Press contact
Stephan Aarstol
Founder & CEO, Tower
(858) 733-1055
Press Highlights
The Billionaire's E-Bike
Co-owned by Mark Cuban, Tower Electric Bikes is a direct to consumer brand launched to fill the brand void in the hyper-growth $30B eBike market by developing the world's first famous eBike brand. By selling direct to consumer only, Tower sells comparable quality eBikes at half of what they go for in retail.
One of Shark Tank's Biggest Success Stories
With only $100K in lifetime sales at the point of Mark Cuban's $150K investment on season 3 of Shark Tank, Tower has gone on to do over $36M+ in sales, making them not only Mark Cuban's best investment in the history of the show, but one of the biggest success stories in Shark Tank history. In 2014, Tower was named the #1 fastest growing private company in San Diego. In 2015, Tower ranked #239 on the INC 500 list of America's fastest growing companies.
Invented the Five Hour Workday
On May 1st, 2015, Tower conducted an experiment to disrupt what has not changed since the Industrial Revolution -- they switched the whole company to a 5-hour workday, 8 am to 1 pm straight thru without lunch for a 3 month test to increase productivity. It worked so well they continued it full time for 2 years and today continue to do it 4 months every summer. After revenues increased 50% in that first year with no noticeable downside effect on productivity, Tower CEO Stephan Aarstol published a book called 'The Five Hour Workday' in July of 2016. The book got press in 20 countries, spread the idea to over 10 million people, and the five hour workday concept went viral. Articles in the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times have covered companies around the world that are following in Tower's footsteps. Today, Tower is credited with inventing the five hour workday.
"If the movement for shorter hours has a Communist Manifesto, or maybe a Wealth of Nations'.. it's The Five Hour Workday"
- Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Institute for the Future
Silicon Valley
Media Timeline
Elektrek.co | November 6, 2019 | learn more
Electric transportation news site dubs the Tower Beach Bum the "Billionaire's e-Bike"
Wall Street Journal | October 24, 2019 | learn more
Influenced by Tower's 5-Hour Workday book, a German company moves to a 5-hour workday
USA Today | October 10, 2019 | learn more
Tower featured among list of 20 best selling products in Shark Tank history
Electric Bike Review | September 4, 2019 | learn more
Industry leading eBike review site covers the Tower Beach Bum
Announcement | June 1, 2019 | learn more
Tower Beach Club event venue / pop-up dtc retail space is launched by the Tower Group
Western Washington University | May 17, 2019 | learn more
Tower CEO Stephan Aarstol named Entrepreneur of the Year at alma mater WWU
Harvard Business Review | March, 2019 | learn more
Expert commentary from Tower CEO Stephan Aarstol on an HBR case study on eBikes and Amazon based on Tower
2018 Press
People Magazine | November 25, 2018 | learn more
People features Tower as one of Shark Tank's "Most successful products ever" with $34M in sales
Inc. Magazine | October 31, 2018 | learn more
NoMiddleman.com, a single place you can shop the best dtc brands, is launched by the Tower Group
Announcement | October 30, 2018 | learn more
Tower Electric Bikes, Mark Cuban's direct to consumer eBike brand, is launched by the Tower Group
University of San Diego | July 1, 2018 | learn more
Tower CEO Stephan Aarstol named to the Alumni Hall of Honor at USD
Financial Times | May 6, 2018 | learn more
Influenced by Tower's 5-Hour Workday book, an Australian company moves to a 5-hour workday
2017 Press
ABC's 20/20 | February 24, 2017 | learn more
ABC's news show features Tower as one of Shark Tank's all-time best investments
Our City Magazine | February 22, 2017 | learn more
Tower CEO Stephan Aarstol named to list of top 10 most influential business leaders in San Diego
Fortune Magazine | January 5, 2017 | learn more
Tower CEO Stephan Aarstol profiled in Chase Master's "More than Money" feature
Internet Retailer Magazine | January 2, 2017 | learn more
Tower named to Internet Retailer's 2016 "Hot 100" list of world's most innovative e-retailers
2016 Press
Research & Markets | December 16, 2016 | learn more
Tower named as one of the top five "key vendors" in the worldwide SUP Industry
Harvard Business Review | November 1, 2016 | learn more
HBR Case Study "Selling on Amazon at Tower Paddle Boards" published
The Observer | 10/20/2016 | learn more
Tower's 5-hour workday is considered heresy in America — not so much around the world
HuffPost Business | Oct 12, 2016 | learn more
HuffPo's video profile of Tower's innovative 5-hour workday goes viral and gets 4.5M views
The Daily Mail | September 17, 2016 | learn more
UK's #2 newspaper features article on Tower's 5-hour workday and subsequent book
Fox & Friends | September 17, 2016 | learn more
Tucker Carlson interviews CEO Stephan Aarstol about Tower's 5-hour workday
CNBC Power Lunch | September 8, 2016 | learn more
The Five Hour Workday book interview on CNBC's Power Lunch.
MorgenPost | September 8, 2016 | learn more
Hamburg Germany's #2 newspaper dubs Tower CEO "The World's Best Boss"
CNN Money | September 1, 2016 | learn more
Maggie Lake interviews Stephan Aarstol on The Five Hour Workday book
San Diego Business Journal | July 25, 2016 | learn more
Tower ranks as #34 Fastest Growing Private Company in San Diego - 3rd consecutive year
The Adam Corolla Show | July 18, 2016 | learn more
Comedian & podcast pioneer interviews Tower CEO Stephan Aarstol on The Five Hour Workday book.
Guy Kawasaki | July 13, 2016 | learn more
Art of the Start author Guy Kawasaki interviews Stephan on The Five Hour Workday book.
Announcement | June 15th, 2016 | learn more
The Five Hour Workday debuts as the #1 bestseller in the "Workplace Behavior" category on Amazon.com during pre-launch a full month before it's official release.
Digital Commerce 360 | April 26, 2016 | learn more
Internet retailer magazine details how Tower did nearly $400,000 in sales in one day
Amazon | April 2016 | learn more
Jeff Bezo's singles out Tower Paddle Boards and CEO Stephan Aarstol in his annual letter to shareholders.
ABC's Beyond the Tank | January 28, 2016 | learn more
ABC's follow-up show does a 20 minute profile of Tower since being on Shark Tank
2015 Press
Inc. Magazine | August 19, 2015 | learn more
Tower ranks #239 on the INC 500 list of America's Fastest Growing Companies, and our inflatable paddle boards are selected as one of their "10 Most Impressive Products" in the US
Paypal | August 15, 2015 | learn more
The Paypal Business website features a customer spotlight video spotlight on Tower
San Diego Business Journal | July 16, 2015 | learn more
Tower ranks as #15 Fastest Growing Private Company in San Diego - 2nd consecutive year
The Times of London | June 29, 2015 | learn more
Tower featured in an article on Amazon lending
Announcement | June 1, 2015 | learn more
Tower invents the 5-hour workday and switches the entire company over to it
Inc. Magazine | April 17, 2015 | learn more
Tower CEO Stephan Aarstol publishes article on his 5-Hour work day concept
Entrepreneur Magazine | March 11, 2015 | learn more
Out of 2 million marketplace sellers, Tower is the #1 brand signed on to new Amazon Exclusives pilot program
2014 Press
San Diego Business Journal | July 10, 2014 | learn more
Tower named the #1 Fastest Growing Private Company in San Diego
2013 Press
People Magazine | November 11, 2013 | learn more
Tower CEO, Stephan Aarstol, featured in Shark Tank's Big Winners
Fast Company | June 3, 2013 | learn more
Direct to consumer SUP brand Tower confronts price fixing in paddle board market
Howard Stern Show | February 20, 2013 | learn more
Mark Cuban raves to Howard about his investment in Tower Paddle Boards
2012 Press
Hollywood Reporter | Sept 12, 2012 | learn more
Tower Paddle Boards spotlighted in article on Shark Tank's strong ratings
Forbes | June 4, 2012 | learn more
Mark Cuban lists Tower Paddle Boards among his best Shark Tank investments
ABC's Shark Tank | March 16, 2012 | learn more
Tower Paddle Boards Pitch to the Sharks airs to 6+ Million ABC Viewers
2010 Press
Beach & Bay Press | September 2, 2010 | learn more
San Diego community paper features start-up paddle board brand