From The Bronx To A 9-Figure Exit With André Swanston

2023-11-30

Andre Swanston is the former CEO and Co-Founder of Tru Optik, a data and analytics company focused on connected TV (CTV) and streaming media. Tru Optik was acquired by TransUnion for over $100 million when Andre was under 40 years old. Andre has an incredible backstory, growing up in the Bronx as the son of immigrants from St. Kitts and Nevis. He attended a prestigious boarding school on scholarship, which opened up opportunities but also required tremendous personal sacrifice and perseverance. After dabbling in restaurants, nightlife...

Andre has an incredible backstory, growing up in the Bronx as the son of immigrants from St. Kitts and Nevis. He attended a prestigious boarding school on scholarship, which opened up opportunities but also required tremendous personal sacrifice and perseverance. After dabbling in restaurants, nightlife promotion and financial services, Andre had the vision to create TruOptik when he saw streaming media was going to transform the industry.

Despite the many systemic obstacles facing Black founders in fundraising and scaling startups, Andre managed to bootstrap early operations and eventually raise VC funding for Tru Optik. He built an exceptionally diverse leadership team that out-hustled the competition. Tru Optik focused on dominating the nascent connected TV space years before it became the center of digital media. Their technology and exclusive partnerships enabled them to accelerate rapidly when streaming demand exploded during the pandemic.

Now Andre has set his ambitious sights on bringing an MLS soccer team to Connecticut by 2026. He sees huge untapped potential in making it one of the most valuable soccer clubs globally, with the state's dense population, high income, passion for sports, and strategic location in the Northeast market. His bold goals, perseverance in the face of obstacles, and commitment to his team make Andre a standout founder story.

Episode Outline

(00:02:00) Andre's immigrant upbringing and early drive for education
(00:05:38) Getting a scholarship to a prep school and grinding with independence
(00:10:00) Dealing with stereotypes and recognizing common motivations
(00:13:32) The evolution of his family's status over generations
(00:15:37) Attempts at entrepreneurship with restaurants and nightlife promotions
(00:21:28) Witnessing friends and clients pursuing startup investments
(00:23:42) Recognizing streaming media as the future and assembling a founding team
(00:28:41) His wife becoming a crucial partner in the business
(00:32:04) Strategically building an exceptionally diverse team
(00:34:01) Dominating the market by focusing early on connected TV
(00:37:04) The systemic funding obstacles facing Black founders
(00:39:30) Locking in partnerships and IPs years in advance of the streaming boom
(00:42:16) Structuring an acquisition deal to reward the team's sacrifice
(00:44:00) Weighing future fundraising potential vs securing a strategic win
(00:46:47) Bold visions setting the stage for going after an MLS team
(00:51:46) Assessing the untapped market potential in Connecticut