Karlo Tanjuakio

Karlo Tanjuakio is a successful entrepreneur passionate about preserving the planet and improving society. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is also a member of several local non-profit organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of others.

At Karlo’s core, he is a passionate entrepreneur who believes that people should be able to help themselves in better ways. In 2021, he founded Kure, a software company that provides the education and technology needed to help organizations improve their productivity. The company aims to help individuals and teams reach their full potential.

Karlo Tanjuakio believes that people should be the change theywant to see in the world. He also believes thatconstant improvement is the best way to improve the lives of others. He strives to improve everyone’s skills and knowledge to help them achieve the best possible results.

He has been recognized for his hard work and dedication with various awards and honors. For instance, he was named one of the fastest-growing companies in Hawaii for four years in a row (Hawaii’s Fastest 50) and one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. for two years in a row (Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000).

Through his extensive experience and knowledge in the industry, Karlo has been able to develop a solid skill set that he can use to help his clients succeed. He has many talents, including brand development, product development, online marketing, website development, e-commerce, and software development.

As a manager, Karlo has developed many practical strategies and procedures to help his clients improve their performance. These include project and product management, change management, and operations management. He also enjoys working with his team members and developing effective cross-functional teams.

Aside from his professional achievements, Karlo has also made a significant impact in his community through his volunteer work. In 2013 and 2022, he was able to help raise funds for the Hawaiian Humane Society by offering dog adoption assistance and serving on the Petwalk Committee. He is also part of a local non-profit organization providing high school students entrepreneurial mentoring. He is passionate about supporting various causes related to education, technology, and economic empowerment.

Where did the idea for Kure come from?

After helping Fortune 500 companies and other large corporations increase efficiency and productivity for 15 years and seeing the results, I wanted to be able to give SMBs and nonprofits the power to compete. The Fortune 500 spend millions of dollars on consulting, training and software to increase their efficiency and productivity, but SMBs and nonprofits don’t have the same resources. Kure’s AI powered SaaS platform gives everyone this power—regardless of skill or budget.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I operate several businesses, so I block off days and times to address OKRs for each. In the mornings, I typically have team meetings and sales meetings (since I’m in Hawaii and behind a few hours from the U.S. mainland timezones). In the afternoon, I focus on tasks and projects I’m the lead on (vs. my team leaders) and meet with developers for our daily scrum meeting.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I put pen to paper and then run the idea by a few people I trust with expertise inside and outside of the field. I then refine the idea, put a high level plan in place and pilot with a small team. I then iterate and measure regularly.

What’s one trend that excites you?

B-corps and conscious capitalism: creating value for people that results in profit while doing no harm.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Discipline. “Excellence is not an act, it’s a habit.” Always striving to be better today than you were yesterday.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be a student of the different cultures of the world and remember that we’re all connected.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” — Epicticus

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Take care of your health—your body is a temple.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Build the right processes with the right people and empower them with the authority to do what’s right (even when it’s hard). When you create a culture of accountability and reciprocity, your teams will create more value for your customers—helping your company grow.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Trying to do it all by myself and almost burning out. I built a team (including experts) aligned with my values and vision who are capable of delivering results. It takes a village.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Replicate Launchpad in your community.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Sunscreen, cleanser and toner from Krave Beauty. Self-care is a must when you’re working so hard to create good change in the world.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Givebutter helps me raise funds for nonprofits I support.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Tao Te Ching to learn a bit about philosophy, poetry and life.

What is your favorite quote?

I’m pretty sure I’ve used it in this interview! “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” — Epicticus

Key Learnings:

• Conscious growth is the way of the future
• Your body is a temple
• Give back to your community and humanity
• Intelligence is not wisdom; learn from wise people