In this episode of the Life of Flow Podcast, we talk with Mathias Ihlenfeld, an Austin-based entrepreneur, coach, and founder of Woom Bikes USA.
Mathias shares how he went from landing in the U.S. with a tennis racket and a dream to building one of the country’s leading children’s bike brands. He reflects on what it takes to start over, listen to change when it calls, and channel energy into building something that lasts.
🎧 This episode dives into the work behind reinvention. How clarity, conviction, and persistence can turn a single idea into a purpose-driven business that grows with heart.
02:00 From Frankfurt to Louisiana: finding home in a new country
04:55 How moving between U.S. states felt like crossing countries
08:30 The power of reinvention and why resilience matters
11:20 From corporate consulting to founding Woom
14:35 The subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs it’s time to change course
16:50 The “hero’s journey” and how it shows up in real life
22:05 From selling 13 bikes to leading a multimillion-dollar company
23:40 Creating a brand that connects with families everywhere
25:10 Energy, focus, and passion: what drives sustainable growth
28:38 Balancing two careers, family, and the long view of success
💡 Who Should Listen
For founders, builders, and anyone standing at a crossroads. This episode speaks to those who want to grow with purpose and are ready to rebuild their next chapter with intention.
About Mathias
Mathias Ihlenfeld is an award-winning entrepreneur, the Austin, TX Cohort Leader and Coach for the Birthing of Giants Regional Cohort, a selective fellowship program for growth-focused founders and CEOs building high-impact companies. He is also the creator of The R.E.C.L.A.I.M. Code (Elite Personal Optimization Framework for divorced high performers).
His proprietary 6-stage framework helps divorced founders rebuild identity, attract aligned love, and ignite purpose-driven business performance. As the founder of Woom Bikes USA, Mathias built one of North America’s fastest-growing direct-to-consumer kids’ bike companies, earning multiple Inc. 5000 honors, including a 742% three-year growth rate in 2020, and recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.
In 2021, he played a pivotal role in merging the U.S. and European operations, leading the combined $100M global business as CEO in 2022 and 2023. His leadership has been recognized with honors such as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and the Vistage Impact Leadership Award.
Through his coaching practice, he works with founders, executives, and high-achieving men navigating personal reinvention, guiding them through identity rebuilding, emotional mastery, business growth, and relationship alignment. Today, Mathias mentors with SKU, invests in purpose-driven brands, and writes on his Substack, sharing hard-earned lessons, strategic insight, and stories from his journey building global brands and leading life transformations.
Connect with Mathias
📲 Instagram: @sundaygog
💼 LinkedIn: Mathias Ihlenfeld
🌐 MentorPass: mentorpass.co/mathiasihlenfeld
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