Dan Kurani | Vator

I am a(n):

Entrepreneur

Companies I've founded or co-founded:

Thumb, Kurani Interactive

Companies I work or worked for:

Thumb

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

I like to build things that make people happy.

My favorite startups:

Path, Zynga, and Facebook

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

Frustrating: Things play out a bit slower than anticipated
Rewarding: Seeing a user’s reaction to a new feature

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

Not finding a balance between listening to the market and being committed to their vision. When there is an imbalance, it can result in not enough focus, too many projects, over-featuring, or inversely, a stubborn broken-clock syndrome that results in a low probability of success and the likelihood that a real consumer "need" goes unsolved.

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

1. It okay to be afraid, but you have to do it anyway
2. Rockstars are 10x+ as productive as non-rockstars
3. It’s never as big of a deal as you first might think, but you have to keep addressing each thing that way so the even the most minute details are perfect

Full bio

Prior to founding Thumb in 2010, Dan Kurani spent 10 years as CEO of Kurani Interactive, an interactive agency that grew to $3MM in revenue doing user experience design for companies that included Nike, Universal Studios, and many startups.

Prior to launching Thumb in 2010, Dan Kurani spent the last 10 years as CEO of Kurani Interactive, an interactive agency. Kurani helped Fortune 500 brands that included Nike and Universal Studios with user experience design. Dan grew Kurani Interactive to $3 million in annual billings and architected a number of successful digital properties. He is the author of The Honey Pot, a strategy book that helps brands use digital innovation to generate revenue. Dan was recently tapped as a mentor for the upcoming inaugural NYC class at DreamIt Ventures, a start-up accelerator program. When not working, your best chance of finding him is with his family or in the water.

Founder and CEO - Thumb

Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Internet industry

May 2010 – Present (1 year 8 months)

Thumb helps users get and give opinions in the flow of everyday life.

CEO - Kurani Interactive

Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry

December 2000 – September 2010 (9 years 10 months)

Kurani Interactive was an award-winning interactive agency that delivered work for companies that included Nike, Mannington, Universal, and a number of successful digital startups.

Owner - Zinnia

January 1995 – November 2000 (5 years 11 months)

Zinnia is a multi-channel retailer with locations throughout the Northeast.

Visit www.ilovezinnia.com for more information.