Profile: Joshua Johnson of Mindbox Studios

Profile: Joshua Johnson of Mindbox Studios

How did you come to be an entrepreneur?

It probably all started at home for me. My parents inspired me to think beyond just being employable by the way they approached their work. I saw them start four or five businesses over my childhood, and so I guess I was sort of nurtured into it. When I became an adult, like everyone else, I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. I didn't have too much time to think, however, within a two year period I was married, expecting a child and building my first startup, Mindbox Studios.

Why did you start your business?

I wanted to be in the business of ideas, period. I loved helping others take an idea and bring it to life. I especially love building my own ideas too. Technology is really a by-product of that core desire. Most of the ideas I saw making a difference in our world was centered around some sort of technology. It seemed* like a lower barrier to entry, too. It could be as easy as a server, some HTML files, a database, and some user experience and someone could have a business off the ground fairly quickly. This was very attractive to me, because, although my family started some companies when I was younger, we were far from rich. And, even though my family was a huge help early on, I really needed to make it on my own, one project, one idea at a time.

* I was delusional. It was much harder to have an idea, execute an idea and then make a business out of it. You know, where you actually make money? Not many people talk about that part.

What resources here did you take advantage of and how did they help?

First, my family. I had support from my wife, my parents and even extended family and friends all over. For some reason, they believed in a kid with no experience, who had a laptop, Converse All-Stars and a bit of passion. Outside of that, there were a plethora of other resources that made a huge difference in the Mindbox story.

HCBC: Pat Longo and the crew at the Hamilton County Business Center was a very early backbone that helped my partner, Lucas Cole, and I sink our teeth in the startup world, and most importantly, learning how to build a sound business.

The "Cunninghams": I'm talking about none other than Bill and Jim Cunningham. They aren't related, but their passions certainly are. Bill is Mindbox Studios' wise uncle, and Jim loops us into things like Morning Mentoring and the Startup Bootcamp. These guys should be paid by the City of Cincinnati for all they do to inspire young companies.

What advice would you give to someone starting a company here?

Do everything you can to get hooked up to the larger startup ecosystem as soon as possible. Make yourself available for all of the GCVA, Metro Innovation, Continuous Web, Circuit and C-CAP events. Then find which sub-groups provide your specific company or idea the most nourishment and get rooted in those networks.

What inspires you?

Being around people that love life, play hard and work hard.