Effortless Video Content Creation
The Origin Story of Adventr
Last Updated: By TRUiC Team
Video content is all the rage in the business world, as it’s almost essential for engaging the public about a product or service. However, producing it can be expensive and time-consuming.
Adventr bills itself as the world's most advanced video streaming technology company, offering cloud-based software that enables easier content creation. This is its origin story.
From Consultant to Producer to Entrepreneur
After graduating from Wharton, Adventr founder Devo Harris worked as a consultant at PWC for a time. However, the job didn’t take. “It didn't matter if I was there or not, so I hated it,” he says. “I couldn't, in my mind, provide an impact. So I knew I needed to do something where my presence would make more of a difference.”
He quit PWC and went to a startup called Venture Architects, which helped other startups raise money. “We helped them get their strategies right and their pitch decks right,” he says. “So I was exposed to a lot of startups at that point. And so from there, that's how I got the bug, ‘Oh, you can just make crazy ideas and convince people to buy it and then scale the company, and then there's exits.’”
After working at Venture Architects, the attacks of Sept. 11 changed his outlook (as they did for many people). So Devo decided to start a record label with his cousin, who’s none other than Kayne West. Seeing West work himself to the bone and take significant risks with his career inspired Devo to do the same. So he eventually decided to found Aventr.
Cloud-Based, AI-Driven Content Creation
Devo explains that Aventr is a “cloud-based platform that allows media to be connected to software at scale … It's a freemium creative platform anyone can use to make what was previously impossible possible.”
The company’s overall goal is to make video on the internet “intelligent, smart, and responsive.” To do that, Aventr “seamlessly integrates web capabilities into videos at scale, offering an intuitive drag-and-drop platform for effortless content creation.” Using the company’s patented AI audio technology, dubbed SmartListen, “viewers can interact with videos like never before, accessing web pages, making purchases, initiating calls or texts, and operating software directly from the video interface.”
Aventr’s secret sauce that sets it apart from competitors is that it “creates more engaging and connected video experiences,” Devo says. “We act as a bridge between media and software, enabling innovative human-computer interaction.” He claims that Adventr users achieve up to 13 times more engagement and conversion rates compared to basic video ads.
Like any successful company, Aventr isn’t resting on its laurels. “To maintain our edge, we prioritize continuous innovation and heavily invest in research and development. Our expert team stays ahead of emerging technologies, ensuring our solutions are cutting-edge. We actively seek feedback from users and clients to meet their evolving needs. By staying nimble and adaptable, we can respond swiftly to market dynamics and customer requirements.”
Embrace Your Creativity and Understand Your Audience
Devo advises startup founders to “embrace your creativity and dare to think outside the box.” In other words, with great risk potentially comes great reward.
“The media landscape is constantly evolving, and to create something truly cutting-edge, you need to push the boundaries and explore new ideas,” he says. “Don't be afraid to take risks and experiment with unconventional approaches. It's through this spirit of innovation that groundbreaking content is born.”
At the same time, you need to thoroughly understand your audience. “Take the time to deeply comprehend their preferences, interests, and behaviors,” he says. “This understanding will enable you to tailor your product and content in a way that resonates with them on a personal level. By connecting with your audience in a meaningful way, you can create impactful and engaging experiences that leave a lasting impression.”
Enabling and Inspiring Storytellers
Looking to the future, Devo is most excited about his company’s mission to enable and inspire those who tell stories through video. He wants to lean into that even harder.
“[We have] to show you what's possible and how [our] tools can be used,” he says. “One of the first things that we're doing to that end is a short film – the first multiplayer film where everyone watching it together controls the movie together. I'm really excited about that.” The free film, called Lab Rat, will be released to the public in the fall of 2023. Devo explains that during the film, “Everyone with their cell phone literally is controlling what happens in the movie as you watch. So depending on who you watch it with, you'll see a totally different film.”
He wants his company to produce more content along these lines. “Those are the sorts of things that we want to do to get creators excited, to get you knowing what's possible and how easy it is.”
