Curt Richardson
Curt Richardson was a guest on the How I Built This podcast, where he discussed OtterBox, the brand featured on the show.
Curt Richardson's Bio
Curt Richardson founded OtterBox in 1998 after building the first water-resistant prototype in his garage in 1991. Under his leadership, the Fort Collins company evolved from a niche watertight container maker into a global leader in mobile-device protection, adding iPod cases in 2001 and expanding to smartphone cases for every major carrier. Richardson credits Michael Gerber's "E-Myth" with shaping his approach to building systems around the founder's initial vision, allowing OtterBox to scale beyond his garage without losing its product-obsessed culture.
He remained actively involved as chairman and continued to influence product direction as the brand reached millions of customers worldwide. Richardson's philosophy centered on durable design and understanding real-world use cases, which kept OtterBox ahead of competitors who often prioritized fashion over function.
When he joined the Advice Line in 2026, Richardson brought thirty years of founder experience to three very different scaling problems. His core message was that the hardest question for any founder is not about tactics but about what they truly want, because that answer comes from the heart, not the head.
Career Timeline
1991 — Built first OtterBox water-resistant prototype
Constructed the initial OtterBox in his garage after noticing growing popularity of water sports and the need for durable protective containers.
1998 — Founded OtterBox
Officially launched OtterBox in Fort Collins, Colorado, turning the garage prototype into a manufacturing business focused on waterproof cases.
2001 — Expanded into iPod protection
Pivoted part of the product line to iPod cases as Apple's music player took off, demonstrating ability to adapt to new consumer electronics trends.
2019 — Featured on How I Built This
Joined Guy Raz on the Advice Line to share decades of product-building experience and the challenges of sustaining a leading tech-accessories brand for over 30 years.