Transforming Data Ownership Into A Connective Force With Aaron Lyles

Forward Obsessed

Aaron Lyles is the Founder and CEO of CommonAlly, a company that builds two-sided marketplaces to connect organizations with hard-to-reach communities in a way that empowers people and gives them agency over their data. Aaron's entrepreneurial journey began at a young age when he started a snowboarding magazine in high school despite challenges with ADHD. This experience taught him the value of passion, perseverance, and creative problem-solving. After college, Aaron founded a photography firm called Pixel Lab, which later evolved into a video production collective called Multiple Mammals.

The idea for CommonAlly was born out of Aaron's desire to create a more empathetic and less polarized world, especially for his young daughter, in the midst of the tumultuous 2016 election. He raised money from friends, family and dev firms to build the platform. Recently, CommonAlly was acquired by Small Great Ventures, allowing Aaron to continue pursuing his vision with the necessary resources and support. Throughout the interview, Aaron shares valuable insights and candid stories about the challenges of entrepreneurship, from difficult co-founder splits to navigating the acquisition process.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mission-driven entrepreneurship and the real-world challenges and triumphs of building a startup. Aaron's story offers an honest and inspiring look at the entrepreneurial journey, with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and staying true to one's values in the face of adversity. Aspiring founders and business leaders will come away with practical insights and wisdom they can apply to their own ventures.

Episode Outline

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:03:47) Growing up with ADHD in the 80s and learning to navigate life differently

(00:05:12) Starting a snowboarding magazine in high school

(00:07:54) Overcoming academic struggles and getting into Emerson College

(00:10:21) Founding Pixel Lab photography business and evolving into Multiple Mammals

(00:17:07) Inspiration for starting CommonAlly during the 2016 election to combat polarization

(00:20:39) Challenges of being a solo founder and the importance of having the right partners

(00:25:34) Building a creative collective model with Multiple Mammals

(00:31:02) Pivoting CommonAlly's business model to focus on a two-sided marketplace

(00:37:29) Navigating the acquisition process with Small Great Ventures

(00:47:11) The role of AI in enhancing CommonAlly's offerings

(00:48:42) Lessons learned and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

(00:52:36) Fundraising challenges and the importance of strategic partnerships for growth

(00:57:15) The evolution of CommonAlly's services

(01:02:54) The significance of CommonAlly's acquisition and the continuation of Aaron's vision

(01:06:09) The importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship and staying true to one's values

(01:11:42) Closing thoughts and how to connect with CommonAlly for potential partnerships

Episode Links

CommonAlly (current company): https://www.commonally.com/
Multiple Mammals (previous company): https://www.multiplemammals.com/
Small Great Ventures (acquired CommonAlly): https://www.smallgreat.co/
Emerson College (attended): https://emerson.edu/

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