Andrew Andrawes is an ambitious serial entrepreneur dedicated to investing in new opportunities and taking risks in the rapidly evolving business world. Over his eight years of field experience since graduating from USC, Andrawes has honed his interpersonal skills and worked to build a vast growing network of industry professionals and influencers in the business, marketing, and social media realms.
Serial entrepreneurship is a path many creative individuals take in order to see new business ideas come to fruition and continuing to develop additional ventures. If there’s one thing that Andrawes has learned during his career it’s that you never know where life will take you. Having obtained a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2012, he was ready to proceed on the path of construction and real estate.
“Things took a turn when I started to meet the right people. That’s when I realized that there is a void to fill and an opportunity to be in a field that was missing so much,” he says.
The resourceful and dynamic businessman dove headfirst into his first mobile app start-up Budspot, followed by the creation of Forma, an innovative CBD brand, and his latest project Thundrr, a talent management and influencer marketing agency. But launching a successful start-up goes beyond having a great idea on deck. Andrawes recounts beginning to invest in opportunities that were considered “high risk.”
“I have taken steps into investing time and money into various startups, cryptocurrency, and other highly volatile opportunities. As time goes by and I come closer to considering more stability, my investments and time have become more valuable.”
Now as he continues seeking new business opportunities, Andrawes has become more considerate of the brands and companies he associates himself with. For the open-minded 31-year-old, success also lies in surrounding himself with like-minded individuals that share his entrepreneurial vision. Maintaining relationships based on mutual trust and respect with those he works with helps fuel a collaborative environment, where everyone is a team player.
Andrawes’ latest endeavor Thundrr is made up of a creative team of veterans from the digital and tech communities, with the goal of helping brands achieve their visions through influencer marketing, campaign strategy, and building authentic connections. The project piggybacks off of Andrawes’ large network of influencers spanning North America, Latin American, Europe, and the Middle East.
Realizing there was a large lack of transparency on social media, Andrawes saw influencers were routinely being taken advantage of due to the fact that it was an emerging market and lacked benchmark rates.
“There was so much uncertainty especially in the social media space where there is so much competition. The first year is always hard but I was able to make it through with the help of my network and positive attitude,” he says.
Thundrr has continued to flourish, growing faster than ever, even amongst the pandemic. Today, the agency represents roughly 50 influencers, with an extended network of over 5,000 influencers worldwide. Standing out from the competition, Andrawes has managed to mold Thundrr into a flexible agency able to match brands with influencers, aid content creation, escalate social media growth, and define brand identities.
With setbacks and roadblocks bound to pop up, he is able to find joy in finding solutions to different problems. It’s no wonder that his diligence and work ethic are continuing to pave the way towards a promising future for himself and his investments.
“Most people are afraid to take risks since the outcome is not always guaranteed. But I decided to live my life not wondering ‘what if’.”