Doyal BryantExecutive Vice President and Co-Founder of Business Development at Fulcra Innovations
Charlotte, North Carolina
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When I was in college, there was truly only one clear path to success in the business world – go to business school and work your way up the corporate ladder. Don’t get me wrong, for the people that are cut out for it, the corporate business world can be an extremely rewarding experience. I would know, I have been a part of that world since my graduation from Drury over 35 years ago!
However, if you find yourself wondering if it’s for you, or are concerned that your creativity may be stifled in a corporate environment, don’t despair. Today, there are so many more opportunities to thrive in business without having to climb that corporate ladder. For example, through the boom in social media and the development of email marketing and online advertising, small business owners can reach customers in ways that never would have been possible for a low budget company before. This makes it easier for people to take the leap into following their dreams of owning their own business.
With the growing popularity of crowdfunding, starting a small business isn’t even necessary for those that have ideas for a great product. “Solopreneurs” and small companies are able to offer people their products online for pre-order, simultaneously marketing and market-testing their new idea. Since the inception of sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, the technology and hardware industry has seen more innovation than anyone imagined possible from everyday people with great ideas.
When I saw what was happening within the crowdfunding space, I knew there had to be a way to bring that sense of innovation and creativity to traditional businesses. That’s why my colleagues and I founded Fulcra. We want enterprises and corporations to have a better way to test new products – a way that doesn’t require millions of dollars in advertising and a huge reputation risk. I see it as my way of bridging the gap between my two separate worlds of entrepreneurship and corporate business.
My hope is that, with Fulcra and other innovative companies across the country, in the very near future, you will no longer have to choose between creativity and climbing the corporate ladder.