Feb 11, 2021
Just because we’re living through the most tumultuous time in human history doesn’t mean we can’t still do some good. In fact, it’s all the more reason to. It’s so refreshing to see those that have seen success with startups give back to their communities.
Welcome to Building While Flying!
This weekly podcast is brought to you by the Sasha Group. We’re the consultancy meets agency arm of the VaynerX family of companies. We help ambitious companies build strong brands that flex with the times through strategy, branding media and marketing.
In ever-changing times, businesses and brands have to shift and adapt. And across all sectors, there is an air of experimentation. Business owners are trying new things out in the wild; building the plane while flying.
Ted Alling is doing so much good in Chattanooga.
A big part of the reason why there’s a VaynerX office in Chattanooga is Ted Alling. This guy has so much pride for his town, you can’t help but fall in love with it from his passion alone. As co-founder of Chattanooga Prep, he demonstrates this passion in the most admirable way. This school for boys prepares tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and leaders by giving them a strong, solid and loving foundation.
Ted is the co-founder and former CEO of Access America, a $500 logistics startup company. Access America eventually merged with Coyote Logistics, a UPS subsidiary. So obviously, Ted is a perfect example of massive startup success.
The driving force behind much of what Ted does is a desire to build Chattanooga into a destination for young businesses. This is why he helped co-found Lamp Post Group in 2010, a venture capital firm. They have invested $36 million into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, all in an effort to turn their beloved city into a landscape ripe for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
In this episode, Mickey and Ted, who happen to be close friends, chat all about startups and the good you’re able to do with their success. They discuss navigating personal relationships when they also involve business, and how Ted’s been able to beat the odds of mixing friendship with startups. Ted is such a caring, thoughtful guy. And it’s so amazing to hear all the work he’s doing with the boys’ prep school and the Chattanooga community as a whole. This is a feel-good episode for sure.
Other in-flight topics:
- Ted’s upbringing
- The early stages of his career
- Partnering with friends
- The challenges of logistics startups
- All things Chattanooga
- The reasons behind the prep school idea
Links:
Connect with Ted on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedalling/
Dynamo Ventures - https://www.dynamo.vc/
Lamp Post Group - https://www.lamppostgroup.com/
Chattanooga Preparatory School - https://www.chattanoogaprep.com/