{"id":"324c2012-ced5-4c70-8330-6abdfc6ef4b0","slug":"oscar-hedstrom","name":"Oscar Hedstrom","bioBrief":"Co-founder of [Indian Motorcycle](/companies/indian-motorcycle) (originally the Hendee Manufacturing Company) in 1901 in Springfield, Massachusetts. A former bicycle racer and skilled engineer who designed and built the first Indian motorcycle prototype on May 25, 1901 in Middletown, Connecticut. Served as chief engineer, setting the world motorcycle speed record of 56 mph in 1903. Partnered with [George M. Hendee](/people/george-hendee) to grow Indian into the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer by the 1910s.","priorExits":null,"nationality":"American","verificationPosture":"verified","aliases":[],"sources":[{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Motorcycle","title":"Indian Motorcycle — Wikipedia","sourceName":"Wikipedia"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Hedstrom","title":"Oscar Hedstrom","sourceName":"Wikipedia"}],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","createdAt":"2026-08-30T13:04:17.811Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-31T11:10:27.996Z","educations":[],"companyRoles":[{"id":"c314e54a-b26c-4aad-be5c-49c6dbe8c9ca","personId":"324c2012-ced5-4c70-8330-6abdfc6ef4b0","companyId":"ac6af6d8-f612-4de9-8dfb-08946b1ac8a6","role":"founder","roleTitle":"Co-founder","startDate":null,"endDate":null,"currentRole":false,"roleBasis":"verified_secondary","createdAt":"2026-08-30T13:04:18.594Z","company":{"slug":"indian-motorcycle","name":"Indian Motorcycle"}}],"boardRoles":[],"investorRoles":[],"foundings":[]}