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Published Jun 2, 2021

156 Gloria Hwang: Founder & CEO of Thousand

Gloria Hwang, founder and CEO of Thousand, discusses the innovative approaches and sustainability in urban mobility, the importance of community building through authentic customer relationships, and her entrepreneurial journey inspired by personal tragedy that led to the stylish cycling helmet brand Thousand.
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  • Inspiration

    Gloria Hwang's journey to founding Thousand was sparked by a tragic event that deeply affected her. While working at Toms, a mentor's fatal bike accident due to the absence of a helmet inspired her to create a helmet people would actually want to wear. She believed that a well-designed helmet could enhance urban mobility and safety, encouraging more people to bike and skateboard 1. Gloria's background in social impact and her desire to create good in the world were pivotal in her entrepreneurial path 2.

    If you make a helmet people actually want to wear, I really felt like it would help save a lot of lives.

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    Her story is a testament to how personal experiences can drive innovation and social entrepreneurship.

       

    Kickstarter

    Gloria's Kickstarter campaign was a pivotal moment in bringing Thousand to life. With only $20,000 in savings, she used Kickstarter to gauge interest and fund the production of her helmet prototype. The campaign exceeded expectations, raising nearly a quarter of a million dollars, which validated her idea and propelled her into full-time entrepreneurship 3.

    I basically came up with a 3D prototype...and there was kind of an explosion of demand of people wanting this.

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    This experience highlighted the power of community support in crowdfunding and the importance of perseverance in the face of financial constraints 4.

       

    Social Impact

    For Gloria, social entrepreneurship is about solving problems and creating value where there is a gap. Her experience at Toms, a company known for its social impact model, shaped her understanding of how business can be a force for good. She emphasizes that entrepreneurship is not just about having business skills but about being driven to make a difference 5.

    Entrepreneurship is really like, you're a person that wants to solve a problem, and that problem can be anything.

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    This perspective underscores her commitment to blending social impact with sustainable business practices, a core principle in her work with Thousand.

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