Matthias Kling & Scarlett Chen: Passion, Partnership, and Pickleball (The Aireo Sports Story) | FRLP 105

In this episode of the Fit Rich Life Podcast, I sit down with Matthias Kling and Scarlett Chen, the cofounders of Aireo Sports, to talk about how a Stanford materials scientist and a global trade entrepreneur came together to build one of the most innovative paddle companies in pickleball.

We dive into the story behind Aireo Sports, how Matthias’ background in physics and materials science pairs with Scarlett’s deep experience in manufacturing and global supply chains, and why they believed they could build better paddles than what was already on the market. 

We also unpack the technology behind the Cyclone and Titan Hawk paddles, how top players think about power, spin, control, grit, and durability, and what it really takes to create meaningful innovation in a fast-growing sport.

This conversation is about much more than pickleball. It is about entrepreneurship, following your curiosity, building something around a real obsession, and the power of community. 

We also talk about the explosive growth of pickleball around the world, Aireo’s sponsored players and ambassadors, and their exciting new partnership as the exclusive sponsor of the Ultimate Pickleball League.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you enjoy your podcast entertainment.

Here's what we get into:

  • How a German kid obsessed with ping pong paddles ended up running X-ray laser experiments at Stanford

  • Why Scarlett's trade data showed pickleball growing 300% — and why she flew to Palo Alto to learn the sport before building for it

  • The actual science behind the Cyclone: pulse foam cores, floating foam suspension, and the nanograph carbon fiber that keeps paddles gritty 4x longer

  • Why most "titanium" paddles on the market aren't actually titanium — and what Aireo did differently with the Titan Hawk

  • How they bootstrapped and self-funded the company in an increasingly expensive sport

  • Their brand new deal as the sole exclusive sponsor of the Ultimate Pickleball League

  • The pros and ambassadors building with them — Levi Daniels, MJ Greiner, Kelly Chen, Lisa Tang, and more

  • Why the community around pickleball might be even more valuable than the sport itself

If you play pickleball, you're going to love this one.

If you don't — stick around anyway. Because this is really a story about two people from completely different worlds, betting on their passion, and building something around a community they love.

That's the magic.

Grab an Aireo paddle at https://www.aireo-sports.com/ and use code DRAGON for a discount on the paddle I use every day.

Check out the Aireo Sports Instagram here.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Aereo Sports and Its Founders

01:16 Matthias Kling's Journey to Stanford and Science

06:15 Scarlett Chen's Background in Global Trade

09:10 The Transition to Pickleball: A Shared Passion

13:25 The Community and Joy of Pickleball

22:02 Innovating Pickleball Paddles: The Aereo Approach

29:02 The Cyclone Paddle: Features and Technology

35:36 Understanding Paddle Technology: Foam Core and Suspension

39:14 Material Science in Paddle Development

41:47 Bootstrapping a Pickleball Company

42:51 Growth Strategies and Brand Awareness

46:58 Innovative Paddle Technologies

51:29 Design and Aesthetics of Paddles

56:55 Understanding Paddle Performance

01:01:35 Player Preferences and Paddle Selection

01:07:17 Sponsorships and Community Engagement

01:13:26 Partnerships and Future Growth

01:17:56 Passion and Entrepreneurship

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Fit Rich Life PodcastJustin David CarlPickleball, Fitness, Entrepreneurship