The CEO of Craftsman+ turned down a $10 million bonus from AppLovin to start the company
CEO, founder of Craftsman+ Alex Merutka told FOX Business that the company was in the travel zone when Covid-19 affected the market and people around the world could not travel. He has changed strategies in sports where he has seen success.
While the money is often high for business owners, one CEO was so attracted to the rising rate of success in business – that he turned down a $10 million bonus to start his own company.
Alex Merutka, founder and CEO of Craftsman+, an innovative technology company that empowers brands to increase engagement with consumers, has left AppLovin, a $100 billion Silicon Valley startup, to become its CEO.
“There was a point where money really didn’t matter to me,” Merutka told FOX Business during a video interview.
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Alex Merutka, founder and CEO of Craftsman+, gave up a $10 million bonus to start his company. (Expert+ / Fox News)
Craftsman+ markets a personal design platform for companies. Businesses can drag and drop mechanics into a branded play area and launch it into gamers to experience a brand-consumer interaction.
In college, it was Merutka’s goal to earn a six-figure salary. He says, at that time, he would be content enough to pay the rent and help his mother.
“I could do everything in my life with that six-figure salary,” Merutka said. “When I achieved that very quickly, when I turned 21, money was not so much on my mind.”
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Alex Merutka, CEO and founder of creative technology company Craftsman+, told FOX Business startups are investing in themselves first. Merutka has rethought his company amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.
“How could I be the boss I looked up to, who was my old boss at AppLovin, if I was working for him?” he asked.
Despite admitting “a ton of money” and a higher package he left on the table, Merutka says he “wouldn’t trade” his decision for the world.
Today, Merutka called from Egypt, where he rode a horse on the beach 20 minutes before the scheduled call. Before that, he was making connections in India and visiting an orphanage in Nepal.
“If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, it’s really hard to stay motivated,” said Merutka.
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Merutka told FOX Business that he sold his shares to fund the company for three months during a strategic run amid COVID-19. (Expert+ / Fox News)
And even though the 33-year-old CEO takes calls from all over the world, he allows his employees the same comfort, as long as they do their job and meet expectations, even if that means at 4 in the morning.
The interactive content platform, originally in the travel space, used strategies when the COVID-19 had a negative impact on the business, and Merutka entered the gaming category first.
“Those hard times make you stronger,” he said.
Merutka sold his investment portfolio to fund the company during challenging times, including his Tesla holdings.
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“I lost tons of money because of that,” he said.
“I got more profit by investing in my team,” Merutka told FOX Business. “My whole company knows that I sold all my stocks to finance the company in those three months so that we can succeed.”
Mertuka learned early in his career to make calls, try harder and look at marketing and sales differently than usual when he was told “no.”
“I think that’s what makes you really good and ultimately sets you up for long-term success,” he said.
His best advice for newcomers looking to grow professionally or invest in their business: “Set aside money,” he said.
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