Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Mike Feldstein it used to be a “disaster chaser,” building homes and communities after fires, floods and hurricanes. Over the years, he became an expert in identifying air quality conditions that make people sick and how to fix them. He noticed that commercial-grade air purifiers used in places like hospitals and office buildings were effective and powerful—but also noisy, unsightly, and out of reach for home use.
Then he had an idea: What if he could develop an industrial-grade air purification system that was smaller, less expensive, quieter, and more elegant? His company is now developing jasper air purifiers that combine innovative design with unparalleled reliability. For $999, the device's filtration system captures 99.9% of ultra-fine particles down to 0.1 microns and fights smoke, mold, allergens and other common indoor air pollutants, bridging the gap between use commercial and consumer.
Feldstein joins this week's episode of the series A day with Jon Bier podcast to talk about his path to creating Jaspr and what he learned about starting a company along the way.
Solve a problem
The essence of any great business is that it solves a problem. For Feldstein, that problem was finding quality air filtration for home use. He originally designed what would later become Jaspr for his family and friends with no intention of bringing it to market.
“There was a point where I was like, I don't feel like starting a hardware business, but I'm just going to order 50 for friends and family,” he says. Then COVID happened and the need for a product like Jaspr became not only good business, but essential for healthy breathing.
Innovation with a stripped down team
Jaspr's success isn't just about product quality—it's also about how efficiently Feldstein runs his company. Feldstein says employing small, skilled teams gives him an edge, allowing Jaspr to run leagues while providing good service. Larger organizations can often be slowed down by layers of delegation and meetings. In contrast, with a skeleton crew, Jaspr can compete with much larger firms.
Focus on what matters most
Feldstein's business strategy is simple: focus on the essentials and execute with precision. In Jaspr's case, this means improving the quality of the air we breathe. Among his first B2B clients were dentists. Why?
Dental offices “have the worst air by far,” Feldstein says. “They're literally spraying water and air into your mouth and everyone else's blood, saliva, bacteria and viruses.” He says dental offices were scrambling to order his device during the pandemic, with some hygienists refusing to work if Jaspr started to malfunction.
Find premium opportunities with minimal expenses
Feldstein says entrepreneurs should look for business opportunities that offer significant returns without overhead. He says he was inspired by a trip to Austin, Texas, where a skateboard company rakes in millions of dollars each year, leading a tour to see a bat colony at sunset. Their cost of billboards and an AirBnB ad was minimal, but the promise of seeing bats was premium.
“It's $50 per person, and you go on a board with 6 people. So each paddleboard makes $300, there's about 10 paddleboards at the same time, so the guy is making three, four euros an hour, there's like him and another guy,” he says.
Learn how to listen
Feldstein says customer service is a core part of Jaspr's business model. He learned about customer interaction many years ago when he was driving an Uber. That's right—Feldstein had a brief but fascinating stint as an Uber driver before plunging into the air purifier industry.
“I was actually losing $2 an hour,” he laughs.
But he wasn't doing it for the money. He did this to raise money for good causes, to get out of his house and interact with a wide range of people.
“I became an Uber shrink,” he says, guiding his passengers through personal and professional challenges.
Feldstein's journey from disaster chaser to Uber driver to air-cleaning innovator proves that sometimes, a breath of fresh air is all it takes to turn disparate experiences into a million-dollar business.