Top insights for driven-minds

From High School Idea to Market Reality

‍

Ryan's entrepreneurial journey began in 2018 when, as a high school student, he couldn't fit his longboard in his school locker. This everyday inconvenience sparked an idea that would eventually become Morphite Boards — ultra-portable last-mile transportation that transforms from a full-sized rideable board to a compact package.

"I used to ride my board to school all the time and I couldn't quite fit my board into my locker," Ryan explains. "I thought there needs to be a product for that."

The initial concept sat dormant for about five years until Ryan entered college at Saginaw Valley State University. There, he connected with the university's product innovation lab, where he developed his first ridable prototype in July 2023. This milestone marked the transition from concept to viable product.

‍

Building Your MVP with Limited Resources

For founders looking to develop physical products with limited resources, Ryan's approach offers valuable insights:

1. Document everything — Ryan credits his parents' early advice to "write everything down." He maintained detailed notes on product specifications and ideas, which made communicating his vision to potential partners much easier.

2. Leverage institutional resources — University maker spaces and innovation labs can provide crucial support for early-stage product development. These environments offer not only equipment but also mentorship and a "cushion" for failure.

3. Create clear communication — Ryan developed a concise one-liner for his product: "Ultra portable last mile transportation." This clarity helps potential investors and customers immediately understand the value proposition.

‍

Marketing Strategies That Actually Work

When it came to marketing his product, Ryan took an unconventional but highly effective approach that resulted in 2.1 million views on Instagram:

1. Study successful content — Ryan noticed a creator whose following grew rapidly from 13,000 to 180,000 followers in six months. Rather than reinventing the wheel, he reached out directly to ask if he could use her successful video format.

2. Adapt proven formats — By analyzing the timing, structure, and audio of a viral video, then adapting it for his product, Ryan was able to replicate that success for Morphite Boards.

3. Invest in basic quality — Even simple investments like $9 Bluetooth microphones can dramatically improve content quality. "That improved the quality of the video astronomically," Ryan notes.

‍

Fundraising as a Young Founder

As a young entrepreneur raising $400,000 for his venture, Ryan has learned valuable lessons about approaching investors:

1. Ask for advice, not money — Build relationships first by seeking guidance before asking for financial support.

2. Balance honesty with capability — "It's a fine line to walk between acting naive and acting open to learn," Ryan explains. Acknowledging knowledge gaps while demonstrating eagerness to learn shows investors your growth potential.

3. Network consistently — Ryan spent two years building relationships with potential investors before formally beginning his fundraising process.

‍

Building a Personal Brand That Attracts Investment

Ryan emphasizes that investors invest in the founder as much as the business:

"Your personal brand matters as much as your company's brand because they're investing in you as much as they are investing in the business."

To develop an effective personal brand:

1. Maintain consistency — Ensure your personal values and behavior align across all interactions.

2. Communicate your sacrifices — Be upfront with friends and family about the demands of entrepreneurship, which often requires 100+ hour workweeks.

3. Find healthy stress outlets — Ryan uses running to manage the inevitable stress of entrepreneurship.

‍

Building a Platform, Not Just a Product

Ryan's vision extends beyond creating a single product — he's building an ecosystem around the Morphite brand:

"What we're trying to do with the Morphite board is not just build a product, but build a platform."

The modular design allows for interchangeable parts, custom colors, and university branding. Future plans include electrification features, an apparel line, and accessories.

Most importantly, Ryan envisions building a community where users can design their own parts, share creations, and even trade collectible components — transforming customers into active community members.

‍

The Entrepreneurial Journey

‍

Starting a business requires immense dedication and sacrifice. As Ryan puts it: "I'd get that text, 'Hey, you coming out with us tonight?' And it was almost always no because I was working pretty much consistently over 100 hours on the business every single week."

For aspiring founders, this reality check is essential — entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It demands resilience, grit, and the ability to maintain focus on long-term vision despite short-term challenges.

But for those willing to embrace the journey, the opportunity to solve real problems and build something meaningful makes it all worthwhile.

‍