Inside Our Journey: Building MSP—How Listening Shaped Our Motion Sports Platform
When we first started dreaming up MSP (Motion Sports Platform)—a sensor node platform for ultra-high-performance MEMS motion and pressure sensors—we knew success rested on understanding the real needs of the people at the heart of sports. So, rather than guessing, we hit the ground running.
Our teams went out and got their hands dirty. We spoke to a broad spectrum of stakeholders—kids aged five, their parents, coaches, schools, ground staff, sports shop owners, distributors, and even athletes in their eighties. We wanted to immerse ourselves in their world; we set out to discover what truly motivates each person in the sporting ecosystem.
Rule #1: Let Customers Speak Freely
We designed the entire exercise as a free-wheeling ‘Voice of Customer’ session. Our top rule? Let the customers speak. The magic happens when the conversation goes beyond our product; when interviewees start telling us about their lives, their problems, their aspirations—and how (or if) our platform fits in. Only then can we build something that genuinely solves their challenges.
Rule #2: Make Experiences, Not Just Promises
Words can only say so much. That’s why our second rule is: make them experience a prototype. We put our early builds directly into their hands. Whether it was a coach, a parent, or a young athlete, seeing their reactions to real-world use gave us insights no questionnaire ever could. Experiencing something firsthand—feeling the difference, sensing the value—creates authentic feedback.
Rule #3: The Controversial Experiment—Let Them Sell It
Here’s where things got interesting. We broke from tradition and asked our stakeholders, after trying the platform, to pitch it to others. Could they sell the idea themselves? Their words, their way. This was eye-opening: we learned which features lit them up, which parts confused, and which messages resonated across the community. It told us how our users would advocate—or struggle to, which is equally valuable.
How One Parent’s Honesty Revolutionized Our Sports Wearable
Sometimes, the most profound insights come from the most unexpected places. During one of our Voice of Customer sessions for MSP, our Motion Sports Platform, I witnessed a moment that forever changed how we designed our product.
A parent was quietly watching her toddler practice tennis. She graciously agreed to try our prototype—a sleek sports wearable. Like most people, she praised the innovation as she turned it over in her hands, curious about the adjustable strap and reassured when we showed her how it could fit her child.
She wasn’t fazed by our camera, and spoke with unusual candor—something most people shy away from when being recorded. But then came the real turning point. We mentioned the price: ₹7000. Instantaneously, she shared a concern that cut right to the heart of the matter.
“My child has evolving interests—six months it’s tennis, next it’s cricket, then something else. If I buy this, it’ll be useless in six months.”
That sentence hit hard. It was honest, it was thoughtful, and it was absolutely true—not just for her child but for countless young athletes. Even the most dedicated cricketer dabbles in football, swimming, or cycling. Why should a smart wearable be limited by a single sport?
Her insight sparked a cascade of innovation. We went back to the drawing board and reimagined our device. The sensor became removable. Straps could now fit not just wrists, but ankles or even sports equipment. With a few tweaks to our algorithm and the app, the encasing evolved into a versatile module—the sensor could move from tennis racquet to cricket bat to football boot, adapting to any sport, any age, any interest.
Testing this flexibility with families and athletes made our design come alive. That one honest moment of feedback became the intelligence we needed—not just to improve the product, but to reshape how we sold it.
Sometimes, all it takes is a brave parent and a simple sentence to change everything. That’s the magic of listening, and it’s why real-world feedback will always be our greatest asset as a startup