John Witzigreuter

John Witzigreuter is a Professional Engineer, Product Developer, and Entrepreneur.

With a career spanning over several decades, John has become a distinguished figure in the fields of engineering, product development, and entrepreneurship. John’s journey is marked by the founding or co-founding of five product companies, each thriving in diverse industries such as Power Tools, Biomedical, Toys, Sporting Goods, and Product Development. His innovative products are currently sold in thousands of retail stores worldwide.

John’s contributions to innovation are underscored by his extensive patent portfolio, with over 49 U.S. patents and numerous foreign patents to his name. He has negotiated over a dozen licensing agreements, propelling his products to hundreds of millions of dollars in retail market success.

In 2002, John co-founded Tricord Solutions to bring battery powered nail guns into the world. In 2003, Tricord licensed its first nailing technology and over the course of the next two decades Tricord and its licensees redefined an entire tool category.

In 2007, Techgroup USA was co-founded by John, a venture that distributed an innovative line of toys across the U.S. As Director of Operations and Product Development, John spearheaded the development, manufacture, and sale of over 30 SKUs, achieving significant sales with leading retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. His leadership as Managing Director in 2009 further cemented the company’s success until its eventual sale and relocation.

John is currently developing power tools for the fencing industry as well as sporting good products for the paintball industry. He is also the co-founder of Cherokee Makerspace and has extensive experience mentoring robotics students in the FIRST robotics program.

Favorite Hobby: Working out, Reading

Favorite Sports Team: Atlanta Falcons

Favorite Music Artist: Luke Combs

Skill Set: R&D, Product Development, Prototyping, Patenting, Licensing and Distribution