Today's entrepreneur: Ian Sells, co-founder and CEO of RebateKey

I don't think you choose to be an entrepreneur. You are born that way.

Today's entrepreneur is Ian Sells, the co-founder and CEO of RebateKey, an online cash-back rebate and coupon marketplace.

Sells has been a serial entrepreneur since childhood when he'd rescue, repair and resell items tossed by others. Since 2004, he has been growing and scaling businesses through fiscally sound leverage and proven internet marketing strategies. After selling his first Amazon brand, he launched four more product lines while also opening an Amazon consulting business, managing over $30 million in sales.

He is also the CEO and founder of MillionDollarSellers.com (MDS) an elite, mastermind Amazon group with nearly 400 sellers representing over $4 billion in 2019 Amazon sales.

Companies I've founded or co-founded:

RebateKey, Million Dollar Sellers, Elite Seller

Achievements (products built, personal awards won):

I am the CEO and founder of MillionDollarSellers.com (MDS) an elite, mastermind Amazon group with nearly 400 sellers representing over $4 billion in 2019 Amazon sales.

After selling my first Amazon brand, I launched four more product lines while also opening an Amazon consulting business, managing over $30 million in sales.

If you're an entrepreneur or corporate innovator, why?

I don't think you choose to be an entrepreneur. You are born that way. You think about how things can be done better. You like to learn new things and discover ways to fix things that are broken. I've been running my own companies my entire life, so it was just natural.

My favorite startups:

I love watching new startups. One of my favorites is called ClickUp. They are the best project management tool on the market and keep innovating weekly. It's amazing.

Why did you start your company or why do you want to innovate inside your company?

I started my company RebateKey because there was a need for an e-commerce based rebate and cashback tool for brands and merchants to use to promote their offers on any marketplace online like Amazon, Walmart, and more. RebateKey allows brands to make offers to shoppers and we facilitate the cashback from the brands to the shoppers. It's really great helping brands grow and shoppers save a ton of money.

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?

The most frustrating thing is that it's hard! It takes time to get the word out about your great idea or product. The rewarding part is watching how much people love your product and how it benefits their lives.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs/innovators make?

The #1 thing I always say is just go and do it. What's the worst that can happen? You might fail? That's okay. You have to fail a few times until you win, so get your fails out of the way!

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?

1. If you don't try, you won't know
2. Tell everyone about your idea, don't hide it for fear of it being stolen. What if that person you tell is the one that connects you to the person you need to for it to take off? Ideas are not worth anything. Actually making it happen is the hard part
3. Watch your data. Don't guess why things are happening. Find the proof you need to grow or scale a marketing channel or an idea.