2019 Startup Spotlight | Columbus Q
Who is one entrepreneur (or person) you’d love to have coffee with?
Alex: My dad, because having coffee with him is one the most enjoyable things I do -- but I suspect you’re asking for someone I have never met. I would love to have coffee with Jeff Bezos. I know that everyone will pick him because he is the richest man in the world, but I admired him well before he made his fortune. He has always ignored the naysayers. He lived through the
dot.com boom and crash and kept the company alive and prospering through it all. He has also elegantly transitioned Amazon from ‘grow as big and as fast as you can’ to ‘get the house in order and build a truly sustainable business’, all while maintaining a commitment to speed and flexibility that is second-to-none for a company of that size. He has ALWAYS optimized for the long-term value of his business, not quarterly earnings calls. And he’s customer obsessed. I love that.
Q
What has been the biggest hurdle you’ve dealt with that you didn’t anticipate when starting Root lnsurance?
Alex: Finding, hiring, and now growing truly exceptional talent was and still is the most challenging aspect of my job. I am relentless about making sure we have the right people on the team. I am looking for people who will not only solve today’s problems, but also help navigate tomorrow’s challenges. That is not an easy thing to do when a company is growing and scaling as quickly as Root — I need every employee at every level to be brutally competent and passionate about Root’s success.
Q
What have you as the founder and/or CEO learned about yourself since you began this journey?
Alex: I have learned that I can survive with 4 hours of sleep. And that instinct is great, but data is way better.
22 Q
If you were to invest in one thing in Columbus (aspect, infrastructure, etc.) what would it be? Why?
Alex: I believe that investment in transportation will be key for the long- term growth of business in Columbus. Today’s employees are looking for mass transportation solutions that can get them to and from work, while current and potential investors need to be able to easily - and directly - fly to Ohio to meet with promising entrepreneurs. Ultimately, a strong transportation infrastructure paired with a highly qualified and cost-effective base of potential employees will attract additional capital to support our tech and entrepreneur community, which will be essential for driving long-term growth in the area.
Q
It would appear that there is more buzz surrounding the Columbus entrepreneurial and startup community than ever before. What key factors are driving this growth? What’s missing?
Alex: The entrepreneurial and startup community in Columbus is unbelievably strong. While we know it has been that way for a while, it has taken the rest of the country a little longer to recognize all of our great accomplishments. I’d like to think that Root has played a role in helping increase visibility and bolster growth of the community by attracting venture capital from Silicon Valley in amounts that haven’t been as common in the Midwest. Columbus has all of the ingredients for continued success and growth, we just need to think like Silicon Valley startups while building on the strengths of our Midwestern talent pool. All that is missing are more venture capital firms who are serious about building billion-dollar companies outside of the coasts.
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