By Alvina Chen, CEO & Founder, Feldspar
What is the founder(s) background?
I’m an entrepreneur, innovator, and former professional track runner. I founded Feldspar with the vision to reinvent athletics, pave the way for new live sports experiences, and empower the next generation of athletes to push the boundaries of human potential. I currently serve as CEO of Feldspar. I come from a family of multi-generational entrepreneurs in Hong Kong known for building a successful industrial printing machinery business.
What drove you to start Feldspar?
While we have seen huge technological strides in footwear, apparel, and training methods in the past decades, it struck me during my career as a professional athlete that the modern synthetic running track has remained largely unchanged since the 1968 Summer Olympics.
It occurred to me, what if we could radically innovate the running surface and see if it could help us run faster? However, I only seriously started working on the idea when a chronic autoimmune condition put an end to my track running career. Though I can no longer compete professionally, this is even more electrifying than sprinting through the finish line.
What key milestones have you achieved so far?
Feldspar is a fast-growing start-up in the UK, with nearly 10 employees on board. We’ve made a raft of senior hires over the past couple of months, including the appointment of former Olympic Gold medalist Darren Campbell MBE as Global Track Strategy Director in September and we appointed our Board of Directors to help us drive commercial growth. In early 2025, we anticipate to begin testing our first functional prototype with athletes.
What has been the biggest challenge?
Developing pioneering technology like ours, which involves complex hardware and software from scratch is extremely difficult. We go through countless iterations before moving to the next stage of R&D, always weighing opportunity costs. It’s daunting that we don’t have a blueprint, and not always clear which way to go. But at the same time, it's also exciting that you are creating something that hasn’t existed before. At the end of the day, each iteration offers valuable learning opportunities, even when they feel like failures.
What lessons have you learned so far?
Resilience is a huge lesson for anyone starting a business. When it comes to startups and particularly with our ambitious vision, it’s so easy to have tunnel vision and only focus on the end product.
However, accepting that not everything will go smoothly, accepting a few tweaks and overcoming roadblocks is all part of the journey of running a startup. While it’s one person’s idea in the initial instance, it’s critical to open up and listen to ideas from those around you that can help you on your way. Having a team around me that I trust and can lean on for support has also been an incredibly positive lesson for me.
Lowest moment?
Early in my journey, I struggled to convince potential design and engineering partners to help bring my vision to reality. Many doubted it was possible to create a faster track with embedded sensors. Their scepticism made me question myself. But through perseverance and trusting my instincts, I eventually found an outstanding partner where the engineers and designers got fired up by the idea of bringing my idea to reality.
Biggest highlight?
There have been two moments that stood out. One of them was the overwhelmingly positive feedback from coaches, athletes, government institutions, and sports clubs after our public brand launch just before the Olympic Games. Their enthusiasm fueled my ambition and commitment to succeed. The other moment was when I first held an early prototype of our modular track in my hand. It felt amazing.
What is your ambition and what do you want to achieve in the future?
We have big and bold ambitions. We want to transform the industry and believe we are creating something special to bring athletics to the digital age.
Alvina Chen is the founder and CEO of Feldspar. For further information visit
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