This Startup Plans to Save a Million Lives Using Your Toilet | Entrepreneurship | How We Profit | E7
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Scott Hickle built Throne Science around a startup idea most investors thought was too unconventional: a device that transforms your toilet into a health tracker, monitoring your health as effortlessly as a smartwatch. After nearly 100 investor rejections, he and his team kept refining the product, driven by a mission to detect early signs of diseases like colorectal cancer before symptoms appear. That persistence helped them raise $4 million in seed funding. In this episode, Scott shares how entrepreneurs can validate unconventional products, raise capital despite rejection, and build demand in a market consumers don't yet understand.
In this episode, Hala and Scott will discuss:
- (00:00) Introduction
- (01:27) How Throne’s Smart Toilet Device Works
- (07:56) Throne’s Mission to Detect Cancer Early
- (17:22) Launching Throne in a New Product Category
- (23:55) Pivoting Away From a Failed Nurse-Staffing Startup
- (32:27) How Scott Raised Millions After Pivoting
- (42:35) Marketing a Product Customers Don’t Understand Yet
- (49:46) Lessons From Scott’s Costliest Business Mistakes
- (1:00:03) Throne Science’s SWOT Analysis
- (1:08:37) Smart Toilet Costs, Pricing, and Margins
- (1:13:14) Building a Mission-Driven Hardware Startup
Scott Hickle is the co-founder and CEO of Throne Science, a health technology company building a device that attaches to a toilet and tracks gut health, hydration, bathroom habits, and prostate health. Before Throne, Scott and his co-founder, Tim, built a nurse-staffing marketplace called Pineway before pivoting into consumer health hardware. Throne’s long-term mission is to develop technology that can help detect early signs of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and other cancers of the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.
Sponsored By:
Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility atIndeed.com/profiting
Shopify - Start your $1/month trial atShopify.com/profiting.
Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.
Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.
AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.
Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
Resources Mentioned:
Scott’s Company, Throne Science: thronescience.com
Scott’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scotthickle
Scott’s Instagram: instagram.com/scotthickle/
Scott’s Twitter: x.com/ScottHickle
Active Deals -youngandprofiting.com/deals
Key YAP Links
Reviews -ratethispodcast.com/yap
YouTube -youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting
Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter
LinkedIn -linkedin.com/in/htaha/
Instagram -instagram.com/yapwithhala/
Social + Podcast Services:yapmedia.com
Transcripts -youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new
Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking
Raw Description
<p>Scott Hickle built Throne Science around a startup idea most investors thought was too unconventional: a device that transforms your toilet into a health tracker, monitoring your health as effortlessly as a smartwatch. After nearly 100 investor rejections, he and his team kept refining the product, driven by a mission to detect early signs of diseases like colorectal cancer before symptoms appear. That persistence helped them raise $4 million in seed funding. In this episode, Scott shares how entrepreneurs can validate unconventional products, raise capital despite rejection, and build demand in a market consumers don't yet understand.</p> <p><strong>In this episode, Hala and Scott will discuss: </strong></p> <p>(00:00) Introduction</p> <p>(01:27) How Throne’s Smart Toilet Device Works</p> <p>(07:56) Throne’s Mission to Detect Cancer Early</p> <p>(17:22) Launching Throne in a New Product Category</p> <p>(23:55) Pivoting Away From a Failed Nurse-Staffing Startup</p> <p>(32:27) How Scott Raised Millions After Pivoting</p> <p>(42:35) Marketing a Product Customers Don’t Understand Yet</p> <p>(49:46) Lessons From Scott’s Costliest Business Mistakes</p> <p>(1:00:03) Throne Science’s SWOT Analysis</p> <p>(1:08:37) Smart Toilet Costs, Pricing, and Margins</p> <p>(1:13:14) Building a Mission-Driven Hardware Startup </p> <p><strong>Scott Hickle</strong> is the co-founder and CEO of Throne Science, a health technology company building a device that attaches to a toilet and tracks gut health, hydration, bathroom habits, and prostate health. Before Throne, Scott and his co-founder, Tim, built a nurse-staffing marketplace called Pineway before pivoting into consumer health hardware. Throne’s long-term mission is to develop technology that can help detect early signs of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and other cancers of the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. </p> <p><strong>Sponsored By:</strong></p> <p><strong>Indeed</strong> - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at<a href="http://indeed.com/profiting"> Indeed.com/profiting</a></p> <p><strong>Shopify</strong> - Start your $1/month trial at<a href="http://shopify.com/profiting"> Shopify.com/profiting</a>.</p> <p><strong>Northwest Registered Agent </strong>- Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit <a href="http://northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree"><u>northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree</u></a> and start using free resources to build something amazing. </p> <p><strong>Mindstone</strong> - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to <a href="http://experience.mindstone.com/yap"><u>experience.mindstone.com/yap</u></a> and get 10% off. </p> <p><strong>AT&T</strong> - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at <a href="http://business.att.com"><u>business.att.com</u></a>. </p> <p><strong>Quince</strong> - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to <a href="http://quince.com/profiting"><u>Quince.com/profiting</u></a> for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Resources Mentioned:</strong></p> <p>Scott’s Company, <em>Throne Science</em>: <a href="https://thronescience.com"><u>thronescience.com</u></a> </p> <p>Scott’s LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthickle"><u>linkedin.com/in/scotthickle</u></a> </p> <p>Scott’s Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scotthickle/"><u>instagram.com/scotthickle/</u></a> </p> <p>Scott’s Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/ScottHickle"><u>x.com/ScottHickle</u></a> </p> <p><strong>Active Deals</strong> -<a href="http://youngandprofiting.com/deals"> <u>youngandprofiting.com/deals</u></a> </p> <p><strong>Key YAP Links</strong></p> <p>Reviews -<a href="http://ratethispodcast.com/yap"> <u>ratethispodcast.com/yap</u></a></p> <p>YouTube -<a href="http://youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting"> <u>youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting</u></a></p> <p>Newsletter - <a href="http://youngandprofiting.co/newsletter"><u>youngandprofiting.co/newsletter</u></a> </p> <p>LinkedIn -<a href="http://linkedin.com/in/htaha/"> <u>linkedin.com/in/htaha/</u></a></p> <p>Instagram -<a href="http://instagram.com/yapwithhala/"> <u>instagram.com/yapwithhala/</u></a></p> <p>Social + Podcast Services:<a href="http://www.yapmedia.com"> <u>yapmedia.com</u></a></p> <p>Transcripts -<a href="http://youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new"> <u>youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new</u></a> </p> <p>Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking</p>
Chapters (1/11)
Show Notes
Scott Hickle built Throne Science around a startup idea most investors thought was too unconventional: a device that transforms your toilet into a health tracker, monitoring your health as effortlessly as a smartwatch. After nearly 100 investor rejections, he and his team kept refining the product, driven by a mission to detect early signs of diseases like colorectal cancer before symptoms appear. That persistence helped them raise $4 million in seed funding. In this episode, Scott shares how entrepreneurs can validate unconventional products, raise capital despite rejection, and build demand in a market consumers don't yet understand.
In this episode, Hala and Scott will discuss:
- (00:00) Introduction
- (01:27) How Throne’s Smart Toilet Device Works
- (07:56) Throne’s Mission to Detect Cancer Early
- (17:22) Launching Throne in a New Product Category
- (23:55) Pivoting Away From a Failed Nurse-Staffing Startup
- (32:27) How Scott Raised Millions After Pivoting
- (42:35) Marketing a Product Customers Don’t Understand Yet
- (49:46) Lessons From Scott’s Costliest Business Mistakes
- (1:00:03) Throne Science’s SWOT Analysis
- (1:08:37) Smart Toilet Costs, Pricing, and Margins
- (1:13:14) Building a Mission-Driven Hardware Startup
Scott Hickle is the co-founder and CEO of Throne Science, a health technology company building a device that attaches to a toilet and tracks gut health, hydration, bathroom habits, and prostate health. Before Throne, Scott and his co-founder, Tim, built a nurse-staffing marketplace called Pineway before pivoting into consumer health hardware. Throne’s long-term mission is to develop technology that can help detect early signs of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and other cancers of the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.
Sponsored By:
Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility atIndeed.com/profiting
Shopify - Start your $1/month trial atShopify.com/profiting.
Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.
Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.
AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.
Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
Resources Mentioned:
Scott’s Company, Throne Science: thronescience.com
Scott’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scotthickle
Scott’s Instagram: instagram.com/scotthickle/
Scott’s Twitter: x.com/ScottHickle
Active Deals -youngandprofiting.com/deals
Key YAP Links
Reviews -ratethispodcast.com/yap
YouTube -youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting
Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter
LinkedIn -linkedin.com/in/htaha/
Instagram -instagram.com/yapwithhala/
Social + Podcast Services:yapmedia.com
Transcripts -youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new
Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking
Raw Description
<p>Scott Hickle built Throne Science around a startup idea most investors thought was too unconventional: a device that transforms your toilet into a health tracker, monitoring your health as effortlessly as a smartwatch. After nearly 100 investor rejections, he and his team kept refining the product, driven by a mission to detect early signs of diseases like colorectal cancer before symptoms appear. That persistence helped them raise $4 million in seed funding. In this episode, Scott shares how entrepreneurs can validate unconventional products, raise capital despite rejection, and build demand in a market consumers don't yet understand.</p> <p><strong>In this episode, Hala and Scott will discuss: </strong></p> <p>(00:00) Introduction</p> <p>(01:27) How Throne’s Smart Toilet Device Works</p> <p>(07:56) Throne’s Mission to Detect Cancer Early</p> <p>(17:22) Launching Throne in a New Product Category</p> <p>(23:55) Pivoting Away From a Failed Nurse-Staffing Startup</p> <p>(32:27) How Scott Raised Millions After Pivoting</p> <p>(42:35) Marketing a Product Customers Don’t Understand Yet</p> <p>(49:46) Lessons From Scott’s Costliest Business Mistakes</p> <p>(1:00:03) Throne Science’s SWOT Analysis</p> <p>(1:08:37) Smart Toilet Costs, Pricing, and Margins</p> <p>(1:13:14) Building a Mission-Driven Hardware Startup </p> <p><strong>Scott Hickle</strong> is the co-founder and CEO of Throne Science, a health technology company building a device that attaches to a toilet and tracks gut health, hydration, bathroom habits, and prostate health. Before Throne, Scott and his co-founder, Tim, built a nurse-staffing marketplace called Pineway before pivoting into consumer health hardware. Throne’s long-term mission is to develop technology that can help detect early signs of colon cancer, bladder cancer, and other cancers of the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. </p> <p><strong>Sponsored By:</strong></p> <p><strong>Indeed</strong> - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at<a href="http://indeed.com/profiting"> Indeed.com/profiting</a></p> <p><strong>Shopify</strong> - Start your $1/month trial at<a href="http://shopify.com/profiting"> Shopify.com/profiting</a>.</p> <p><strong>Northwest Registered Agent </strong>- Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit <a href="http://northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree"><u>northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree</u></a> and start using free resources to build something amazing. </p> <p><strong>Mindstone</strong> - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to <a href="http://experience.mindstone.com/yap"><u>experience.mindstone.com/yap</u></a> and get 10% off. </p> <p><strong>AT&T</strong> - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at <a href="http://business.att.com"><u>business.att.com</u></a>. </p> <p><strong>Quince</strong> - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to <a href="http://quince.com/profiting"><u>Quince.com/profiting</u></a> for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Resources Mentioned:</strong></p> <p>Scott’s Company, <em>Throne Science</em>: <a href="https://thronescience.com"><u>thronescience.com</u></a> </p> <p>Scott’s LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthickle"><u>linkedin.com/in/scotthickle</u></a> </p> <p>Scott’s Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scotthickle/"><u>instagram.com/scotthickle/</u></a> </p> <p>Scott’s Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/ScottHickle"><u>x.com/ScottHickle</u></a> </p> <p><strong>Active Deals</strong> -<a href="http://youngandprofiting.com/deals"> <u>youngandprofiting.com/deals</u></a> </p> <p><strong>Key YAP Links</strong></p> <p>Reviews -<a href="http://ratethispodcast.com/yap"> <u>ratethispodcast.com/yap</u></a></p> <p>YouTube -<a href="http://youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting"> <u>youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting</u></a></p> <p>Newsletter - <a href="http://youngandprofiting.co/newsletter"><u>youngandprofiting.co/newsletter</u></a> </p> <p>LinkedIn -<a href="http://linkedin.com/in/htaha/"> <u>linkedin.com/in/htaha/</u></a></p> <p>Instagram -<a href="http://instagram.com/yapwithhala/"> <u>instagram.com/yapwithhala/</u></a></p> <p>Social + Podcast Services:<a href="http://www.yapmedia.com"> <u>yapmedia.com</u></a></p> <p>Transcripts -<a href="http://youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new"> <u>youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new</u></a> </p> <p>Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking</p>