Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Harris.
Emma, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2015, I was on the founding team of GuavaPass, a fitness tech startup based in Singapore. The business model was very similar to ClassPass but catering to Asian markets. We worked really hard and were able to scale that business across 12 markets with 80+ employees in four years. We sold to ClassPass in early 2019 and I knew I was ready to build something new. I loved the opportunity over the four years working with owners of boutique fitness studios. They are so passionate and dedicated. I really became particularly interested in fitness studios achieving scale through franchising. So, I moved back to the US and started Roo Space. We are a boutique fitness company specializing in pre and postnatal fitness. I saw this huge white space in the fitness industry for pregnant women and moms. Where is the love? We were supposed to open our first studio location in Coral Gables earlier this year but are now delayed and will hopefully open later this year when things hopefully return to “normal.” In the meantime, we have launched a podcast, The Limitless Pregnancy, [spoti.fi/34PR0Ew] and our Instagram [@theroospace] which will soon have at home workout videos available.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It never is! Choosing to be an entrepreneur and build your own business has many perks (build your own schedule, be your own boss, make the decisions) but it is also a lonely road and often an uphill battle. I spent so much time last year raising money for Roo Space, which was a necessary action in order to build this business properly but is also incredibly humbling and full of rejection!
My experience has always been in tech startup and now I am building a brick and mortar business. I completely underestimated the leasing, construction and permitting process!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Our product is safe and challenging workouts from pregnancy through early motherhood and beyond and we plan to open studios around the world. I am most proud of our goal to build a fitness community around moms and soon to be moms.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I didn’t thrive in school but I was always interested in business. I guess you could say I was an entrepreneur from a young age, setting up stores and mini businesses in my house that I would pretend with my parents as my customers!
Contact Info:
- Website: theroospace.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/theroospace
- Other: podcast: spoti.fi/34PR0Ew
Image Credit:
Ana Gambuto
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