Cotopaxi: Davis Smith

First Ventures

Davis Smith's entrepreneurial journey began with Pooltables.com, a venture that, despite its modest scale, was profitable and personally fulfilling. He and his cousin Kimball decided to pursue further education at business schools, aiming to build something more significant than their initial venture. Davis reflects on the decision to invest in themselves rather than just their business, noting, "We just felt like investing it in ourselves would be a more valuable long-term investment" 1. Their next venture, Baby BR, was inspired by the untapped potential in Brazil's baby product market, a realization sparked by conversations with Brazilian classmates 2.

   

Mentors

Davis Smith's path to entrepreneurship was heavily influenced by mentors and personal experiences. A pivotal moment was reading about Steve Gibson, whose work in the Philippines inspired Davis to use his talents for social good. Davis recalls, "That's really the first time in my life where I thought, you know what? I'm going to be an entrepreneur" 3. His missionary work in Bolivia also instilled a sense of purpose beyond personal gain, teaching him the value of serving others 4. Additionally, his encounter with a young entrepreneur named Edgar in Cusco reinforced his desire to create a business that could help others 5.