Doug Donovan
CEO & Co-Founder
Interplay Learning
GET TO KNOW DOUG...
Hometown:
Marblehead, Massachusetts | Currently resides in Austin, TX
Alma Mater:
University of Virginia and University of California (Berkeley)
Motto:
“Just Show Up” — I’m a big believer that in life you just have to show up for your family and your team. You don’t have to have all the answers, but you do have to show up.
Hobbies:
I love snow skiing and playing tennis. I wish I carved out more time to do each more often.
Q: What inspired the creation of Interplay Learning?
A: The idea for Interplay was born out of a challenge I faced at another company when conducting a hybrid training program for energy auditors. There was only one field training day allotted for the trainees—not nearly enough to effectively train auditors for all the different potential scenarios and variables they would encounter, so I started exploring efficient ways to create a simulation-type training and realized there was a huge gap in this area. While most learning in the white-collar world is cognitive-based without a manual component, our learners needed hands-on training so there was an inherent challenge to execute, scale, and get people effectively trained. I saw that as an opportunity.
Q: Who has been the biggest support or resource within the startup ecosystem?
A: I give Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN) and Rick Timmins, who was the CTAN chair at the time, a lot of credit for providing the original support and resources we needed to start building a successful company. CTAN and the entrepreneurial and investment community has consistently kept us on track and given us the help when and where needed while always respecting where we were in our journey. Having a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem really makes it easier to take chances, especially when you feel like others have your back.
Q: What is a lesson learned you’d like to share with other entrepreneurs?
A: Creating a repeatable and scalable business is at the core of a venture-backed business, and it’s not easy to accomplish. When you truly get to this point, you know it. If you only “think” you’re there, you’re probably not. You’ve got to be able to see predictability in your sales funnel and your delivery capabilities.
Q: What is your favorite thing about doing business in Texas?
A: Definitely the people. Austin, in particular, is such a mix of talent and ideas because you’ve got people that come from all over, so it doesn't feel homogenous. There is an amazing mix of people and businesses which leads to lots of interesting conversations and different perspectives.
Q: What was your first job? Learn anything that still applies?
A: My first job was a dishwasher at a restaurant, then I was promoted to prep cook and had to peel potatoes, chop vegetables, and everything in between.
Once I was carefully peeling potatoes and the sous chef went crazy and yelled, “You're f***-ing peeling potatoes! That’s the cheapest thing in the kitchen, so I don’t care if you waste 30% of them—hurry up!” To this day, I still use this analogy with my team about certain activities and priorities, but I try to go light on the profanities. If there’s something that we need to work through quickly but doesn’t have to be perfect, I’ll say, “We’re peeling potatoes on this one—not cleaning a lobster.”
Q: What advice would you give an entrepreneur that is building out his/her team?
A: I would say surround yourself with optimistic people you enjoy working with every day. There are a million reasons that whatever you're trying to do won't work, so you need people that will see beyond the challenges in a positive way to get to the solutions.
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: I am usually dealing with my five-and-a-half-year-old daughter who has an insatiable appetite for Chutes and Ladders at the crack of dawn.
Headquartered in Austin and founded in 2016, Interplay Learning is the leading global provider of online and VR training for the essential skilled trades. The Austin, Texas-based firm develops and delivers scalable, highly effective digital learning simulations for the HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Solar, and Facilities Maintenance workforce. Leveraging Comersive Learning technology, Interplay allows its customers to practice hands-on learning and train to be job-ready in weeks, not years.
Currently, Interplay has 80+ employees, 2,000+ customers and 110,000+ users nationwide. The company has raised $24M+ with S3 Ventures leading its Series A and co-leading its Series B alongside Owl Ventures.