Spikeball: Chris Ruder

How I Built This with Guy Raz

Guy Raz | Wondery

Business

4.8 • 31.1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 June 2023

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When Chris Ruder set out to revive a ball-and-net game from his childhood, he was pretty sure he would fail. He wasn’t really into sports and had never run a business. But after 15 years, Spikeball has grown into a thriving brand with a global following. Spikeball is a two-on-two game where players hit a rubber ball onto a circular net. Invented in 1989, it never took off. But in 2003, when childhood friends dusted off a duct-taped set, Chris began daydreaming about bringing it back to life. For a few years, it was just a crazy idea, until Chris dug deeper and discovered it was never patented. Chris ran the business by himself for six years and discovered Spikeball was taking off with PE teachers and Christian youth groups. When he was offered a deal on Shark Tank, he turned it down because he didn’t want Spikeball to be marketed as a toy, and instead focused on growing it as a competitive sport. Now, the game is popular around the world and its international governing body has Olympic ambitions.

This episode was produced by Chris Maccini, with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research help from Chris Maccini.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, Prime Members, you can listen to how I built this early and ad-free on Amazon Music.
0:07.0	Download the app today!
0:30.0	The thing about running your own business is every single higher counts.
0:35.0	And no hiring partner understands that, like indeed.
0:38.0	Indeed is a matching and hiring platform where you can attract, interview, and hire all in one place.
0:45.0	One of the things that I really love about indeed is its powerful matching technology.
0:49.0	In fact, indeed UK data shows over 85% of employers using indeed find quality candidates
0:55.0	who see these on indeed match their job description the moment they post a job.
1:00.0	Indeed knows that when you're growing your own business, you have to make every pound count.
1:04.0	And that's why, with indeed, you only pay for applications from quality candidates who meet your must-have requirements.
1:10.0	Start hiring now with a 100-pound sponsored job credit for your job post at indeed.com slash how I built.
1:17.0	Offer good for a limited time.
1:19.0	Claim your 100-pound credit now at indeed.com slash how I built.
1:25.0	Indeed.com slash how I built. Terms and conditions apply.
1:29.0	Need to hire? You need indeed.
1:32.0	Hey, you know, we hear a lot of stories on how I built this about overcoming self-doubt.
1:37.0	I recently talked with Sigourney Weaver about this exact thing
1:40.0	and why she was reluctant to pursue acting for so many years.
1:44.0	I know it's hard to believe that one of the most acclaimed actors of her generation almost didn't act.
1:50.0	You should definitely check out my interview with Sigourney Weaver on my other podcast
1:53.0	It's called The Great Creators.
1:55.0	Just search for the great creators with GuyRaz wherever you listen to podcasts.
	...

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