Kyle Yugawa

You absolutely need to hear about Kyle Yugawa. The dude’s the real deal in the startup world, and his story is pure fire. So, he’s a YC alum, was in the S21 batch, which already shows he’s got that grit and ambition. But what really sets him apart is his process through the fitness and tech space, and how he’s been crushing it across the board.

Kyle’s been around the block with some heavy hitters. He’s worked at Strava for like seven years, that’s where he really cut his teeth. He led the creation of Strava’s first mobile apps and some of their key analytics features. Basically, he helped turn Strava into the beast it is today, the go-to app for athletes, especially cyclists and runners. That’s no small feat. It shows he’s got the technical chops but also understands how to build products that people actually use and love.

Before Strava, he was at companies like VSCO and Tempo, rocking product and design leadership roles. Plus, he’s got some serious agency creds, worked with Tesla, Nike, Apple at Odopod, AKQA, and ATTIK. Dude’s been in the trenches designing for some of the biggest brands out there, so he’s no stranger to big visions and tight execution.

Then, he co-founded The Breakaway, which is a cycling training platform, think personalized coaching and ride analytics. The cool part? They jumped into YC’s 2021 batch, raised almost 3 million bucks from top investors, and then, get this, Strava acquired The Breakaway in 2025. Yeah, he crushed it so hard that a giant like Strava came knocking.

So, what’s the vibe here? Kyle’s all about pushing boundaries, from big brands to building something new, something that actually changes the game. His whole process screams he’s super passionate about fitness tech, always looking for ways to make athletes’ lives better with smart, sleek products. His experience isn’t just about coding or design, it’s about understanding what users want, making it happen, and then scaling that shit.

Bottom line? Kyle is a builder, a thinker, and a doer. He’s not just riding the wave; he’s creating it. His story is proof that if you’re relentless, love what you do, and aren’t afraid to jump into the deep end, you can turn your passion into something massive. No cap, he’s one to watch, the kind of founder who’s gonna keep pushing the boundaries of tech and fitness for years to come.