storytelling with data podcast · storytelling with data

storytelling with data podcast: #88: swimmer, startup, storyteller with fares ksebati

·50 min

Randy hosts Ferris Sabati, YouTube personality and MySwimPro founder, at a company retreat in Antalya, Turkey. Ferris shares his path from non-elite Michigan swimmer to tech founder: inspired by 2008 Olympics at age 16, competed as college walk-on, became data obsessed, and eventually coached masters swimmers at 5 AM. The key moment came when a swimmer directly asked him to build a training plan and offered to pay—validating his hunch that swimming training apps didn't exist. Rather than code first, Ferris built a landing page and pre-sold to 250+ customers at $1-250/month, proving market demand. He then partnered with Adam (CTO) and Mike to build an MVP with 3 difficulty levels and 24 PDF workouts. The app became App of the Year and was featured in Tim Cook's keynote. Ferris reflects on personality traits (high energy, cross-group fluidity, relentless curiosity) and his parents' complementary influence (analytical scientist father, artist mother) that shaped his ability to bridge data and creativity in building products.

As heard by us

A founder story about coaching, access, and turning one real problem into MySwimPro.

This piece treats swimming as a teaching problem, not just a race story. Its strongest thread is the founder's path from solving one person's problem to seeing a business shape around coaching and improvement.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You hear how a swim coach turned a real problem into a mission-led app.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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