Craftsman+ CEO turned down $10M bonus from AppLovin to start company

Craftsman+ CEO and Founder Alex Merutka told FOX Business that the company was heavily active in the travel space when Covid-19 impacted the market and people around the world were unable to to travel. He shifted his strategy towards gaming where he found success.

While money is often a priority for business owners, one CEO was more attracted to climbing the ladder of entrepreneurial success – so much so that he turned down a $10 million bonus to launch his own business.

Alex Merutka, founder and CEO of Craftsman+, an innovative technology company that provides brands with the opportunity to increase their engagement with consumers, has left AppLovin, a Silicon Valley-based startup worth more than $100 billion , to become your own boss.

“There was a certain point where money didn’t really matter to me anymore,” Merutka told FOX Business in a video interview.

The rise of American small businesses started as a side hustle

Alex Merutka, founder and CEO of Craftsman+, left behind a $10 million bonus to start his own company. (Artisan+ / Fox News)

Craftsman+ markets a custom design platform for businesses. Companies can drag and drop mechanics into a branded gaming environment and launch them to players for an interactive brand-consumer experience.

In college, Merutka’s goal was to surpass a six-figure salary. He says that at that point he would have been satisfied enough because he could have paid his rent and helped his mother.

“I could do anything in my life on this six-figure salary,” Merutka said. “When I accomplished that pretty quickly, pretty much right when I turned 21, money wasn’t really my concern.”

MAJORITY OF GEN ZERS WANT TO BECOME ENTREPRENEURS, REPORT SAYS

Alex Merutka, CEO and founder of creative technology company Craftsman+, told FOX Entrepreneurs who are just starting out invest in themselves first. Merutka reinvented his business amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.

“How could I ever be the boss I admire so much, who was my former boss at AppLovin, if I worked for him?” he asked.

Although he acknowledges “a ton of money” and a superior package he left on the table, Merutka says he “wouldn’t trade” his decision for anything.

Today, Merutka called from Egypt, where he rode his horse onto a beach 20 minutes before the scheduled call. Before that, he was meeting friends in India and visiting an orphanage in Nepal.

“If you’re not having fun in what you’re doing, it’s really hard to stay motivated,” Merutka said.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GROWING. HERE ARE 6 WAYS ENTREPRENEURS CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE

Merutka told FOX Business he sold his personal shares to fund the company for three months when changing strategies amid COVID-19. (Artisan+ / Fox News)

And while the 33-year-old CEO fields calls from around the world, he extends the same luxury to his employees, as long as they do their jobs and meet expectations, even if that means at 4 a.m.

The interactive content platform, originally focused primarily on the travel industry, changed its strategy when COVID-19 hit the business badly, and Merutka dove headfirst into the gaming category.

“These difficult times make you stronger,” he said.

Merutka sold his personal investment portfolio to fund the company amid tough times, including his holdings in Tesla.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS

“I lost a lot of value on that,” he said.

“I gained even more value exponentially by investing in my team,” Merutka told FOX Business. “My entire company knows that I sold all my personal shares to fund the company for those three months to get us over the hump.”

Mertuka learned early in his career to get on the phone, try harder, and approach marketing and sales differently than was typical when he was told “no.”

“I think that’s what makes you truly creative and ultimately sets you up for long-term success,” he said.

His best advice for newcomers looking to grow professionally or invest in their business: “Invest in yourself,” he says.