Nothing prevents cryptocurrency from going over the tipping point toward widespread acceptance more than mistrust. People don’t know what it’s about or how it can be used. People are especially concerned about whether or not they can trade safely.
CryptoAgency addresses these concerns in blessedly straightforward and transparent fashion. A weekly newsletter informs subscribers about all things concerning cryptocurrency. Registered members can rate businesses and organizations dealing in cryptocurrency in order to build a record of who is worth trusting. CryptoAgency also accredits businesses, which allows them to display a seal on their sites that lets consumers know they are safe.
Larry Fenton, Founder of CryptoAgency, tells us more about how his startup will make cryptocurrency safer for all to use:
What’s your company about? What do you do? Who are your customers?
Cryptocurrency rating agency – Our members rate companies that do business using bitcoin and other alternative cryptocurrencies. We accredit businesses who pay a yearly fee to use our interactive emblem on their website indicating that their business is trustworthy, reliable, secure, and safe to deal with.
What’s the greatest thing about your company/website? Why is it better than the competition?
The greatest thing about our company is our members. We have a transparent and innovative concept using members’ writing, ratings, and reviews to determine the appropriate rating for businesses on our website. This insures an honest and reliable means of rating companies involved in the use of bitcoin and other alternative currencies.
How’d you come up with the name for your company?
We started out as bitcoin-bbb but that may have been a violation or trademark infringement on the current BBB (Better Business Bureau). So we changed the name of our company to CryptoAgency to avoid possible litigation and to better reflect what we are about.
What time do you usually start work each day? How many hours a day do you usually work?
5:30am – 4:00pm. 9 hours.
When’s the last time you went on vacation and where did you go?
Working vacation to Galveston and Houston, Texas, in November – December of 2013. Prior to that, I went to Washington, DC, to protest war in Syria and provide evidence of the crime of treason by one of our current US Senators, Brian Schatz, to Congress, September 2013.
What’s the very first thing you do at work every day?
Do a little exercise.
When do your best ideas come to you? In bed in the morning? During dinner? On your third beer?
Late afternoon.
How many people did you start the company with and how many people work for you now?
4, 2 currently work for me.
A lot of people have big ideas. What gave you the confidence to actually go after yours?
Prior experience in the realm of bitcoin convinced me this was a good idea.
Remember the early days of starting up? Describe the struggles you went through.
Developing the website was tough, especially because I couldn’t find anyone with the time or expertise to do it locally. I found someone through Supergeeks who works out of Bangladesh to actually do it.
How do you handle frustration? What has been your biggest professional frustration?
Sales and marketing is really tough.
How do you picture your company in 5 years?
Bustling center of activity with a huge office in downtown Honolulu, HI.
Who or what inspires YOU? Role models? Quotes? Running? Video games? Snack food?
Andreas Antonopoulis of Blockchain.info and Roger Ver inspire me. “We replace the fed with 100 lines of Python code.” – Andreas Antonopoulos
How’d you fund this venture? VC? Self-funding? Crowdfunded? Where’d you get the money, man?
Self-funding from working my job in construction.
Got any great bootstrapping tips for the lean startups out there?
Don’t give up!
What other advice do you have for other entrepreneurs struggling to get started?
Use social media to help you out and notify the membership clubs you are in.
What would you do if you had a year off and $500,000 to spend (on something other than work)?
I would start a non-profit group, which would travel to third-world countries and provide housing, food, technology, and humanitarian assistance to those without.
Do you consider yourself a successful entrepreneur? If not, what’ll make you feel successful?
Not yet. Once we have 10,000 members I will feel successful.
Top 5 websites you couldn’t live without and why?
- facebook.com (use it every day)
- yahoo.com (got to find out the latest news)
- drudgereport.com (find out the latest REAL news)
- twitter.com (get the latest info. from real people and groups)
- cryptoagency.org (find out the latest on bitcoin companies)
Top 5 mobile apps you’re in love with and why?
- Google Authenticator (secure my account)
- Authy Authenticator (secure my account)
- Mail (email app)
- Facebook (keep track of friends and what’s going on)
- QR Reader (exciting innovation in technology)
Three people (other than you) we should follow on Twitter and why?
Andreas Antonopoulos, Roger Ver, Donald Trump. (First two because they’re involved in bitcoin in a beneficial role and the Don because he’s been successful.)
Please share some specific numbers (funding, revenue, visitors) that highlight your growth.
We have about 50 members currently, 250 newsletter subscribers, 112 twitter followers, 116 Facebook “Likes.” 7 Accredited companies. No revenue yet. Have applied to bluestartups Hawaii for equity funding.
Where can we find CryptoAgency online?
Photo Credits
CryptoAgency | Zach Copley
