Kyle Thomas

I couldn’t bring many of the ideas I have to light if I didn’t have a supportive team like I do. And amazing clients! They motivate me to think about new ideas I can create for InventureX.

 

Crowdfunding for entrepreneurs can be incredibly helpful when building funds for their business. Sometimes, it can help elevate dreams and big goals into physical products. But most of the time, those efforts aren’t enough.

Kyle Thomas, CEO and Founder of InventureX saw the struggle every entrepreneur goes through. And because he knows business, he decided it was time to flip the script on how people acquired their capital. Thomas has been in the marketing game for a long time, even before (digital) crowdfunding was a big deal.

So, he knows a thing or two about developing winning strategies. His mission is to go far beyond the set goal his clients are looking for. Since 2012, InventureX has been leading the way in the industry by delivering high level marketing campaigns. These campaigns expand audience reach, and build greater momentum in raising much needed funding.

They’re currently located in Santa Monica, CA and are surrounded by a giant tech hub. Being in an area like that helps to fuel their inspiration and continue bringing their A game to clients. With over 350 successful product launches, InventureX is reenvisioning the way startups, app developers and entrepreneurs do business. Thomas’ dedication and excitement regarding crowdfunding has catapulted his team to new heights, and he’s nowhere near ready to call it quits.

Where did the idea for InventureX come from?

I knew I’d be working with people who wanted to invent and create ideas to bring them to life. And I’ve also seen the way entrepreneurs and other creatives have a hard time collecting money to get something off the ground.

So one day I realized how I could approach crowdfunding differently. It all made sense when I finally pieced it together. I saw how I could use more marketing efforts. Reach bigger audiences. Utilize PR outreach. And then it came to be and it’s been a fantastic ride thus far.

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

It can vary from day to day. It’s extremely important to me to come in with a game plan, otherwise I can get distracted by little things. Once I get through the more technical side (emails, meetings) I look for opportunities to be creative.

It keeps me busy and every day I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot. I’m not only looking at the present, but also the future of this company all the time.

How do you bring ideas to life?

To quote almost every boxing movie, “through a lot of blood, sweat and tears!” But honestly, I couldn’t bring many of the ideas I have to light if I didn’t have a supportive team like I do. And amazing clients! They motivate me to think about new ideas I can create for InventureX.

What’s one trend that excites you?

There’s a lot of buzz happening right now concerning blockchain technology and crowdfunding. Essentially, companies are going to be able to create their own digital currency and sell them, kind of like how cryptocurrency platforms along the same vein as Bitcoin do now. But it’s so much bigger than that!

I’m incredibly excited about how that’s going to shape out, and I see how this could affect our company in the future too.

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

Ironically enough, I’ve never been a fan of a lot of structure, but I find that by setting up a routine (at least while I’m at work), I can really get everything done.

Some days are harder than others when there are important matters to attend to, but I try to stick with what I know. If I need to adjust, I do so and then carry on as normal.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I’d tell myself not to sweat the small stuff. It sounds easy, but it can really trip you up, especially if you’re a new entrepreneur. There’s a bigger picture you gotta focus on. And by paying attention to that, rather than small mistakes, you’re going to win big.

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

It mostly goes back to the idea of how crowdfunding and cryptocurrency are inevitably going to meet. If you’re not in the industry, it’s really difficult to convince people how this is going to work. I have a lot of friends and family who always disagree but I see such potential in this area.

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

I constantly try to support and create an environment for growth for my team. If they aren’t motivated, or don’t see me motivated, how can they possibly be at the top of their game? I try to share fun articles or other content with them on Fridays because I know how by the end of the week everyone’s ready to check out. But I repeat my engagement with them all the time.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.

I was advised long ago not to ever get to carried away thinking I’m the guy with all the answers. I’m usually not and that’s why I invest a lot of time bringing great people to our team.

They can learn things from me, but the opposite is also true. By doing so, we’ve seen great growth that’s been steady and healthy without getting out of hand.

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

Ah, just one? Kidding of course! I would say I’ve had ideas on hiring someone, or on pursuing a new vertical that I received negative feedback on. But I pursued it anyway, and well, it wasn’t good sometimes.

So again, I think back to advice I’ve been given and don’t let these mistakes stop me from learning from them to make better choices and hear other voices speak about it.

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

Oh, wow. There are so many things I’m thinking of right now. I’m going to go with a more charitable option and say an app/company for seniors.

One that can be like Uber PLUS, where it’s a driving service but also helps them get groceries or go out to site see. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you don’t like going on adventures.

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

I’m going to be honest here. I just bought a really cool portable shower you can take with you when you go camping. It’s a bit of a cheat, but sometimes when you’re out in the wilderness for more than 4 days, you just have to give in and be clean again.

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

We’ve tried a couple things out, and now are currently thinking about adding RescueTime or My Minutes to help with time management across the company. Sometimes you don’t realize how much time is spent on just one thing, so this could really help optimize our workflow.

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

I try to read a lot and enjoy finding new inspiration through great books. But I think I’ll stick with “$100 Startup” by Charles Lebeau. If you haven’t already read it, I highly recommend picking it up just to see how it could fuel your passion.

What is your favorite quote?

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

Key learnings:

● Invest in your team and allow their voices to be heard
● Always be thinking about the next step. Be present, but also look out for important industry trends.
● Feel confident when you’re presenting new ideas. Some might get shot down, but others can launch your business goals into reality.

Connect:

www.inventurex.com
Kyle Thomas on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-thomas-959648a5/
InventureX on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pg/inventurex/posts
InventureX on Twitter: www.twitter.com/inventure_x
InventureX on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/inventurex