Community Highlights: Meet John Crenshaw of CrenVentures

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Crenshaw.

John, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started business at a very young age, when I was 15, I imported everything from clothes to gaming gadgets to cellphone parts from China into the US. It was a very mundane hustle but it eventually led to me starting my first business – Console Pros in San Marcos, Texas which I eventually moved into Austin. From there, I consider Console Pros one of the breakthrough moments in my life. It was my first brand to hit a million dollars in revenue which was a game-changer for me. It’s funny because it didn’t look like anything special from the outside.

From there, it was pretty much just doubling down on what we knew best and investing the returns.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. My family grew up particularly riding the poverty line. My father was enlisted military and my mother was a stay at home mom for the majority of the time. When my dad left the military, it wasn’t the smoothest transition, we often stayed in hotel rooms or a friend’s house. I still drive by the extended stay hotel in Houston, Texas we lived in for over a year. It didn’t seem so bad back then but now when I look back, it’s amazing how far we’ve come.

I enjoy going to nice restaurants in Austin because I remember not being able to afford eating at them in the past.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about CrenVentures?
I am the President & CEO of CrenVentures.

We invest in local businesses and also own a few original concepts here in Austin. My team there has honestly been a godsend. They’ve really helped turn a variety of different e-commerce brands and small acquisitions into a cohesive & innovative engine. We’ve grown from a small operation into a multi-faceted business in 5 years.

We plan to venture into hospitality and commercial real estate in Austin in late 2022.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I don’t have any really big childhood memories, I think one of the two that stick out are visiting Austin, Texas and it being so quaint & laidback. Now Austin’s one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It’s really taught me a lot about longevity and it’s one of the main factors for us moving heavily into Texas real estate.

I’d second that with, working with some of the people I used to look up to when I was young now. We’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with not only some of the biggest brands in Austin but some of the best brands in the country as well. Probably one of the best experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.John-Crenshaw.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/johncrenshaw_

Image Credits:
2nd image – Roy Baker, San Antonio 3rd image – @the.Souz, Austin 4th image – Roy Baker, San Antonio