
(0:00) Oura CEO Tom Hale joins Jason
(3:02) Tom's journey to becoming CEO
(7:05) The significance of subscription models for business operations & product innovation
(11:28) Embroker - Use code TWIST to get an extra 10% off insurance at https://Embroker.com/twist
(12:57) Oura's subscription-based business model
(23:04) Cultivating positive habits & Oura’s advanced tracking features
(26:26) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
(27:47) Leading a company and instilling core values
(34:51) The impact of pausing marketing & harnessing the power of virality
(38:20) LinkSquares - The go-to for all your legal needs, learn more at https://linksquares.com/twist
(39:37) The ZIRP phenomenon and the challenges of scaling up
(45:00) Finding a strong product-market fit
(53:35) Merging personalization with consumer-focused approaches in healthcare
(1:03:45) Oura’s company culture
*
Check out Oura: https://ouraring.com
Follow Tom: https://twitter.com/tomeghale
*
Read LAUNCH Fund 4 Deal Memo: https://www.launch.co/four
Apply for Funding: https://www.launch.co/apply
Buy ANGEL: https://www.angelthebook.com
Great recent interviews: Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland, PrayingForExits, Jenny Lefcourt
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
*
Follow Jason:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
*
Follow TWiST:
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
*
Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.founder.university/podcast
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Jason 2.0 |
| 0:02.0 | Well, actually, this is Jason 1.0. You just never met him. Jason 2.0 was the fab bastard |
| 0:07.6 | I used to run marathons. I'm a six degree black belt intake window, you know, it was like a workout maniac and then for 20 years |
| 0:13.3 | I just now you're back at it a couple of pints of ice cream extra a year and added two pounds a year |
| 0:20.5 | For 20 years, isn't it like prenicious how it happens? Hmm sneaks right up when you're doesn't oh boy does it |
| 0:26.3 | Oh boy does it and now I'm reversing it |
| 0:30.1 | And it's been fricking fantastic this week in startups is brought to you by |
| 0:35.9 | Embrokers startup insurance program helps startups secure the most important types of insurance |
| 0:41.6 | At a lower cost and with less hassle |
| 0:44.6 | Save up to 20% off of traditional insurance today at embroker.com slash twist |
| 0:51.2 | While you're there get an extra 10% off using offer code twist lemon.io |
| 0:57.3 | Need to speed up your product development without draining your budget |
| 1:00.8 | hire vetted engineers from europe at lemon.io |
| 1:04.8 | Go to lemon.io slash twist to get 15% off for the first four weeks and |
| 1:11.2 | Link squares life for in-house legal just got a whole lot easier |
| 1:16.3 | From contract creation to execution and more |
| 1:20.0 | Link squares is the go-to for all your legal needs |
| 1:24.0 | Learn more at link squares.com slash twist |
| 1:28.4 | All right, everybody welcome to this week in startups my guest today |
| 1:32.6 | is tom hell |
| 1:34.4 | He's the CEO of aura and interestingly |
| 1:38.6 | As you probably heard there in our cold open |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jason Calacanis, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Jason Calacanis and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

