Event - Case Presentation

H2O Audio - Case Presentation Overview

From its fast start out the gates, H2O Audio hit the deep underwater diving market and quickly found its niche. Providing a patented way to successfully waterproof music for divers, it then moved into action water sports.  By 2006, when it first presented at the MIT Enterprise Forum, it was heading into another phase of funding and growth with new products and marketing.  By 2008, H2O Audio had “hit the wall.”  It was over capitalized and had overspent, never fully achieving profitability.

As the new CEO, Tom Kampfer describes, it’s time to “re-start the startup.” With new management and an additional infusion of capital, H2O Audio now appears poised to aggressively turnaround the company with broader market objectives, but how to do it with a limited budget is the looming challenge.  The company is in the enviable position of having well-entrenched “big box” retail relationships and product endorsements from some of the world’s most famous athletes, including Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, and Craig Alexander, so what’s holding them back? 

Business Challenges for Forum Discussion

• Where and how do you find new growth in a “stalled” company?
• How do you stretch working capital to increase marketing and PR effectiveness?

About H2O Audio, Inc.

H2O Audio is the world's leading water sport music company, providing waterproof cases, waterproof headphones/headsets, and waterproof armbands for iPods and MP3 players. Its products are designed in collaboration with, and endorsed by, elite athletes including 16-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps, 11-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin, pioneering waterman and big wave surfer Laird Hamilton, and World Champion triathletes Greg and Laura Bennett. The company holds six patents around waterproofing headphones and cases.

For more information, visit:  www.h2oaudio.com

What Will You Learn?

• Some of the unique market nuances in action sport consumer products
• Cost effective methods for leveraging marketing resources
• Viral ideas for fast and significant market adoption
• Potential pitfalls and risks to look for in product expansion
  
  

Who Should Attend?

• Sports industry executives and management
• Business owners of consumer products
• Business owners with marketing challenges
• Marketing and sales professionals
  
  

About the Speakers

Presenter: Tom Kampfer - President and CEO, H2O Audio, Inc.
Tom Kampfer's career spans 25 years in computer, peripherals, accessories and consumer electronics markets.  He serves as President and CEO of H2O Audio, Inc., having joined the H2O Audio team in March 2010. Previously, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Iomega Corporation. In this role, Mr. Kampfer was instrumental in the turnaround of Iomega, growing global revenues from $200 MIL to $450 MIL leading to the acquisition of the company by EMC (NYSE: EMC) in June 2008.  Prior to Iomega, Mr. Kampfer was with Proxima Corporation, where he held numerous positions including Vice President, Business Development; General Manager, E-Commerce and Accessories; and General Counsel and Secretary.  As a key member of the executive team, Mr. Kampfer helped drive growth of the company from $150 MIL to $400 MIL leading to the acquisition of Proxima by InFocus Systems in June 2000 creating, at the time, the world's largest multimedia projection company.  He also spent 10 years with IBM, serving as Site General Counsel, Contract Negotiator, and Manufacturing/Cost Engineer.  Mr. Kampfer holds a B.S.I.E. degree from Purdue University and a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Moderator: Marco Thompson - Executive Vice President, Solekai and Vice Chairman, San Diego Sport Innovators
Marco has diverse executive, technical, marketing and operating experience from start-up to $50,000,000 revenue run-rates. He has been active in the startup world, and has a rich resume as a mentor and investor in dozens of San Diego based technology startups.  He is a founder and past chairman of CommNexus, a San Diego organization focused on the wireless industry.  Marco holds three patents, has authored a book on high speed memory, and has been honored with awards for his contributions to the San Diego technology community. 

Marco founded CONNECT San Diego Sport Innovators (then called ASI - Action Sport Innovators), an organization dedicated to supporting Southern California entrepreneurs in the Action Sports, Sporting Goods and Apparel industries. He continues as Vice Chairman of this vibrant and growing organization.

Panelists:

Brent James - President, Concept21
Brent James is an outdoor enthusiast: hiking, surfing, sailboat ocean racing. He has summited all Western major peaks, skis, has competed in marathons, ultras, triathlons, and more.  Brent James founded his consulting company Concept 21, in 1982. The scope of work stretches from strategic branding, design, product development, factory selection and QA, and the marketing message.  Brent is an equipment junkie. This started in college when he and his mom opened Super Jock n’ Jill, one of the top specialty running stores located in Seattle.  Brent joined Nike in 1976, living in Korea to oversee production, and then returning to headquarters to manage the product line. 

His philosophy is to establish long term relationships with the brands he partners with.  Brands such as Brooks, Salomon, Dansko, Nike, Keds, Oakley, Merrell, and Speedo are a few well established brands he brought new vision to.   Additionally, he has worked with start ups like Soap, Reef Brazil, Sanuk and Supra bringing new energy to the market place.  His latest focus is on the China consumer and marketplace.

Jay Wilson spent several decades creating a reputable and lasting name in marketing, business turnarounds and launches. In 2008 he co-founded Becky Bones a teen eco-portal with first years sales of 8 million dollars. In 2006, he took the lead as Executive Vice President for CBSI/ Osiris Shoes. Wilson created significant growth for the company’s revenue, driving sales from $13 million to $31 million by 2008.

Prior to Osiris Shoes, Wilson worked as Vice President of Global Marketing for Vans, Inc., one of the leading Action sports companies. Through managing worldwide marketing departments and advertising agencies for 7 years, Wilson was able to help drive double-digit growth for 22 consecutive quarters prior to Vans sale to VFC. In 1976, Wilson started his career as the co-founder and President of advertising agency Cardinal, Wilson & Wilson and on to Lintas Campbell Ewald and Tracy-Locke working with major clients such as DirecTV, Taco Bell, Vuarnet sunglasses, Princess Cruises and MGM Grand Air. Wilson’s accomplishments have won notable distinctions, including numerous awards for marketing and advertising and his executive producers credit’s on “Dogtown and ZBoys”, “Pipeline Masters” and Follow the Prophet.”

Denise Lee Yohn – President, Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.
Denise Lee Yohn has been inspiring and teaching companies how to operationalize their brands to grow their businesses for over 20 years.  Extraordinary brands including Frito-Lay, Burger King, New Balance, and Road Runner Sports have called on Denise, an established speaker, author, and consulting partner.  Previously she headed up Sony Electronics Inc.’s first-ever brand office as Vice President/General Manager, Brand and Strategy. 

Special Guest Speaker: Bill Walton - NBA Hall of Famer and Executive Chairman, San Diego Sport Innovators
Bill Walton was introduced to the game of basketball while in the fourth grade at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School by Coach Frank "Rocky" Graciano. Walton then attended Helix High School, where the basketball coach was Gordon Nash. At Helix, his team won the California Interscholastic Federation High School title two years in a row, while winning their final 49 consecutive games.

Walton enrolled at UCLA in 1970 and played center for John Wooden's Varsity team for three seasons (1972-1974). He was a member of two NCAA championship teams compiling an NCAA record 88 consecutive game winning streak. He was the recipient of several awards, including the NCAA Player of the Year Award in 1972, '73 and '74. At UCLA Walton was a scholar-athlete who also earned Academic All-American honors three years in a row. He graduated with honors earning a B.A. in History.
Walton's professional career began when he was the number one overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He won championship titles with the Blazers and the Boston Celtics. He also played with the San Diego Clippers, and the relocated Los Angeles Clippers. Over the course of his NBA career, he was honored with numerous awards, including NBA’s MVP and All-Star Team. Eventually Bill was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Walton started his broadcasting career in 1990 as an analyst for the then Prime Ticket Network. Walton worked for CBS Sports in the early 90's during the NCAA Final Four and then for NBC for many years, including work on the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games. Over the last 15 years he has worked for ABC, ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox, MSNBC, Turner Sports, KCAL, and the NBA. In 2001, Walton won an Emmy for best live sports television broadcast.
Walton is currently the Executive Chairman of CONNECT San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI). SDSI is a business accelerator that connects and drives the growth of San Diego's vibrant sports economy by offering innovative programs and services for start ups, mature companies and service providers.