Hello! I'm Tom
(or Thomas, if you want to be formal :) )
I'm a serial entrepreneur. I started my first company when I was 15. We sold custom computers. It was a failure. So was my next company we started in college - SimplyRent. Those were all just stepping stones to something bigger.
My most recent companies are listed below.
Tom Cote
ENTREPRENEUR
Companies I'm Involved in:
Barbot - the world's first cocktail machine.
Filling The Seats - social & digital marketing for the little guy.
The Poster Co-Op - Bringing new local art into everyone's home.
Interests:
Learning, Reading, and Sports.
Located:
Somewhere in the PNW
Email:
MY COMPANIES
MY TIMELINE
2008 - 2011
Co-Founder
FYREBUILT
We specialized in building custom computers for local customers in the Seattle area. Overall the company sold a few computers, but wasn't getting the traction we wanted. We ended up working on it through high school, and then closing shop.
2013-2015
CEO & Web Designer
RENTHOOP (SIMPLY RENT)
Renting in college can be difficult. Renthoop was founded on the idea that it needed to be improved. We grew quickly, and had 30% of the students @ our campus using the service. However, we also quickly realized no one was going to pay us.
BARBOT
Why rent a keg for your next big event, when you can rent a barbot? Barbot can make any cocktail your heart desires, in an instant. We created barbot to make your next party a huge hit.
2015-Present
CEO & Co-Founder
2016-Present
Co-Founder
2017-Present
Founder
FILLING THE SEATS
We help small businesses utilize modern digital marketing techniques to improve their bottom line. We specialize in social media and web site creation.
GREEN FRIDGE
In the modern world, we waste 30%+ of our food. How often have you found yourself clearing out your fridge? If we can eliminate just 10% of that, we'd feed all the starving people in the US. This is a passion project of mine, that I'm just getting started.
2007 - 2010
High School Diploma
REDMOND HIGH SCHOOL
When I graduated I was the school president, part of a world qualifying robotics team, a member of an international qualifying DECA group, and a writer/director of my own plays.
2010-2014
BS Degree in Operations
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
I studied manufacturing and supply chain management at WWU. I graduated a quarter early, in March of 2014.
2014 - 2017
Launch Manager (in Xbox)
MICROSOFT
I worked at Microsoft for almost 3 years out of college. They offered me a wonderful start to my post college life. As a PM, I was responsible for the launch of new Xbox products to the market.
MY SKILLS
LEADERSHIP
Starting multiple companies with different teams takes leadership. I'm able to lead diverse teams to success - when no one i getting paid.
COMMUNICATION
I'm still honing my written communication, but I'm excellent with face to face. Public speaking has also always been a strength of mine.
EXECUTING
The only way you can be successful is by executing on your plans. I've focused my energy on ensuring this is a strength of mine.
WHAT I'M LEARNING
If you have any advice, I'd love to hear it!
INTERVIEWING
Asking great questions is a skill i'd love to perfect. I'm working on this with my podcasting, and local meetup events.
WRITING
My goal is to write my own books one day, and I'm working on that right now. I write a few pages a day, even if they're terrible.
MEDITATING
I'm all for anything that can help improve mental clarity and focus. I've been trying to learn to mediate for a while, with the Headspace app.
