We had the good fortune of connecting with Dommonic (DOM) Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dommonic (DOM), is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Houston Startup Only Raises Funds from Investors With Teslas!” with “Remember, it’s not just about the fundraising hype; it’s about finding investors who share your vision and values.

We built a profitable tech company with just $32,000 in capital – a far cry from the $500,000 to $5 million startups typically raise in their early stages. Our secret? Deploying that capital smartly and having fun along the way!
Inspired by Daymond John’s Principles from The Power of Broke, we embraced a lean and scrappy approach. No fancy office for us – we set up shop at Ikea (amazing food and creativity abound) and worked from home in the hot attic. Instead of chasing our dream product, we focused on creating a solid MVP and live testing for 151 days. While live testing, we laid the groundwork for scaling up our business by applying insights gained from Kauffman FoundersSchool on YouTube (FREE) and Jason Fried, the author of Rework.

Simplifying our concept even more with just one visit to Blue Fish Concepts, an industrial firm, saved us time and effort. And when we needed more funds, I self-funded and built up our company credit instead of searching for more investors.
Today, we’re not only profitable but also free from credit card debt; with over $50,000 in business credit and $12,000 in lines of credit, we have the funds and business model to reach our goal of 40 locations in 2024! Also, we have net 30s and 45s with all of our manufacturers. We faced challenges, but we never gave up. Divine timing and my experience in Corporate America as an Operations Manager for Nuro, Inc. (1,123 days of professional education and connections) certainly played their part, as did the game-changing Lean Six Sigma certification and the rags-to-riches mentality to learn everything I can from books, YouTube, and mentors.

Thanks to our patient investors, our founding team perfected our business model, suppliers, and technology, achieving our early-stage goals. Since our soft launch in April 2020, we’ve processed over 35,000 error-free pick-ups with our early adopters. Kitlock wrote a case study about us being the first company in the world to use their locks in the restaurant space, and we received an NAACP Powershift Grant ($25,000) from Daymond John, Shark Tank investor, and Cisco WebEx.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In 2021, I was honored with the Top 50 Tech Visionary Award from Intercon in Las Vegas. The following year, we secured a software patent for the technology used in America’s first sustainable smart lockers. Two major milestones came in 2023 when Alibaba.com selected our company, clevtech, as one of 50 recipients for their $10,000 Alibaba Manifest Grants Program. Out of 23,000 applicants, we were among the chosen few! Next, we partnered with Lucy Pearl’s at The Post Houston, a Texas-sized food hall, opening up even more exciting opportunities.

Today, we’re not only profitable but also free from credit card debt; with over $50,000 in business credit and $12,000 in lines of credit, we have the funds and business model to reach our goal of 40 locations in 2024! Also, we have net 30s and 45s with all of our manufacturers. We faced challenges, but we never gave up. Divine timing and my experience in Corporate America as an Operations Manager for Nuro, Inc. (1,123 days of professional education and connections) certainly played their part, as did the game-changing Lean Six Sigma certification and the rags-to-riches mentality to learn everything I can from books, YouTube, and mentors.

Clevtech is now at Phase 3 of 4 in our journey – the Scaling phase – after successfully navigating the Idea and Launch phases.

Remember, it’s not just about the fundraising hype; it’s about finding investors who share your vision and values. The beauty of being a founder is that the more I grow as a person and business professional, the more my companies grow.

We’re thrilled about our Tesla-investor strategy, and it’s proof that a positive and fun approach can lead to remarkable success, especially when our business is funded by individuals who believe in accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy and technology just as much as we do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We will embark on an unforgettable trip with a friend visiting Houston for a week! Below is the itinerary:

* Monday kicks off the adventure in Houston at “Flight Club” for a thrilling session of Social Darts, combining friendly competition with a lively atmosphere.

* Tuesday, we rev things up at “K1 Speed” as we race go-karts at 45 mph. It’s all about experiencing high-speed excitement.

* Midweek, we embrace collaboration, exploring the city’s vibrant culture at Phil & Derek’s Restaurant & Jazz Lounge for Brunch & Money Cat for dinner.

* Thursday, it’s all about showtime as we dress up for a private movie premiere, making memories in style.

* Finally, on Friday, we wrap up with a day of inspiration – we take them to our investment properties, share some business insights and strategies, and end with lunch at Gatlin’s BBQ, where we can socialize with the owners, eat some great BBQ, and see The Yummy Box in action.

* Saturday & Sunday is reserved for anything on their bucket list.

This is how we welcome a week of friendship and laughter in Houston!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The anchor to our progression is absolutely our mentors and Early Adopters:

* Dr. Yancy, Professor of Human Resources at Texas Southern University, gave us encouragement and support over the years and the legendary expression, “Focus on the stake, not the sides,” meaning do not get distracted or discouraged.

* Darrell Anderson, Nick Pollard, and Dion Smith are seasoned entrepreneurs with decades of experience in sales and product development. They serve as mentors akin to caring uncles. They offer valuable life and business advice, emphasizing the idea that a home filled with love translates into presenting one’s best self in the business world.

* Ron & Nicole Morris, with Lucy Pearl’s, shares actionable business advice that keeps the momentum going. Plus, our relatability in operation management is insane.

* The entire family at Gatlin’s BBQ. The owners of Southern Q BBQ, the Garner’s Family. And This Is It Soul Food Owner, Craig Joseph, Thaddeus, and Jessica. They all have indeed been our Day 1 supporters.

*And my mother, Tyia Hall, uncles, aunts, significant other, Anjelique, and grandfather encourage me to bet on myself.

Entrepreneurship becomes exponentially more challenging and isolating without mentors to guide you through the journey.

To our fellow entrepreneurs and business owners, here are some tips we received from Chisa Egbelu at PeduL before we raised capital:

1. Consider raising exactly what you need.

2. Prioritize profits over growth.

3. Ask yourself if you genuinely need their money or just their name.

4. And remember, a $10 million exit might make you just as happy & free as having a company valued at $1B with no buyers!

While my success as a business professional, leader, and innovator has been gratifying in the tech space, I maintain an insatiable desire to co-launch an energy drink company named Traplements made for go-getters and influencers to spark great conversations and even greater impact, buy residential investment properties in Houston and build car-free neighborhoods with my significant other, Anjelique, a Texas Real Estate Agent, and a Casting Director for OWN & Hulu, on the verge of getting an Emmy.

In summary, I’m “Dom” on a journey defined by a relentless pursuit of achievement that pushes boundaries and brings people together. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we conquer new frontiers, like launching our first marketing campaign for clevtech to obtain our goal of 40 customers in 2024 and filming 120 live deliveries of our Lifestyle Energy Boost Drink! Not to mention adding a lot of fun to the mix, like social darts and exclusive movie premiers.

Image Credits: Jasmine Bailey

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