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Joah Spearman

Founder and CEO @ TenYour Keynote Speaker & Adviser to CEOs

Joah Spearman is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of TenYour, a venture-backed startup launched in July 2023 that aims to help middle-class Americans build generational wealth.1 He is one of the few Black tech founder-CEOs in history to raise more than $5 million in startup funding without Silicon Valley VCs, accomplishing this by building a community of over 100 angel investors.12

Prior to TenYour, Spearman founded and led Localeur from January 2013 to June 2024. Localeur was a platform that helped over 7 million travelers experience cities like locals, providing authentic recommendations for places to eat, drink, and explore in more than 200 cities worldwide.1

Spearman's career has been diverse and impactful:

  1. He worked as Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives at Bazaarvoice during its pre-IPO phase.
  2. He ran his own social media consulting company, helping transform Austin's Rainey Street into a nightlife district.
  3. He opened a sneaker boutique in Downtown Austin.
  4. He created and ran the first-ever fashion component of the SXSW festival.

Throughout his career, Spearman has served on the boards of several major Texas-based nonprofit organizations, including the March of Dimes, AIDS Services of Austin, Austin PBS, and ZACH Theatre. He has also advised various entities, including the Mayor of Austin, ESPN X Games, South by Southwest Festival, and the Beijing Olympics.12

Spearman is known for his compelling speaking engagements, where he shares his journey from a childhood of food stamps and an absent father to becoming a successful entrepreneur and tech leader.2 His experiences and insights make him a valuable advisor to CEOs on various challenges they face in the business world.3

Highlights

Jul 24 · linkedin

This is what we’re focused on at TenYour.

Jul 8 · linkedin

As I build TenYour, a lot of my focus is on talking with folks about generational wealth. But generational wealth isn’t just about money and trust funds and the like.

So much of generational wealth is greater and more important than money in many ways.

I’ve started a list.

What would you add?

  1. Being led into a relationship with God.
  2. Common sense.
  3. Healthy self talk and affirmations.
  4. Starting and ending every day with gratitude.
  5. Lifelong learning, reading and listening.
  6. Being open to new experiences and change.
  7. The ability to be & do things alone.
  8. Choosing agency over victimhood.
  9. Knowing the value of hard work.
  10. Being kind when no one is looking.
  11. Having an appreciation for nature.
  12. Truly understanding your own body’s needs.
  13. Putting a good playlist together for any mood.
  14. Being a great tipper in restaurants/bars.
  15. Having your own sense of style.
  16. Paying people and taxes on time.
  17. A healthy detachment from possessions.
  18. Being able to resolve conflict.
  19. A willingness to walk away when needed.
  20. Avoiding procrastination.
  21. Setting healthy boundaries.
  22. Knowing travel is actually education.
  23. Loving and valuing the kid inside you.
  24. Being the first person on the dance floor.
  25. Being able to swim.

Related Questions

What inspired Joah Spearman to start TenYour?
How did Joah Spearman achieve success without Silicon Valley VCs?
What are some key achievements of Localeur under Joah Spearman's leadership?
How does TenYour help middle-class Americans build generational wealth?
What challenges did Joah Spearman face while building Localeur?
Joah Spearman
Joah Spearman, photo 1
Joah Spearman, photo 2
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Location

Sacramento, California, United States