Minimis: Declaring War on Garmin - The Pitch Recap

Podcast: The Pitch

Published: 2026-02-25

Duration: 42 min

Summary

Minimus is seeking $2 million to launch their standalone AR glasses for runners and cyclists, designed to keep users focused on the road while accessing crucial stats. The co-founders, Joe and Paul, aim to disrupt the market traditionally dominated by devices like Garmin.

What Happened

In this episode of The Pitch, co-founders Joe and Paul present Minimus, a startup developing innovative augmented reality glasses for athletes. The glasses aim to eliminate the need for runners and cyclists to look down at their watches or phones for stats, thus enhancing safety and performance. Joe shares a personal story about a near miss while riding, highlighting the dangers of distracted navigation. With the glasses, users can see their heart rate, speed, and other metrics in their line of sight, allowing for a more intuitive experience.

The investors, including Charles Hudson and Elizabeth Yin, express their excitement and skepticism about the product. They engage with Joe and Paul, asking direct questions about the product's functionality and market competition. One key concern raised is the potential threat from major players like Apple, but Joe reassures them that their design and target market are distinct enough to carve out their niche. They have already pre-sold $100,000 worth of glasses and generated $500,000 from a separate software product, demonstrating early traction and interest.

As the pitch progresses, Joe and Paul showcase a prototype of the glasses, allowing investors to experience the augmented reality features. The glasses provide real-time data without obstructing the user's view, a revolutionary concept for fitness enthusiasts. The investors are intrigued but cautious, weighing the innovative aspects against the challenges of entering a competitive market.

Key Insights

Key Questions Answered

What is the unique selling proposition of Minimus glasses?

Minimus glasses offer a fully standalone augmented reality solution that allows athletes to view real-time stats without looking down at their devices. Unlike traditional wearables that require users to glance at their watches or phones, these glasses integrate essential data like heart rate and distance directly into the user's field of vision.

How has Minimus validated its market demand?

Minimus has pre-sold $100,000 worth of glasses and has also seen success with a separate software product that generated $500,000 in revenue over 18 months. This early traction not only reflects customer interest but also demonstrates the potential market for their AR technology.

What concerns do investors have regarding Minimus?

Investors like Jesse Middleton express concern over competition, particularly from large tech companies such as Apple, which could potentially release their own AR glasses. However, Joe reassures them that their product's design and user feedback suggest a unique market position that differs from general consumer needs.

What experiences led to the creation of Minimus glasses?

Joe's personal experience of narrowly avoiding a crash while trying to navigate via his phone while cycling sparked the idea for Minimus glasses. This incident highlighted the common issue of distracted navigation among athletes, prompting the development of a safer solution that keeps essential information within the user's line of sight.

What are the key features of the Minimus Flow AR glasses?

The Minimus Flow AR glasses are designed to provide a comprehensive heads-up display of critical metrics such as heart rate, speed, and navigation without requiring users to look away from their path. They are fully standalone, meaning they do not need to be connected to a smartphone, making them more user-friendly and practical for active individuals.