Today we have John Espey, Co-Founder and CEO of Levvel. Levvel has started getting some much deserved press locally for the fast growth track they have burned over the last 5 years. Recently John and I got together to discuss what’s most important for the Charlotte ecosystem: more entrepreneurs or more early stage money. A heated debate ensued and I think we all know who won the argument. Regardless, we had a really good lunch and a great discussion and I feel in love with the Levvel story. As such, we agreed it would make great sense to continue the conversation on the podcast.
In today’s podcast, we spent most of the time talking about Levvel because despite the fact that it’s getting covered in the press, I don’t think many people know much about the story. This allowed us to fill up the time talking about the awesome ride Levvel has had since 2012 and 2013.
What’s the back story to how Levvel got to where it is today?
How did John and Chris Hart, his original co-founder, first meet?
Levvel came out of Reward Summit. How long did it take them to realize Reward Summit wasn’t going to be the home run they wanted it to be?
How does the conversation to pivot out of Reward Summit and into consulting go?
How has Levvel gone from 2 people (John and Chris) in 2013 to 170 employees in early 2018?
It’s oftentimes talked about the vital role that ‘first customers’ play in a young company’s growth. What were the first customers like for Levvel?
What’s the benefit of being a mature entrepreneur, rather than a young, fresh recent college graduate?
Hope you enjoyed today’s podcast with John Espey and you agree the story of Levvel and the impact it will have on the Charlotte economy over the course of the next 5, 10 years and beyond. Next week, we tackle the discussion over what’s more important – more entrepreneurs or more early stage capital and the general Charlotte startup scene. It’s a really good discussion and if you enjoyed John’s story today and I think you’ll enjoy the perspective he brings to the startup ecosystem discussion.
William Bissett is an Investment Advisor Representative with Secrest Blakey & Associates a Registered Investment Adviser. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Secrest Blakey & Associates. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener.
Secrest Blakey & Associates does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance.
Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under the Securities Act, and a Qualified Purchaser as defined in Section 2(a)(51)(A) under the Company Act or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS