Founders First System
Founder
Aaron Houghton
11x founder focused on helping founders stay healthy while running their companies. Founder at @FoundersFirstSystem, former co-founder and chairman at @iContact
11x founder focused on helping founders stay healthy while running their companies. Founder at @FoundersFirstSystem, former co-founder and chairman at @iContact
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Experience
Techstars Boulder
Advisor
Huck Adventures
Advisor
Advisor
ProPatient
Advisor
MainBrain School
Founder
Exit
Advisor
Advisor
Exit
Advisor
Board Member
The Startup Factory
Mentor
BoostSuite
Founder, Founder and CEO
Exit
iContact
Founder
Preation
Founder and CEO
Eden Platform
Founder
Factrivia
Founder
StartupWithMe
Founder
ClickScapes
Founder
CollegeUnited
Founder
CollegeDirect
Founder
Founder
Founder
Employee
Advisor
Board Member
Mentor
Education
About
Achievements
Since starting my first business at age 17, I've built and launched 11 startups, scaling one from just an idea to first revenue to 350 employees and $50M in annual subscription revenue. I've sold two companies to private buyers and one to a publicly traded company for $169M before my 30th birthday.
Founded and sold iContact for $169 million. Selected as an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008. I was listed to Inc Magazine's 30 Under 30 list in 2010. I've shared my story and my thoughts on mental health and performance under pressure with hundreds of audiences including Harvard University, Entrepreneurs Organization, The White House, Inc Magazine and StartupNation.
Describe the most impressive thing you've done.
Skills
What I'm Looking For
I believe entrepreneurs can be healthy, and happy, and at the same time build great companies and change the world. I'm looking for founders who are experiencing the personal cost of running their companies and chasing their dreams and are ready to learn the tools they need to stay health and happy.
Describe what you're looking for in a company.
Locations
Q&A
What's the most useful business-related book you've ever read?
Who by Geoffrey Smart
What's your favorite non-business book?
Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright
If money were not an issue, what would you be doing right now?
Money isn't an issue. I'm doing my dream job now, giving back to the community that gave so much to me by teaching the Founders First System that helps founders stay healthy and happy while they build their companies and chase their dreams.
What words of advice would you give your younger self?
Don't assume your mental and physical health is easy to regain. The stress and resulting anxiety, depression, mood swings and burnout you're experiencing now will not go away after you sell your company someday. Make a change now to be healthy later.
What's the most creative thing you've ever done?
Created the Founders First System, a set of disciplines, tools, and metrics that help founders stay healthy and happy while they build their companies and chase their dreams. I'm teaching the live workshop to founders across the country in 2020.
Which founders or startups do you most admire?
Founders who find balance and stay healthy while they build their companies. One founder I've worked with told me he has 30 investors and five years in I'm the only person who's ever asked how he's doing. Everyone else asks how the company is doing.
What's your super power?
Taking huge amounts of disconnected information and finding the patterns in it so that it can be simplified down to something anyone can understand and build upon.
What's the best way for people to get in touch with you?
Join the Founders First Community by downloading our app on iOS and Android and respond to one of the questions I've asked recently. Mention you want to get in touch with me and I'll send you a direct message.
What words of wisdom do you live by?
Despite what our egos tell us, most of the outcomes we create as founders are subject most greatly to the whims of chance, not our actual abilities. In order to have the best experience we must be happy and healthy now. Nothing else is guaranteed.
What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?
Helping founders stay mentally and physically healthy while they endure the pressure of building companies and chasing their dreams. I've done it 11 times before. My lowest point personally was two years after my biggest exit. I learned a better way.
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