November 12, 2016

Meet Entreprenuer, Investor, and CEO: Traveon Rogers

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Traveon Rogers.

Traveon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been nomadic when it comes to a specific role and select industry. As you may know, before all of this, I started off as a likely 2012 Olympic hopeful recruit for the Track & Field program at TCU, only to forfeit my eligibility and sign my first professional contract mid-season later in the year as pro-sprinter for NIKE in 2011… Not knowing where my future was headed other than preparing for the summer Olympics, I truly believed that the sport was the key for a great life until I experienced a tragic health issue that was discovered as blood clot that sooner turned into a Pulmonary Embolism (clot in lungs & heart), but I didn’t let it devastate my career in 2012. I’ve never let anything hinder me from achieving my goals because after some time away, I’d finally healed greatly & by the grace of God I qualified for the Olympic Trials, but sadly I missed my only chance to go after a change with my management team. Let’s bump it up to December 2013…

IMG (my agency) wanted to market me out into the NFL industry to test waters… Got me a workout with a couple teams, till I was later invited by the Dolphins after one workout to stay for OTA’s… That soon became a stretched invitation to stay through mini-camp… After that, I was never brought out to Training camp, but the experience was a dream and a blessing all on its own. During that time I met a lot of people & experienced a whole new lifestyle. A lifestyle that can turn any athletes finances into an insufficient amount based off of the many new & experienced athletes buying depreciative assets only to maintain a lavish lifestyle that will outlast their bank accounts & career. That was when I realized I had to use my money wisely, assess what the problem is, create a solution, test it out, and if it made sense to others as much as it does to myself then I’d make a business out of it. That’s when I realized other than playing for someone or working for someone, I’d rather solve problems in the making and become my own boss. I soon experienced how hard it really is to raise money and awareness for a startup with no traction that had little to no capital. I knew I had to study and reach my platform to target the correct audience. My first startup “Royal Klasse” ended up raising $5MM in our first round of funding, but in the middle of the process I invested into several projects such as Silver Car, Blue Apron, and Flight Car, who’s founders are bright individuals with similar goals and wanting to become the best problem solvers they can be. Now at this time in my life I own & run several projects with new ones on the way, and I’ve also started my own venture capital fund & syndicate fund that targets entrepreneurs with inspirational ideas. So besides the title CEO, President, Board Member, Founder, and etc., I guess you can just call me a Jack Of All Trades… But I’d prefer “Super Luxe Entrepreneur”! Sounds so much better, right?

Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth? Impossible! Becoming a leader and establishing the ideas in your head into reality is a struggle of its own. Funding is a huge obstacle, but the strongest yet is meeting the right people to create the best team possible. Another struggle is staying humble, focused, and driven because there are many times where you will fail but that doesn’t mean you’re a failure… it means that is the time to adjust and rethink the strategy at hand! I’ve seen many people give up on their plans, just to later see another individual pick up on where they left off and make that one idea their own. You have to stay driven!

How would you describe the type of kid you were growing up?
Wow! Umm, that’s an interesting question… I was always an inquisitive child growing up, wanting to know the in’s and out’s of how thing’s worked. If I see a problem, I’d do my best to find a solution to it. With that, I’ve only taken an interest in business, sales, and being my own boss! I have a mother to thank for that mindset. Living in a household where my mom took on the role of a single mother working a 9-to-5, to me finding myself watching her every move and evolving into an entrepreneur starting two successful logistic companies, and still finding the time to be the greatest parent there is…. I guess after that, all I can really say is that I grew up BEYOND BLESSED, appreciative & thankful.

Is there a specific memory from when you were younger that you really miss?
Ooooo If I could choose just one memory I would, but my favorite memories would be when my childhood friends and myself would all play outside in the neighborhood till the streetlights turned on, but not before going to the “Cool-Cup” lady’s house for 25 cent cool cups and snacks, and noticing everyone’s parents enjoy each others company while we kids play. It’s nothing like that anymore during these times sadly, which is why I’ll cherish those memories forever!

So, what should we be on the lookout for, what’s next in store for you?
Well… most entrepreneurs would answer that question with, “The future of **insert business here** will expand and become a prominent company in this industry” and so forth…

Even though I myself can’t foresee the future, what I will say is that I’ll strive down the path I am on which will consists of investing in newer projects down the line while potentially starting a VC fund & securities that will target small businesses & startups. Granted with any company, idea or project, there will be many fires along the way and that, unfortunately, comes with the territory… BUT it’s with those failures which keep me motivated to continue to do better than before! I mean failing at something is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently than before, you know? You can’t have a successful business or life without a few or a lot of hiccups down the road. You can only learn your best lessons from battles you have lost. What superhero do you know of that’s won every war without losing a battle or two?… Think about it.

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