Mark Ghermezian was co-founder and CEO of Appboy when this profile was written. Appboy was a CRM platform for mobile apps that combined push messages, analytics, help desk and audience segmentation, and it was renamed Braze in 2017. He started a vending machine company at 13, then founded Flush Media and XE Mobile before Appboy.
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Name:
Mark Ghermezian
Mark Ghermezian, then Co-founder/CEO of Appboy
Location (at the time of this profile):
New York, NY
Startup at the Time:
Appboy was a CRM platform that combined push messages, analytics, help desk, and audience segmentation for mobile apps. It is now called Braze.
Bio: Mark Ghermezian was born and raised in Canada. He has been an entrepreneur since starting his own vending machine company at the age of 13.
In 12th grade, he started the company Flush Media, an indoor advertising medium focused on restroom advertising. Mark successfully sold the company during his junior year of college.
During his senior year, Mark founded XE Mobile, an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) targeted towards college students. Mark’s leading of the company allowed XE’s handsets and services to sell in over 3,500 locations across the USA, growing to over 200,000 users.
At the time of this profile, Mark was the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Appboy, a mobile app management platform.
Lessons Learned:
Stay focused on your goal and know when to pivot. Recognize what the market is asking for and what the market needs. Even though you have a vision, the market will paint the picture for you. Being open to your ideas changing can mean the difference between success and failure in running your company.
Greatest Mentors:
My father has helped me think outside of the box, work hard, and keep an ethical focus.
Staying Motivated:
I enjoy creating products and bringing them to market. Building a product and going through the process of making something and watching it grow is exciting to me.
Appboy is now Braze.
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Frequently asked questions
What did Mark Ghermezian found before Appboy?
He started a vending machine company at 13, founded the restroom advertising company Flush Media in 12th grade and sold it in his junior year of college. In his senior year he founded XE Mobile, an MVNO aimed at college students.
What is Appboy?
The profile describes Appboy as a CRM platform that combined push messages, analytics, help desk and audience segmentation for mobile apps. Appboy was renamed Braze in 2017.
What is Mark Ghermezian's main startup lesson?
Stay focused on your goal and know when to pivot. He says the market will paint the picture for you, so being open to your ideas changing can decide between success and failure.
How big did XE Mobile get?
XE's handsets and services sold in over 3,500 locations across the USA and grew to over 200,000 users.
