In this ongoing series, we share advice, suggestions and insights from real entrepreneurs who fight business battles every day. (Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.)
Give us your company’s elevator pitch.
I’m Orpheus Botheasfounder and CEO of the company Krotos. Our software enables content creators to transform the slow sound design process into a real-time performance. Our audio software has been used in movies, series and video games Avengers, Game of Thrones, Stranger things AND Cyberpunk 2077. Our recent platform, Krotos Studio, uses artificial intelligence to enable creators of all skill levels to design Hollywood-quality sound and make their content stand out.
Credit: Krotos Studio
What inspired you to create this business?
My inspiration began when I did my Masters in Sound Design. I had to create monster sounds for the game. While I enjoyed the process, finding the animal sounds and recording my voice, then layering and processing them using various programs, proved time-consuming. It took many hours. My frustration led me to develop a solution that turns your voice into monstrous sounds in real time. This is how the idea for our first product, Dehumaniser, and eventually Krotos was born. This saves time and money while making the process more enjoyable.
What was your “aha” moment?
When I saw people’s faces light up, when I heard their voices turn into a Hollywood quality monster as they spoke!
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking for financing?
Make sure you really want financing – having investors is not an option for every business. If so, prepare a prototype with traction, or great executives who have already left the company, or each. Be patient and don’t quit until you reach over 150 investors. Durability is the key. Conversion rates from offer to term sheet range from 0.3% to 1%.
What does the word “entrepreneur” mean to you?
An innovator, a disruptor, someone who can invent something. Someone who can think of a higher way to do things. Someone who is unemployed.
What is something that many aspiring business owners think they need but don’t really want?
Experience and money.
Is there a specific quote or saying that you simply use as personal motivation?
“When we strive to be better than we are, everything around us becomes better.” – Paulo Coelho, Alchemist
Entrepreneurship is a journey stuffed with ups and downs, with many challenges that may push you to your limits. If you get the hang of it and want to grow, you have to improve, learn every day and grow to be higher at the whole lot you do. When this happens, the people around you furthermore may grow to be higher because you make higher decisions.