Simon John Thomas shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Simon John, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now is a mix of building, connecting, and problem-solving. I usually start the day checking in with my team and our partners, making sure projects across Octus Network and our platforms like EventSense and CommunityOS are moving forward. Some days that means diving into product development with our Georgia Tech collaborators; other days it’s working on sponsorship decks or meeting with local chambers and venues in Atlanta.
I spend a lot of time balancing two worlds: the creative side of events and culture, and the technical side of building AI-powered tools for community and event planning. It’s not always glamorous; there are spreadsheets, budgets, and a lot of moving parts, but what keeps me energized is knowing that the work we’re doing is about solving isolation and creating infrastructure for people to connect.
By the evening, I’m usually switching gears to community, either being out at events, brainstorming content, or building relationships. Every day looks a little different, but the through-line is the same: growing Octus into a platform that blends technology, culture, and real human connection.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Simoñ John Thomas, and I’m the founder of Octus Network, a creative growth engine based in Atlanta that blends culture, community, and technology. Our mission is simple but urgent: to fight isolation by building tools and experiences that bring people together.
Through platforms like EventSense (an AI-powered event planning and vendor marketplace), CommunityOS (a system for membership, loyalty, and engagement), and HavenOS (a property and HOA management solution with a community-first focus), we’re building infrastructure for the next generation of events and neighborhoods.
What makes Octus unique is that we’re not just producing events, we’re creating systems. We combine data, design, and culture so brands, venues, and communities can connect in ways that feel both meaningful and measurable. From collaborating with Georgia Tech students on R&D to planning activations around major cultural moments like the World Cup 2026 in Atlanta, we’re constantly pushing the edge of how technology can serve human connection.
At its core, Octus is about making sure real moments become movements.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that shaped how I see the world was realizing how much isolation people actually live with, even in a city as big and connected as Atlanta. Growing up, I saw friends, neighbors, and even family who were talented, creative, and full of potential, but without access to the right networks, opportunities, or infrastructure, they often felt overlooked or disconnected.
That stuck with me. It showed me that community isn’t automatic; it has to be designed, nurtured, and supported. That realization is what drives me now with Octus Network and platforms like EventSense and HavenOS. I’m building tools that make connection possible at scale, whether that’s helping an artist reach new audiences, helping residents in a neighborhood engage with each other, or helping a brand activate in ways that actually bring people together.
That early awareness of how fragile connection can be, and how powerful it becomes when it’s intentional, changed my worldview. It made me believe that solving isolation isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a form of infrastructure.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me patience and perspective in a way that success never could. When you’re building something from the ground up, especially as a first-generation entrepreneur, you face a lot of rejection, doubt, and days when the resources just aren’t there. Those moments taught me how to create from scarcity, how to stay resourceful, and how to keep moving even when the path wasn’t clear.
Success feels good in the moment, but struggle shapes character. It reminded me that what I’m building with Octus Network isn’t about quick wins, it’s about long-term impact. Every tough moment has forced me to sharpen the vision, lean on creativity, and remember why this work matters. Suffering taught me how to build from nothing; success only proved I could keep going.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie in the events industry is that bigger is better. Everyone chases headcount, hype, and vanity metrics: ticket sales, foot traffic, social impressions. But you can pack out a room and still leave people feeling disconnected.
At Octus Network, I don’t believe scale equals success. If you don’t measure impact, the conversations sparked, the communities formed, the data that proves people actually engaged, then you’re just entertaining, not building culture.
The future isn’t about throwing the biggest party. It’s about building the infrastructure of connection. That’s why we’re creating platforms like EventSense and Octus Intelligence, to move this industry past empty numbers and into real, lasting impact.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me is that I built things that outlived me, not just companies, but systems that made it easier for people to connect. I want people to say I cared about community when it wasn’t the trend, that I fought isolation by creating infrastructure for culture, neighborhoods, and events to thrive.
With Octus Network, I’m not just chasing growth for the sake of growth. I’m building platforms like EventSense and HavenOS that can scale long after me, because they’re designed to serve people, not just markets.
At the end of the day, I hope the story isn’t just about me; it’s about the communities and movements that came alive because we built the tools to make them possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://octusnetwork.com
- Instagram: damnsohn
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-thomas-45486853/
