The wearable changing the luxury watch world with Tyler & CJ from Fulcrum Wearables
For anyone who loves wearing luxury watches but hates choosing between style and health tracking, Fulcrum might be the product you’ve been waiting for.
Founded by lifelong friends Tyler Boardman and CJ Sturgess, Fulcrum is pioneering a new category of wearables: a discreet, ultra-thin health tracker that sits under your favourite timepiece — giving you smartwatch-level data without sacrificing the watch you love.
After years of seeing collectors forced into compromises (two watches, one wrist… or no data at all), the pair set out to solve a problem they knew personally. In this episode, they share how an engineering obsession turned into a hardware startup — and what it takes to build cutting-edge tech from bedrooms, garages, and sheer determination.
We cover:
The identity problem smartwatches created — and why watch lovers refuse to switch
The rise of personal expression after COVID (and how it sparked the idea for Fulcrum)
Why collectors shouldn’t have to pick between heritage timepieces and health insights
How the Fulcrum X1 works: a 4mm sensor-packed “puck” hidden beneath any watch
What micro-suction actually is — and why it won’t damage your Rolex
How they solved running, workouts, and sleep without you wearing your watch
The three-year R&D journey: 16 iterations, engineering constraints, and tiny tolerances
Going from bedroom labs to pre-orders: the moment the X1 became real
Their upcoming features: sleep tracking, auto activity detection, Strava sync, and more
The long-term vision: building tech that adapts to humans — not the other way around
Whether you’re a watch collector, a hardware geek, or a founder fascinated by deep-tech builds, this episode is packed with engineering insight, big vision, and a story of two friends taking on a billion-dollar category.
Key Takeaways:
Form meets function: Fulcrum is built for people who want health data and beautiful watches.
The compromise is real: Millions of collectors either wear two devices or lose their data entirely.
The X1 disappears under your watch: At just 4mm thick, it fits beneath most men’s and women’s timepieces.
No damage, no residue: Micro-suction gives secure attachment without adhesives.
Smartwatch power, hidden hardware: Tracks HR, blood oxygen, sleep, activity + notifications & tap controls.
Runs & sleep solved: An elastic “exercise band” lets you track anytime, without wearing your luxury watch.
Hardware is hard: From learning product design to managing manufacturing, everything took longer — and required relentless iteration.
Future-proof foundation: The X1 will support more features over time, including temperature and ECG sensing.
True north: Build technology that fits into people’s real lives — not tech that forces people to change.
Chapters / Timestamps:
00:00 — The problem: watches you love vs the data you need
01:40 — Meet Tyler & CJ: 15 years of friendship, engineering roots
04:06 — Why smartwatches fail traditional watch lovers
07:35 — The cultural shift: expression, luxury, and identity
09:18 — The Fulcrum X1: how it works, how it attaches, what it tracks
11:33 — Compatibility & design decisions: thinness, size & water resistance
14:01 — Solving runs, workouts & sleep with the elastic band
15:15 — Pre-orders, launch timeline & feature rollout
17:02 — The real building process: bedrooms, garages & 16+ prototypes
20:41 — Vision: what Fulcrum will become over the next 12 months
21:54 — Founder lessons: patience, iteration & expanding your skillset
23:48 — How to get involved & where to buy
25:06 — Startup shout-out: Evora Watches
Links & Resources:
Fulcrum Wearables — Website | Instagram | TikTok
Discover Startups — TikTok | YouTube | Instagram | Newsletter