Thomas is a FinTech leader, digital securities pioneer, and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in capital markets advisory and funding.
He is a founder and innovator in the action sports, marketing, financial services, multimedia/internet, and blockchain industries. Over 400 companies have benefited from Thomas’s keen understanding of capital markets and early-stage venture funding strategy/
Q: Why did you choose your present industry at this time?
After raising capital for my first startup 30 years ago, two public offerings and helping hundreds of entrepreneurs, I realized that capital markets for early-stage ventures are broken. Virtually all capital markets favor Wall Street or Silicon Valley instead of Main Street. As a result, entrepreneurs only get few of the gears of the machine that’s supposed to dive their business. With Dealbox, the missing gears in the Start-Up go-to-market machine have been installed to smooth out the process and increase the odds that more entrepreneurs and a greater variety of business models get supported. With DealBox-DLBX it’s everything you need to do your deal, in a box. This way, entrepreneurs can do what they do best and we do what we do best. By enabling entrepreneurs to focus on their core business objectives and stay in their lane, Deal Box creates an environment where start-ups have the best chance of success.
After raising capital for my first startup 30 years ago, two public offerings, helping hundreds of entrepreneurs, I realized that capital markets for early-stage ventures are broken.
~ Thomas Carter
Q: What is the best/worst moment you can remember in your career?
Losing everything financially with a young family in The Great Recession. To make things even worse, losing my 3rd son all in the same year. 2009. Often times you hear things like, fail and fail again until you succeed, or that failure is a necessary precursor to success. This was certainly true for me, but no matter how much you prepare, the ultimate judgement of character is how you respond to these events.
Q: Who is your role model or hero?
Jesus.
Q: Tell us about the exact moment you came up with your business idea. How did you decide to go ahead with that one, instead of others?
It was an evolution over time from 2004, it became clear in 2009 that my calling was market place ministry to help entrepreneurs. Deal Box was formed on the foundations of much deliberation and prior endeavors.
Q: What is your favorite book?
Bill Gates – Doing Business At The Speed Of Thought.
Q: Do you use any specific method or system to run daily operations of your business?
Yes, a very comprehensive technology stack that consists of CRM integrated with project management, accounting, online document/contract execution, and other related connected operating systems, KPI and business intelligence applications reporting and related workflows. For us, it’s all about end-to-end measuring, reporting and analytics.
Q: Looking back - if you could advise a younger version of yourself to do something different - what would it be?
Be passionate about what you want to do and understand your 'why'. Put the time in and do the work.
Twitter: @thomascarterI.io
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