#218: Developing an Award-Winning Audio Innovation & Technology Company with Eric Johnson, USNA ‘81

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Number one, don’t give up. Number two, think outside of the box. And, number three, build a strong team. If you have those three things working for you and a half-decent idea, you’ve got a good chance of making it.”</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">- Eric Johnson (USNA ‘81)</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eric Johnson is CEO and Director at HELM Audio,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">a company focused on audio innovation. HELM Audio was founded in 2017 by a proven team of product developers, marketing strategists, industry veterans, and musicians who also happened to be great friends. With a passion for audio gear, great music, and the deep know-how needed to build world-class cutting-edge products, Eric and his team set out to fill a vast market gap with an ambitious brand born for music lovers who desire immersive audio with ultramodern freedom and functionality at a tremendous value. Prior to his career in technology, Eric served in the U.S. Navy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, we discuss:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The origin story of HELM Audio</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">HELM Audio’s best-selling products and who their end users are</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Why HELM Audio has a competitive advantage in the marketplace</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">How HELM Audio is using its technology to help first responders and individuals with hearing loss</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Valuable lessons learned from growing a company </span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eric also shares what led him to his role at HELM and tells us some of his current goals and challenges. We enjoyed hearing ho