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How On turned garden hoses and Halloween videos into a $4 billion sports brand

Fast Company Tech Robert Safian September 17, 2026
How On turned garden hoses and Halloween videos into a $4 billion sports brand
AI Summary— plain English for professionals

# On's Path to Becoming a Premium Sports Brand On, a sneaker company that started with an innovative shoe sole design, has grown into a $4 billion business and is now positioning itself as a premium global sports brand focused on innovation and design. The company's cofounder says the best is yet to come, and they're investing in cutting-edge manufacturing technology like robotic spray systems to stay ahead of competitors like Nike. Their strategy mirrors how other athletic brands succeeded—starting with a unique product innovation and expanding into a complete lifestyle brand that gets people excited about sports.

Over the course of 16 years, David Allemann, cofounder and co-CEO of On, helped build a $4 billion sports brand with a garden hose, a Roger Federer dinner, and a young designer who watched a Halloween YouTube video. But he says the defining decade for On is still ahead. He breaks down what the first

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