JT Marino

| Co-founder of Tuft & Needle

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

Today we celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse with the launch of MARINO. For the last five years, I’ve been leading with the mission of driving non-obsolescence to resolve key challenges that we see in the world. The motivating principles, values and subsequent missions are the resulting amalgamation of our new company. MARINO creates a future in which people buy products they care for and in return, care for them. We are driven by a philosophy to unlock new experiences for customers, colleagues, team members, friends and family alike.

In launching MARINO, I acknowledge that the company will not be everything to everyone, but will be an example to help people go about things their own way. We believe in making, in being of service to others, in being intentional, slowing down, and speaking truth with honesty and transparency. We want to enable others to seek and be curious, to move boundaries and experience. We will share, teach, and receive.

The successes that we saw in our founding and operating of Tuft & Needle beginning in 2012 largely stemmed from the fact it wasn’t just a mattress company. The values that we believed in directed our path, and built the buy-in that created something truly impactful. I’ve learned a lot since then.

The launch of the brand during the total solar eclipse at the Texas Eclipse Festival has many layers of meaning for me. I am grateful to experience this significant event in an extraordinary location at a time of reflection and renewal. This is the beginning of a new journey and I hope you’ll join me. https://t.co/AIngCwTc0b

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

One year ago today, we announced the founding of MARINO. We were under the shadow of a rare total solar eclipse on 4/8/2024, at the Texas Eclipse Festival with family, friends and supporters.

We’ve spent the last year building the team, systems, and a product we’ve always wanted but never quite found. Starting with something you probably already own—because the most meaningful products don’t always come from invention, but from rethinking the familiar.

To our family, friends, and early allies—thank you for your belief and support. It’s meant everything.

What we’re building is different. And we’re almost ready to show you.

Sign up for early updates at https://t.co/otJxT0lwUB

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

Contrast that with the stove I inherited from my grandmother, built in the 1950s and still going strong. It’s a reminder of the value of durability and repairability.

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

I remember my excitement when I first bought IKEA furniture—great price, right? But it didn’t stand a chance after one move, and it fell apart, almost like it was made to.

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

@elonmusk exactly right

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Incredibly well said

[Shane Parrish @shaneparrish]

Stop fighting your nature. Start winning with it.

[Marc Andreessen 🇺🇸 @pmarca]

Jan 14 2021 / Jan 28 2021

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

@KENtheFREEMAN Build a strong profitable business and actually mint employees as millionaires and delight your customers. https://t.co/1baxkEaSC7

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

@KENtheFREEMAN Neil is literally saying word for word many of the same things from my interviews. Casper copied and stole many designs, trademarks and ads from my company Tuft & Needle. Not original.
They also raised over 500mm and IPO’d with negative profit. Not a great model to follow.

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

@KENtheFREEMAN I’d recommend not following models of unprofitable companies that get tons of paid press. Just because they are popular does not mean they are healthy companies. Also see Warby Parker, popular but in the red 20mm. Employees suffer big time and equity is burned to zero.

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

Live streaming from the Texas Eclipse Festival https://t.co/Vk8tjTjnh8

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

Coming soon. Join us as we celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse and imminent launch of my new venture. Live streaming tomorrow from the Texas Eclipse Festival https://t.co/Vk8tjTjnh8

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

@TheProjectUnity Maybe VR headsets?

[DHH @dhh]

"Dare to embrace the underlying progress of containers and security. Dare to question the financial equation of renting vs buying. Dare to connect a server to the internet." https://t.co/OV77P9OKIt

[JT Marino @johnmarino]

@whatever what’s the song in the background?

[DHH @dhh]

"That's the kind of legacy I care about. Being able to say 'life was long enough' to myself on the last day, and mean it. To believe that I spent my time well, in service of pursuits worth the effort, in concert with people worth the relation." https://t.co/bhpVwpoIFB

[Jason Fried @jasonfried]

What do they got?

A big team, lots of money, a strong brand, seemingly unlimited resources, panache, reputation, all that. They’re established.

They’re your competitors.

You want to look away, but you see them everywhere. Their ads on your social, their name in the media, your dream clients on their website.

But you know what else they got?

Bigger company bloat. Overflowing obligations. Narratives to uphold. Appearances to maintain. Entitlement. Too much overhead.

They’re slow. They’re conservative. They talk too much. They’ve stopped taking risks. They’re resting on their laurels, gliding on their reputation. They’re on defense.

What they’ve really got is a lot to lose.

What do you got?

Hunger. Drive. Grit. Scrappiness. Independence. You’re on offense.

You don’t have enough, which is why you’re dangerous. You have no choice but to be clever and creative. To make up for what you don’t have with something they can’t have: The underdog spirit.

You can move. You can adjust. You can adapt. You can get it done while they’re still stuck deciding what to do.

Small is not a stepping stone. Small is not less than. It’s greater than. It’s faster than. It’s better than.

Savor your position. You don’t get to be the underdog forever. The baton will be passed. But for now, it’s your magic wand. Use it.

We stand with the underdogs.

[azcentral @azcentral]

“It’s easy to get skeptical, and I was the same way." https://t.co/wF3pQwQ4w8