Meet Matthew Grunwald | Owner of FABbot Engineering

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew Grunwald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My background is in engineering, so it was kind of an accident. I just enjoy solving problems and making cool stuff. When people wanted to buy my stuff, I figured “sure, why not!”. When I started selling one product, I would find other problems to solve, and then started selling that stuff. It just grew from there.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our business is designing and manufacturing after market performance parts for automotive enthusiasts on a budget. We bring innovative high end solutions, with great customer service, at affordable prices. We pride ourselves in thinking outside the box and using our extensive knowledge of manufacturing to bring new innovative and economical solutions.

At first, the business was easy. We had a solution to a problem that came extremely popular, and I could take care of the orders at night once I got home from my day job. It was simple and we got some extra income. Win-win! As things progressed and we brought on employees, and I quit my full time job so this became my livelihood, things got more complicated. Coming up with new products in a timely manner, getting shipments out within customers expectations, and dealing with the additional expenses of running a business became some of the new challenges that I soon had to face as the business grew.

Major lesson we’ve learned along the way: Don’t rush the process. Some products and ideas will grow faster than you can keep up with, while most take time to develop awareness. Just because it doesn’t take off right away, doesn’t mean it won’t be a good product or good idea.

Another big lesson we’ve learned is really managing funds and investment opportunities. It is pretty easy when you have a good idea to throw everything you have at it, but it can definitely cost you in the long run if you are not set up to follow that idea all the way to production. Products like ours take a long time from the point of ideation to the point of profitability. If you can’t float the investment cost over this period, it can really sink you.

Finally – one of the most valuable and hardest lessons to learn is to be slow to hire and quick to fire. Bringing on valuable employees can be pivotal to the success of a business. If you can’t support them, it can be a detriment. If you have an employee that you feel is paramount to the companies success, make sure to validate those feelings with actual performance data. There is no room for feelings in this game.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We just finished moving from Minnesota to Arizona, so we are still pretty new to the area. I got my engineering degree at ASU, so I did spend a little time here during college. I know a few spots that I really enjoy. -One of my favorite places to eat is Cheba Hut. There is a few of them across the valley and they have the best sandwiches on the planet.
-For entertainment, if it’s a Saturday night, I would take them to the Pavilions in Scottsdale. It’s a car show that happens every Saturday night and has everything from old classics to modern exotics. It is a really good time.
-If it’s hot and you are trying to get out of the heat, there is a little town north of the valley called Forest Lakes. The scenery is not what you would expect from typical Arizona, as it has many large pine trees and beautiful lakes. It is great for camping and off-roading.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First off I’d like to thank my wife – for putting up with all of my crazy ideas over the years. She supported me quitting my cushy engineering job to chase this crazy dream. She helped grow this business to what it is today, all while working her full time day job and raising our two daughters. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without her.

I’d also like to thank Luke Salin – not only for being such a supportive friend, but for agreeing to also quit his cushy job and jump into this start up with me. He knew the risks that came with starting a business, but he believed in my vision and dove in with me.

Finally I’d like to thank all of my family – for always being my sounding board that I can bring my ideas and dreams to.

Website: www.fabbotfab.com

Instagram: @fabbotfab

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabbotfab