Michael Kinner - From Playgrounds to Purposeful Play

As a young boy, Michael Kinner's world revolved around basketball courts and playing fields. Sports wasn't just a pastime—it was his passion, his identity, and ultimately, the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. His childhood dreams of athletic achievement never faded; instead, they evolved into something more profound. "I wanted to find a way to capture that feeling—that flow state you experience when you're completely immersed in play,"

Michael reflects. "There's something magical about those moments, and I believed they shouldn't be limited to childhood or professional athletes." This belief germinated into Airosport, a company built around a sport Michael himself invented. Drawing on his basketball experience, he created a game designed specifically to help people of all ages access the flow state and build meaningful connections through movement.

The path from playground enthusiast to sports innovator wasn't straightforward. There were financial setbacks, product development challenges, and moments when Michael nearly abandoned his vision altogether. During one particularly difficult period, a $20,000 unexpected expense and numerous disappointments left him emotionally and financially drained. "I tried every idea and pathway forward to get the sport to the next level, and I kept falling short," he admits. "I literally gave up for a number of months." What pulled him back was a combination of literary inspiration and familial example.

While reluctantly completing a reading challenge during a personal development program called 75 Hard, Michael reconnected with the story of a gold rush prospector who quit just three feet from striking gold. Simultaneously, watching his son's unwavering persistence in his own pursuits reignited Michael's determination. "If I don't give this another try and leave it all on the court one more round," he realized, "I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life."

Today, that childhood dream has transformed into a mission that bridges generations, brings communities together, and introduces the power of purposeful play to executives, teams, and individuals seeking deeper connections and enhanced performance.