EE498 - Brian Lee: From Chopped to TRYKA’s 10,000-Athlete Launch

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Brian Lee, the entrepreneur behind Freshly Chopped and founder of TRYKA, Ireland’s inclusive hybrid fitness race league. After building one of Ireland’s most recognisable healthy food brands, Brian has turned his attention to the booming world of fitness racing — but with a very different philosophy. TRYKA is not built only for elite athletes or podium chasers. It is designed for the everyday person, the local gym community, the company team, the first-timer, and the person looking for a reason to show up, train, and feel part of something bigger. Brian shares how the idea for TRYKA came from his own experience in the hybrid fitness space, why he saw an opportunity to serve the “other 80%,” and how he went from concept to major venues in just six months. He explains the thinking behind TRYKA’s free affiliate model, gym and company leaderboards, community-first culture, and plans to expand into London, Lisbon and beyond. This is a conversation about self-belief, brand building, operational detail, culture, wellness, failure, and the kind of ambition Irish founders need more of. If you’re building a business, launching a community, or trying to turn a personal passion into something global, this episode is for you. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Why Brian Lee launched TRYKA after Freshly Chopped 🏋️ How TRYKA is building fitness events for the everyday person 🚀 Going from idea to major venue in just 6 months 💡 Why Brian believes TRYKA serves “the other 80%” 🤝 Building with gyms and communities, not competing against them 📈 How TRYKA reached almost 10,000 athletes in its first 7 months 🌍 Expanding from Ireland into London, Lisbon and beyond 🎮 The role of gamification, leaderboards and company leagues 🧠 Hiring people based on energy, trust and ownership 👨‍👩‍👧 Why TRYKA Junior is part of Brian’s bigger mission to inspire healthier families 💬 “If you can’t back yourself, how can anybody else back you?” — Brian Lee Links & Resources TRYKA: https://tryka.fit/ TRYKA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tryka.fit/ Brian Lee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianbrucelee/ Brian Lee LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/brian-lee-75927260 *Our Sponsors * Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26 Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26  Follow The Entrepreneur Experiment: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurexperiment/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@entrepreneurexperiment