We recently connected with Andrew Batey and have shared our conversation below.
Andrew, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from a culmination of lessons learned, a disciplined upbringing, exposure to diverse communities, and working through challenges I faced head on. I did not grow up wealthy, and this pushed me to learn the value of hard work and perseverance from an early age. I realized that if I wanted something, I had to roll up my sleeves and work for it. This instilled a sense of determination and grit in me that continues to drive me today.
My parents served in the military, which definitely gave me an edge in building the foundations of my work ethic. I was surrounded by a culture of discipline, structure, and goal-setting. From setting specific one-year to five-year goals, I learned the importance of planning and, more importantly, executing objectives with unwavering dedication. Also, growing up with different pockets of people ranging from extreme wealth to extreme poverty provided me with a different perspective. Witnessing such disparities motivated me to carve out my own path in life. I realized that success wasn’t just about innate intelligence or talent; it was about putting in the effort consistently. I believe in the power of relentless effort and persistence in achieving desired results. This mindset has been instrumental in pushing my limits and giving 100% in everything I do.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an accomplished tech entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience, contributing to major industry transformations across entertainment, social media, P2P, IoT, and blockchain innovation. I’ve raised over $150M for my own startups and filed more than 40 patents across seven countries in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data infrastructure. As the Founder and Co-CEO of Beatdapp, I’m leading the charge against artificial music streaming fraud, helping artists and music labels recover billions in lost royalty revenue.
Each year, $3 billion in royalties are lost to financial scammers who use innovative methods to steal streams. Our Canada-based company, Beatdapp, has been recognized as a Top 20 Music Company Globally by Crunchbase and featured on the “Emerging Rockets List” in 2020 and 2021. We’ve also graduated from prestigious accelerators like Creative Destruction Labs, 500 Startups, Project Music Portfolio, and the highly selective C100 “48Hrs in the Valley”.
Financial scammers exploit artists in various ways, like making charitable donations with bots continuously streaming music in the background or linking hundreds to thousands of phones together in warehouses to simulate human-like streaming behavior. They often upload fake songs with minor metadata changes to deceive users into thinking they’re listening to the original version.
Throughout my career, I’ve founded 5 companies and scaled them to hundreds of employees with tens of millions of dollars in revenue. My companies have been featured in publications like Mashable, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Wired, and TechCrunch. I’ve mentored numerous startups in LA, SF, NYC, and Vancouver, and invested in over 150 companies as a venture capitalist across multiple industries.
Outside of work, I enjoy teaching fourth-year Advertising and Marketing courses at various universities and spending time in Nashville. You’ll often find me traveling between Vancouver, Florida, and Tennessee, hitting the slopes on my snowboard or enjoying beach time with my family.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Reflecting on my journey, the top three most impactful qualities for me would be: 1) to cultivate loyalty by consistently demonstrating your support for others and upholding your commitments; 2) approach networking with authenticity and focus on building genuine connections rather than superficial interactions; and 3) to embrace curiosity as a driving force for growth and development.
1. Loyalty
My advice for those starting out is to show up consistently, be willing to offer help without expecting anything in return, and refrain from speaking negatively about others. Have your friend’s back and support them even if you think they are wrong. If it is someone you genuinely care about and want to maintain a connection with, show them with your actions, not just your words. Don’t say things you won’t actually do, and trust that what you say, no matter to whom, will circle back. People remember the ones who stand by them through thick and thin, and this loyalty often leads to reciprocal support and opportunities.I often tell my staff, the top characteristic I look for in people is loyalty.
2. Networking (the right way)
Networking isn’t about collecting business cards or meeting as many people as possible. It’s about forming genuine connections with individuals you naturally resonate with. Whether it’s a colleague, a server, or a high-profile figure, focus on building authentic friendships rather than viewing interactions as transactions. Invest time and effort into nurturing these relationships, as people are more inclined to do business with those they genuinely like and trust. Remember, one real connection will outweigh 100 distant acquaintances. Nobody remembers someone they met for 3 minutes at a networking event. Go deep, not wide. Show genuine interest in what they do and who they are, and build an authentic connection.
3. Curiosity
Remaining curious and continuously learning has opened doors to unexpected opportunities and enriched my journey. Embrace a mindset of lifelong learning and exploration, seeking knowledge in areas that pique your interest. Whether it’s through reading, taking courses, or engaging in new experiences. Cultivate a thirst for knowledge and a willingness to push your boundaries, as curiosity often leads to personal growth and professional advancement. This also ensures that you never grow bored, since you are always on the hunt for more.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The individual who has been most instrumental in helping me to get where I am today is, without a doubt, my wife. Her impact on my life and career cannot be overstated. It is no coincidence that my career took off the moment we met. She serves as my anchor, keeping me grounded even amidst the roughest moments in my life. Her unwavering honesty and refusal to tolerate any form of nonsense serve as a constant reminder to stay true to myself and my values. Beyond being my moral compass, she’s also my most trusted advisor. Whenever I find myself at a crossroads, her insights and wisdom provide clarity and direction, and at times open my mind to a new way of thinking that I would not have considered previously. I trust her judgment and deeply value her opinions.
Furthermore, her role in maintaining a stable home environment is paramount. As a serial entrepreneur, I firmly believe that chaos at work and chaos at home cannot coexist. Her dedication, loyalty, and authenticity have created a haven of stability at home that allows me to tackle the chaos inherent in startup life head-on.
I would not be where I am today without my wife. From her support, guidance, and the nurturing home environment she has cultivated, she has been indispensable in my journey towards success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beatdapp.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbatey/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbatey/
