Episode 94 with Ashton Hampshire of SafeStride

In this episode of the Can Report, host Mike Goldstein interviews Ashton Hampshire, a 19-year-old entrepreneur and college student from Arizona. Ashton shares his journey of developing Safe Stride, a firefighter safety product designed to improve visibility in smoky environments and on roadways. Inspired by his father's career as a fire chief, Ashton discusses the alarming statistics of firefighter fatalities due to visibility issues and how his product aims to address this critical problem. He recently participated in a Shark Tank-style competition at his university, where he earned recognition for his innovative approach to firefighter safety.The conversation delves into the challenges Ashton faces as a young entrepreneur, including product development, testing, and the importance of feedback from firefighters. He emphasizes the need for proactive visibility solutions, especially in dangerous situations like roadside incidents. The episode also touches on the negativity that can arise in the fire service community regarding new ideas and products, highlighting the importance of constructive criticism and support for innovation. Ashton's passion for making a difference in the fire service shines through, making this episode both inspiring and informative for listeners interested in entrepreneurship and firefighter safety.Takeaways"I knew that I wanted to do something with firefighters because I grew up around it so much.""There's been over 500 deaths in firefighters because they're not seen on the side of the road.""The hope is that mine will be a little bit more serious than that with it being fireproof, waterproof, and rechargeable.""I figured there needed to be something to address that part of your body.""I just want to help people, like I...""It's interesting seeing that level of hate from firefighters when a lot of times firefighters are the ones that are looked up to.""If you believe what you're doing is going to help somebody, keep doing it.""I want to get on Shark Tank. That'd be awesome.""I have a provisional patent, by the way.""The biggest part of Safe Stride is that it just increases accountability, like all around."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ashton Hampshire01:49 The Inspiration Behind Safe Stride02:55 Developing the Product: Challenges and Innovations09:02 Shark Tank Competition Experience13:08 Feedback from Firefighters and Testing Plans18:21 Addressing Concerns About Visibility in Smoke22:17 The Importance of Positive Feedback and Support26:02 Navigating Negativity in the Fire Service34:04 Navigating Negativity in Firefighting35:59 The Importance of Innovation and Safety37:48 Visibility Challenges for Firefighters42:26 The Role of Technology in Firefighter Safety46:55 Future Innovations and Entrepreneurial Aspirations52:49 Closing Thoughts on Community and Supporthttps://thekitchentablefoundation.org/https://www.enginehousedesigns.com/https://www.thecanreportpodcast.com/https://safestride.us/