Helaine Knapp (CITYROW) - How Running Injuries Led Her To Start Boutique Rowing Fitness Gyms and Transforming The Studio Experience to At-Home

Thank you Katie Shea for introducing me to today's guest Helaine Knapp, founder and CEO of CITYROW. CITYROW is a boutique fitness studio which started in New York City that specializes in a total body, high-intensity, low-impact workout using a water-based rowing machine and strength-training exercises. They have since launched Cityrow go, taking the boutique rowing experience into your home with on demand classes.I highly recommend following her on twitter @HelaineKnappA few books that inspired Helaine:The Four Agreements by Don Miguel RuizShoe Dog by Phil KnightGood to Great by Jim CollinsQuestions I ask Helaine:Let's begin before you became an entrepreneur. How did your experiences at Olapic and Buddy Media help you as a founder?What was your attraction to fitness and athletics?What was the insight the led you to founding CITY ROW?Why rowers?What were some of the biggest hurdles when starting out?Why did you decide on the franchise model?Since we haven't discussed the franchise model on this show before, could you walk us through some of the innerworkings?How did you think about growth?What led you to create CITY ROW Go?What were some of the biggest challenges when you decided to introduce this product?What has been some of the challenges with the roll out?What has been some of the effects of COVID?How do you think about the future of the in store rowing experience once we all have the vaccines and people are able to work out in studios and gyms?Walk me through your fundraising process.What was the biggest hangup from investors?People invest in what you knowWhat's one thing you would change about the fundraising process?Not so much of a dance, wish more of a equalityWhat's one book that inspired you personally and one book that inspired you professionally?What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?What's one piece of advice for founders?