This week on the Bold Inventor Show, JD Houvener and co-host Matt Kulseth welcome a true grassroots innovator: Sean Miller, founder and creator of the Turfboard. What started as a snowboarding alternative in the off-season has evolved into an epic journey of design, setbacks, and resurgence. Sean shares his wild ride from snowy peaks to grassy hills, revealing what it really takes to create and relaunch a sports innovation.
🏂 What you'll hear in this episode:
🌱 Origin of Turfboard: Sean recounts how the seed for his all-terrain snowboard sprouted during a post-college road trip and snowless mountain runs. The itch to recreate the snowboarding experience on dry ground launched a decades-long pursuit.
🛠️ Prototype Evolution: Hear about Sean's mad-inventor roots—from early aluminum castings to vulcanized rubber tires—and why he had to invent everything from scratch. Learn how the board evolved from intimidating and heavy to modular, safer, and family-friendly.
🏗️ Engineering and Passion Collide: JD digs into the board's features—hand brakes, shocks, adjustable bindings, custom tires—and how Sean engineered for performance, safety, and accessibility. A true showcase of passion-driven innovation.
🏞️ Business Lessons from the First Go-Round: Sean opens up about early manufacturing mistakes, working with investors too soon, and why patience and product readiness are crucial in hardware startups.
🎯 Comeback Plans: With his kids off to college, Sean is ready to reboot the Turfboard. He's looking at ski resorts, influencers, and strategic partners for a grassroots rebirth of the concept—literally.
🤝 IP Protection & Next Steps: JD and Matt offer insight on what intellectual property protection could still apply, including new mechanical innovations, design improvements, and possible licensing models.
📦 Shipping, Scaling, & Vision: The discussion includes a reality check on shipping logistics, board sizing, and how modern materials and 3D printing could reduce costs and improve the board’s scalability.
💥 Bonus Segment: Shark Tank Critique The hosts and Sean analyze the success of 11-year-old entrepreneur Carson Kropfl, whose Locker Board invention wowed the Sharks and eventually sold to Wham-O. JD breaks down the design patent, Matt analyzes the trademark, and Sean offers a rider’s take
Have an invention or brand to protect? Or just curious about learning more? Download our FREE Inventor Kit here: https://keap.page/gw292/inventor-kit.html
DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.
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