Connor Ellison of Pogr.
Tell us about yourself?
I am a serial entrepreneur who started his first company that took advantage of early dropshipping at 16.
My early business life revolved around music management and A&R at Atlantic Records.
Unfortunately my love for music came to a halt and I dived deep into my true love, gaming. Fast forward to today Pogr is on track to positively disrupt gaming.
What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?
The issue is people think everything is figured out completely. The true power of an entreprenurial team is that everyone involved is determined to figure it out.
If you could go back in time to any moment from your journey, and give yourself one tip, what would it be?
During the middle of our fundraise when the team was stressing and we were emptying our bank accounts / maxing cards to get us through until our investment arrived.
I would have told myself to take a deep breath and that the stress isn’t worth it.
What makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
My ability to handle stress and stay calm under pressure.
This is specifically important as the CEO since the team looks at you in tough moments for clarity or reassurance. Providing that allows the team and youself to continue working at the same rate.
What are some of the best working habits you’ve gained over the past couple of years?
I don’t eat breakfast until i’ve earned it. It makes my morning the most productive time because it adds an achievable goal. It also makes breakfast that much more delicious.
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
Poggers or Pogchamp is a term you will definitely hear when in a twitch chat or in a matchmaking queue.
It is a term that means great play or good job – as a gaming statistics company we coins Pogr as Play of Game Rating.
Where do you see your business in five years?
We see us as the statistical foundation for the future of gaming & the metaverse.
We want to be one of the building blocks for how all future games, players and communities interact.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you in getting there?
Right now our biggest hurdle (which we are overcoming quite well) is onboarding game studios. The hard part is explaining to them why this is the better way.
We have no where to point to – we have to describe the future and why this route is more beneficial for them. We have been getting a great reaction but our journey is still early.
Talk to us about your biggest success story so far?
Our biggest success story was signing our first client as a single player title and when the studio released their new multi-player game they onboarded us instantly for that.
It just showed us that we are doing something truly great and once someone sees behind the curtain they understand.
Like we aren’t crazy… we are spot on. It inspired me at least to onboard more and more games through the end and early next year.
How do clients and customers find you? Are you much of a salesperson for yourself?
Our website is the best way but I am also the sales person reaching out and setting up discovery calls mutliple times a day.
We are excited to hear the response from curious development studios and build features that make the entire game making process more efficent.
What one tip would you give to fellow startup founders?
Find co-founders that have complimentary skill sets. Each of us has a different specialty and each of them allow us to build this company not only affordably but also completely in-house.
And finally, what do you hope the future brings both you personally, and your business?
I hope the gaming worlds integrates Pogr across all sectors. I want all games and players to be Powered by Pogr!
