The Story (and Inventor) Behind StepDeskTM
StepDesk was developed by Fitnos LLC, a Denver, Colorado-based company, whose mission is to promote personal productivity, health, and wellness.
The innovation behind StepDesk originated with Jesse Jacoby, a 12-year veteran of the business world and a graduate of the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University. Jesse began his entrepreneurial career path in 1997 as the head of marketing for a start-up company that used technology developed for the Human Genome Database to create an online community for capturing expertise and intellectual assets at leading research universities.
Through that experience, Jesse gained an appreciation for the innovation process—how new technologies evolve through phases of ideation, intellectual property, research and development, and ultimately to commercialization. He parlayed his start-up experience into a successful career as a management consultant, advising Fortune 500 companies on business strategy. While he enjoyed consulting, Jesse found himself spending long hours traveling, sitting behind a desk, and working on a computer. This lifestyle made it difficult to find time for exercise.
It was during this period, in 2005, that Jesse had his “Eureka!” moment. He envisioned a portable desk that could temporarily attach to a treadmill, enabling him to walk while he worked on his laptop computer. He built the first prototype for use on his home treadmill and was amazed to discover how easy it was to walk and work at the same time. At that moment StepDesk was born and Jesse became an irrepressible champion for the new activity he dubbed “work-walking.”
Realizing others might benefit from his portable treadmill desk solution, Jesse conducted preliminary research to assess consumer interest in StepDesk. His findings revealed strong interest from potential users of the product and a significant market of treadmill owners and fitness walkers. Jesse founded Fitnos LLC to develop the production version of StepDesk and make it available to consumers and institutions.
When not traveling, Jesse enjoys outdoor activities in his hometown of Denver, CO. He maintains close ties to The Johns Hopkins University and serves as an advisor on the university Alumni Council. Johns Hopkins magazine recently recognized Jesse as an innovator and a “savvy agent of change.”
