Launching a Startup? Get a Master’s in Entrepreneurship First.
Roam Toothbrush founder Scott Damon shares how the Foster School helped him transform an idea into a business.
Scott Damon led an adventurous life before pursuing a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and launching his startup, Roam Toothbrush.
By chance, Damon (MS 2024) identified a need in the dental health marketplace while pursuing a career in the outdoors industry. He was based in Utah, splitting his time between competing as a professional freestyle skier and working as a climbing company operations manager. While traveling and competing, he experienced the challenges of brushing his teeth on the go. That experience sparked an entrepreneurial idea that would bring him to the University of Washington Foster School of Business.
Damon spent years living out of his duffel bag as an athlete, clocking 12+ hour days while juggling responsibilities on and off the slopes. On his busiest days of rushing between competitions and award ceremonies, he needed an effective way to brush his teeth. He relied on a Ziploc bag that held his toothbrush and toothpaste. It was a messy and inefficient solution. The Ziploc was often relegated to the bottom of his duffel bag, making it inconvenient to access when he needed it most.
Reimagining oral hygiene through innovation
That challenge inspired him to create the Roam Toothbrush, a patent-pending toothbrush (U.S. Patent Application US20240225257A1) with built-in toothpaste tablets. It is designed for people on the go or in conditions where brushing teeth is difficult. The Roam Toothbrush is the first compact device with integrated toothpaste tablets, offering convenience and sustainability. There’s no need to carry a separate bulky toothbrush and tube of toothpaste.
While Damon’s initial concept for the toothbrush was inspired by his own experience, he soon identified a strong use case for people working in environments where regular routines aren’t possible, such as deployed military personnel or those in field-based roles. “I’ve met people with tooth decay-related medical issues, those who need oral surgery because they didn’t have access to brushing their teeth. These are the people I had in mind when creating Roam Toothbrush and who I want to be able to use my product one day.”
Damon recognized a need in the oral hygiene market. In many professions, such as emergency response, healthcare, transportation, and shift-based fieldwork, people find themselves in situations where access to dental hygiene tools is not assured. Long shifts, limited breaks, unpredictable schedules, and remote locations can make maintaining essential routines like brushing teeth difficult.
Pursuing an MS in Entrepreneurship at Foster
After years of trying to develop Roam independently, Damon realized he needed additional business skills and training. He turned to the Foster School of Business Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program, which offers entrepreneurs and startup founders a springboard to success. The Master’s in Entrepreneurship program provides a customized program to help aspiring founders transform big ideas into thriving companies. It equips them with the knowledge, network, and resources to take a product from idea to market success.
“I wanted to join a Master of Entrepreneurship program to learn how to launch a product successfully, beyond developing and designing it,” Damon shares. While considering programs in his home state, he ultimately chose the University of Washington in Seattle for its mentorship, leadership, and hands-on experiences.
Foster’s 12-month Entrepreneurship program is a hub for startup founders. Students can learn everything from refining a startup concept and evaluating its business potential to crafting a compelling investor pitch and securing funding; the program equips students with the expertise and resources to bring their vision to life.
“I knew if this was going to be my last time going to school, I had to make it count,” Damon says.
Drawn to Seattle for its unique blend of outdoor adventure, venture capital, and industry access, he saw it as the ideal place to balance his active lifestyle with career growth. However, what ultimately convinced him to choose Foster was the Entrepreneurship program’s close-knit cohort of students. “It was the perfect environment to figure out my vision, collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs, and gain the tools to bring my startup to life.”
Highlights of the Master’s in Entrepreneurship experience
Damon found value in the program’s structure and opportunities, particularly in three key areas:
Case studies and competitions
“We analyzed countless case studies of companies that had succeeded and failed, breaking down their digital marketing strategies, profit margins, and investment decisions,” Damon recalls.
Participating in startup competitions was also a highlight for him, especially the 2024 Dempsey Startup Competition, organized by the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship. It is a capstone experience of the Entrepreneurship program and a significant milestone. That year’s competition broke records, with over 200 judges and the highest number of submissions to date. Damon teamed up with a handful of classmates for the competition, and thanks to their collaborative efforts, Roam Toothbrush advanced to the investment round and was selected as a top finalist.
Inspiration from Classmates
Damon credits his classmates with pushing him to excel. “We had eight-hour study sessions over weekends, and they inspired me every step of the way. These are some of the most hardworking and passionate people I’ve ever met.” When facing obstacles with his startup, he leaned on his peers for advice and motivation, reinforcing the power of a tight-knit cohort. “My classmates constantly pushed me to persevere, think outside the box, and do whatever it took to launch my product.”
He especially acknowledges fellow classmate Lex Van-Den Herik for his help with pitch development and support, which proved pivotal during their winning presentation in Elizabeth Scallon’s class, Persuasion, Pitching, Public Relations, and Public Speaking. That pitch became a defining moment in shaping Roam’s early story.
Faculty Support
“Foster faculty gave us the ‘hard’ feedback we needed to hear,” Damon says. A leadership course with Ken Myer proved valuable, providing insights into motivation, startup costs, and managing co-founder relationships. “The instructor feedback validated my idea and completely transformed the momentum of launching Roam.”
He credits Myer for shaping his approach to leadership and business strategy. “The course helped me understand how to motivate people, present information effectively, and balance having fun with working hard. It also gave me the confidence to navigate challenges in my career and startup.”
He also sought advice from Yoko Okano, sending her pitch decks before important business meetings to get her feedback on making them stronger. “Founders need examples. Yoko Okano has seen many startups and knows what it takes to succeed. Her insights were invaluable; it’s information and personal advice you can’t recreate through watching a YouTube video or reading a textbook.”
Launching a startup while working
Soon after graduating in 2024, Damon was recruited by Black Diamond Equipment for a sought-after role. He now oversees community engagement, brand activation, and team management. Like many founders, he’s balancing his full-time role with growing Roam Toothbrush in the evenings and on weekends.
As an entrepreneur, Damon acknowledges the difficulty of starting a business. “I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but there’s always the fear of not knowing the next steps. Unlike a traditional 9-to-5, there’s no set path. You have to be passionate and willing to make sacrifices.”
“The Masters of Entrepreneurship program taught me how to be scrappy and connect with people who excel in areas where I lack expertise,” Damon says. “I couldn’t have continued my startup without the insight and support of the program. Roam is all about building something that improves people’s lives, and that’s not something I could do alone.”
Advice for future students and entrepreneurs
Damon encourages prospective Foster students to immerse themselves in the program fully. “Go all in. Absorb as much as possible, ask questions, and take advantage of every opportunity the University of Washington offers.”
For aspiring entrepreneurs, he emphasizes resilience as a key quality. “Launching a startup is a huge investment in yourself. You’ll learn lessons that no traditional job can teach. It’s tough, but if you’re passionate about your idea, the Master’s in Entrepreneurship can give you the knowledge and the confidence to make it happen. I’m so much further along with my startup because of this program.”
Today, Damon and his co-founder, Leon Hasic, are working with an in-house injection molding machine to begin manufacturing components for the Roam Toothbrush. They will soon produce small batches of commercial-grade toothbrushes for real-world use.
Through his journey from professional athlete to entrepreneur, Scott Damon illustrates how the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship can transform vision into reality, providing the expertise, training, network, and support needed to go from aspiring entrepreneur to successful startup founder.
Learn more about the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington Foster School of Business here.
