Tom Aulet

A PEOPLE PERSON AT HEART. From a young age, Tom Aulet has always considered himself a people person. Growing up in Belmont, Massachusetts, in a household with three brothers, he developed a keen sensitivity to group cohesion and social dynamics. “I want people to get along and I want there to be positive energy,” Tom reflects. This skill has not only shaped his interactions but also played a crucial role in identifying the kind of company he wanted to establish.

Today, Tom is the co-founder and CEO of Ergatta, a game-based home fitness company. Ergatta’s flagship product, the Ergatta Rower, offers a competitive and personalized full-body rowing workout through an engaging gaming interface. “We believe the big winners in home fitness will be those who innovate around digital content,” says Tom. Ergatta aims to change the motivation that moves people by providing an experience that’s distinct from traditional instructor-led offerings.

Unlike many founders, Tom wasn’t looking to turn a passion into a business. Instead, he sought a problem that needed solving. Along with his co-founders who are former colleagues, Tom brainstormed numerous ideas before landing on Ergatta. “The idea wasn’t necessarily the best fit for our resumes, but it was the problem we kept coming back to and we were most excited to solve,” he explains. Recognizing the digital media revolution in fitness, Ergatta’s lean into gaming aims to appeal to younger and more introverted individuals. This led to the development of the Ergatta Rower, designed to fit into homes of all sizes and provide an engaging fitness experience through game-based content.

Tom’s journey to co-founding Ergatta starts with a positive experience in high school, a place he felt “happy, extroverted, and a real sense of belonging.” After studying economics and Spanish at Vanderbilt University, he deferred a job for a year to live in Spain, recognizing a desire from within for a challenge and to gain a deeper understanding of himself and the world. “It was the best decision I ever made,” he says.

After returning from Spain, Tom worked in economic consulting before transitioning to the tech industry. He joined MediaMath, an enterprise software platform for programmatic ad buying. “I loved it from the get-go. It was like high school all over again. I felt like I had my people,” Tom says. His seven years at MediaMath were formative, allowing him to build the skills and connections that would later help him in founding Ergatta.

Tom left MediaMath without a concrete plan but with the determination to start his own company. He took some time off, did some consulting, and finally decided to take the leap with his trusted colleagues. The idea for Ergatta emerged from Tom’s personal fitness challenges and recognizing the broader market need for a more engaging and personalized fitness experience. “We found that half the market didn’t want to watch a video of an instructor motivating them verbally. We could solve their needs with the tools of gaming,” Tom explains.

PRIDE IN THE TEAM. Tom’s pride in Ergatta stems from the team he has built. “The people are the most important thing. We’ve built an amazing culture, and I hope and trust we’ve had a positive impact on our people’s lives and careers,” he says. This emphasis on people and culture has attracted a diverse and talented team, creating a supportive and innovative environment at Ergatta. “The more you can bring your whole self to the role, the more people will connect with you and be inspired by you,” he says.

As a first-time founder and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Tom emphasizes how crucial LGBTQIA+ networks like Gaingels and StartOut have been in supporting his journey. “There is such a good network of us out there. You need friends and people to help you,” he advises. For aspiring founders, he offers two pieces of advice: find the right people to start a business with, and fall in love with a problem, not a solution. “Get passionate about a problem that exists, is huge, and that you have some unique insight to bring to the table to solve it.”