Yurbuds

Yurbuds was established in 2008 to address a common frustration among athletes: earphones that were painful and prone to falling out during workouts. The company was the brainchild of Seth Burgett, an active Ironman triathlete, and Richard Daniels, a 25-time marathoner, who leveraged their personal athletic experiences to create a solution. Burgett's background in mechanical engineering and experience with medical device startups provided a strong foundation for developing an ergonomic fix. The company's initial venture, Verto Medical Solutions, aimed to use digital ear scanning for custom-fit earbuds, a concept that evolved into Yurbuds.

The firm's core business revolves around designing and selling in-the-ear and behind-the-ear headphones specifically for the athletic market. Yurbuds caters to runners, cyclists, and general fitness enthusiasts who require durable, sweat-proof audio equipment that remains comfortable and secure during intense physical activity. The company's primary product is a line of sport earphones featuring a patented TwistLock™ technology, designed to fit securely in the ear canal without causing discomfort by avoiding nerve-rich areas. A key feature is their design which allows for ambient noise awareness, a critical safety consideration for outdoor athletes. The product lineup included both wired and wireless models, with some featuring tangle-free magnets and in-line controls for music and calls.

Yurbuds operated on a direct-to-consumer model through its website and also established a significant retail presence. The business rapidly gained traction, securing distribution in 19,000 points of sale, including major retailers like Best Buy and sporting goods stores. This growth was supported by a robust intellectual property portfolio of over 60 patents and 70 trademarks. In June 2014, Harman International Industries, a global audio and infotainment group, acquired Yurbuds for an undisclosed amount. Following the acquisition, the Yurbuds brand was integrated into Harman's Lifestyle Division, and its products were enhanced with JBL's signature sound, being marketed as "Yurbuds powered by JBL".

Keywords: sport headphones, athletic earphones, ergonomic earbuds, TwistLock technology, sweat-proof headphones, secure-fit earbuds, runner's headphones, fitness audio, Seth Burgett, Richard Daniels, Harman International, JBL audio, ambient sound awareness, marathon runner, triathlete gear, workout headphones, comfortable earbuds, in-ear headphones, sports electronics, audio equipment