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#13: Kevin Stubbs, CEO of PubGenius

Season #1

Episode: From Ad Tech to Digital Development: Kevin Stubbs' Entrepreneurial Journey

Host: Joel Calkins

Guest: Kevin Stubbs, CEO of PubGenius

[00:00:03] Introduction

  • Joel Calkins: Welcomes listeners to the show and introduces the guest, Kevin Stubbs, CEO of PubGenius.

[00:00:10] Kevin Stubbs' Background

  • Kevin Stubbs: Discusses his background in ad tech and development. Highlights the inception of PubGenius in Seattle and the initial client base.

[00:01:00] Early Challenges and Pivot

  • Kevin Stubbs: Talks about the challenges faced in gaining traction and the pivotal moment when they decided to change direction. Emphasizes the importance of leveraging development strengths.

[00:01:30] Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

  • Joel Calkins: Asks about Kevin’s transition from working at Microsoft to starting his own business.
  • Kevin Stubbs: Shares his journey from high school work at Microsoft to full-time employment and the inspiration behind venturing into entrepreneurship.

[00:03:30] Lessons from the Ad Tech Experience

  • Kevin Stubbs: Reflects on the decision to move from ad tech to other opportunities. Discusses the realization that their initial idea wasn’t as unique and the competitive landscape with companies like Freestar.

[00:05:00] Finding the Right Path

  • Kevin Stubbs: Describes the exposure to successful companies and how that influenced their decision to pivot. Highlights the importance of finding a path with less resistance and more potential for profitability.

[00:06:30] New Focus: Full-Stack and Mobile App Development

  • Kevin Stubbs: Explains the new focus of PubGenius on full-stack and mobile app development. Shares how their ad tech experience helps in optimizing client projects, particularly for large publishers.

[00:08:00] Strategic Pivot and Agency Model

  • Kevin Stubbs: Talks about the strategic pivot to become a development agency. Discusses the benefits of utilizing existing resources and the journey from small projects to multi-year, multi-developer engagements.

[00:10:00] Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

  • Joel Calkins: Asks for Kevin’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.
  • Kevin Stubbs: Advises on being flexible, learning from failures, and leveraging existing skills and resources to find new opportunities.

[00:11:30] Conclusion

  • Joel Calkins: Thanks Kevin for sharing his insights and experiences. Encourages listeners to learn more about PubGenius and stay tuned for future episodes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The importance of pivoting when initial business ideas don’t pan out.
  • Leveraging past experiences and strengths to find new opportunities.
  • The role of flexibility and resilience in entrepreneurial success.

Connect with PubGenius:

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Tune in next week for more inspiring stories and actionable insights from industry leaders!