Anthony Katz, founder of recovery technology company Hyperice, discusses his evolution from education to entrepreneur. From tinkering with neoprene and ice in his off time in search of a more therapeutic and effective recovery system to getting his products under the seats of every player in the NBA, Anthony explains his unexpected journey.
Driven to solve a problem facing every athlete from intramural leagues to professional associations, Anthony shares how his connections, experience, and determination led to establishing an elite client base like Bryant and LeBron James but also attracted the likes of Chris Paul, Doc Rivers, and Naomi Osaka to invest in his now $700M company.
Meet our guest:
Anthony Katz is the founder and President of Hyperice. Anthony comes from Laguna Beach, CA where sport and life are intertwined. He studied history and political science at Hawai’i Pacific University and pursued a career in education, where his basketball coaching experience and athletic background catalyzed an interest in athlete enhancement. In 2009, Anthony set out to develop a wearable ice compression device for the one athlete he knew was always looking for a competitive advantage – NBA legend Kobe Bryant. During this process, Bryant provided product feedback and became the first “test market” for the product, which led Katz to name the product – and later the brand – after the Nike shoe Kobe wore at the time, the “Hyperdunk.”
With his first product in the market that same year, Anthony spotted a growing need for portable recovery tech devices that reduced injury and extended careers for pro athletes. Once Hyperice became a fixture on professional sidelines the world over via its signature Percussion Therapy Tools, Anthony and his company expanded to bring Hyperice into the homes of the everyday athlete. Now, with the recent acquisition of fellow industry leader NormaTec and countless technology innovations on the horizon, Anthony’s vision for athlete enhancement expands to include apps, wearables, and a full digital/physical ecosystem, ready to optimize movement no matter the skill level.