So Ambitious 210. How One Man's Journey Led to Investing in 50 Companies with ACT House Founder Dominick Ard’is
In this episode of the So Ambitious Podcast, we dive into the dynamic journey of Dominick Ard’is, the innovative mind behind ACT House, a team formation platform, accelerator and VC providing tools and resources to founders to match with co-founders, build their team, and secure their first check.
From his upbringing as a military brat to his diverse career spanning management consulting, politics, and now entrepreneurship, Dominick shares the transformative moments that shaped his multifaceted path. With a portfolio of 50 companies and a total of over $4M in investments through the ACT House Accelerator program, Dominick reveals insights into the keys to starting a successful company and the 3 things that make or break its success.
Dominick also opens up about his unique approach to personal and professional growth, from adopting a uniform to streamline decision-making to reflecting on life through heartfelt typewritten letters. Dominick also shares his philosophy of incremental progress, highlighting the power of aiming for 2% better every day, and as he explores what success truly means, Dominick will leave you with profound reflections on the essence of investing in human potential and the audacity to reshape the world through passion, support, and relentless determination.
KEY POINTS
[1:43] - Who was Dominick Ard’is before ACT House?
[5:12] - Grad school to start-up: Dominick’s career transitions into entrepreneurship
[11:37] - The story behind ACT House's inception and its impact on entrepreneurship
[15:58] - The 3 things that make or break a start-up company’s success
[18:37] - How to learn and grow from your entrepreneurial failures
[21:28] - 3 reasons why Dominick wears a uniform as an entrepreneur
[26:35] - Writing letters to the month: How Dominick's typewriter reflections inspired intentional living
[28:15] - Dominick reflects on what it means to have invested in 35 companies through ACT House
[30:53] - How tapping into the power of 2% in goal setting will result in massive gains
[33:19] - What success means to Dominick Ard’is
QUOTABLES
“Everything starts at the human. And oftentimes, we look at a founder as a founder first instead of a human first.” - Dominick Ard’is
“The reality is this entity can be bankrupt tomorrow, but that person isn't bankrupt. And so if you invest in the human, you get an opportunity to actually see them take this vessel to the next level.” - Dominick Ard’is
GUEST RESOURCES
IG | @theacthouse
X | @theacthouse
LinkedIn | @theacthouse
Dominick Ard’is
IG | @iamdardis
LinkedIn | @dardis
RESOURCES
[APPLICATIONS OPEN!] | Are you building a high growth business in tech healthcare, AI, media entertainment, or consumer goods and services? If so, we'd like to help you scale. Don't miss your chance to win $1 million, capital coaching, and access to an amazing community of diverse innovators! Apply for the 2024 Black Ambition Prize competition now
IG | @feleciahatcher
IG | @blackambitionprize
So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media