Austin Stoffers, 24 Co-owner and creator, Pure Fix Cycles Being an entrepreneur takes more than talent — it takes drive, something Austin Stoffers, 24, says he learned from his father. “My father was a high school drop out that created a multimillion dollar furniture business out of nothing. He started his business by selling furniture on the corner of gas stations, never letting obstacles get in his way,” Stoffers said. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Stoffers started working at the family business, Arte International Furnishings, in 2007, doing research and development. Now the co-owner of Burbank-based Pure Fix Cycles, Stoffers handles parts sourcing, a role that brings him into contact with manufacturers from around the world. Pure Fix was founded in 2010 and sells single/fixed-gear bicycles. The venture initially was funded with $7,000 that Stoffer and one of his partners, Michael Fishman, secured by winning the retail track for a business competition at UW. The duo, together with partners Zach Schau and Jordan Schau, consistently has built sales, positioning the company to bring in more than $5 million in sales this year. With its success, Pure Fix has given back to the community, a commitment Stoffers says will continue. “We have never turned down a charity that has asked for a bike donation, and we are currently working on a community program, in which we will donate one bike a week to a different charity in need,” he said.
