Apemag

  • #MyStartupStory
  • tech
  • maker
  • Startup Lessons
  • In the South
    • Tennessee
    • Alabama
    • Arkansas
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Mississippi
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
  • Startup Support
    • Accelerators
    • Coding Bootcamps
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Incubators
#MyStartupStory, Tennessee

This Founder’s Lifelong Passion for Fitness Propels His Entrepreneurial Path

- Ayumi Fukuda Bennett -

Bunker Labs NashvilleStartup Southerner has partnered with Bunker Labs Nashville to bring you stories of veteran entrepreneurs in Tennessee. Want to get plugged in? Register Now for Muster Nashville on May 24. 

 

Unlike many adults who are on a perpetual search to find something to be passionate about, Kenton Boutwell found his passion very early on. “I’ve been involved in fitness all my life, first with the martial arts and later as I transitioned over into full-time fitness,” says Boutwell, a native of Sontag, Mississippi. He has a myriad of fitness instructor certifications that prove his continued commitment to his passion, including a masters degree in kinesiology and exercise physiology.

And on his path to building a career in the fitness industry, he also served in the Air National Guard for six years, starting immediately after high school. “It seemed like the natural thing to do,” Boutwell says, referring to his stepfather who served in the Army and his grandfather who served in the Air Force. He’s grateful that the military helped pay for his education.

As a trainer in the fitness industry for nearly a decade, Boutwell has enjoyed being able to pass onto others what he’s learned.  But he’s also noticed some problems in the fitness industry. “Most fitness trainers receive very little compensation for their services, if they are working for a corporate gym,” says Boutwell. “For example, most gyms charge $50-100 per hour for training and pay their trainers around $20 per hour.” He also realized that not everyone can pay those trainer fees, making fitness seem even less achievable for those who need such services but cannot afford it.

Boutwell came to the following conclusion: “I feel like there’s a lot of changes that need to be made in the fitness industry as a whole, and I want to be a pioneer for that.” And in the last few years, he’s begun to address those changes he’d like to see by building several companies, including GymCloud and Evolve Fitness Nashville.  

With his focus on helping as many people as possible get fit, GymCloud is more than just a fitness company; it’s an app platform enables anyone to work one on one with a certified fitness professional, regardless of location or schedule to lose weight and get fit. Boutwell says the online model also makes expert advice much more accessible and affordable.

When asked if he had any tech experience prior to building GymCloud, Boutwell said that he had none and has had to learn many things outside of his skillset. “In the early phases I had a close friend who oversaw the technology portion. Gradually, I became more involved with the developers and now I work one-on-one with the programmers to build the product. Most of my tech knowledge has come from experience.”

He opened his gym a few years later, with a focus on helping people get fit with minimal equipment. Evolve Fitness Nashville is still the only kettlebell gym in Nashville, says Boutwell.

 

In 2016, Boutwell happened to hear about the Bunker Labs program through the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and attended Bunker Brews, one of their monthly gatherings.  Soon after, he became part of the very first EPIC cohort of Bunker Labs Nashville. Though he had already started the two businesses, Boutwell found the program helpful. “It gave me a network of like minded people to connect and share similar experiences with.” He pitched his company at the inaugural Bunker Muster Nashville event, and he’s looking forward to seeing new and familiar faces at the upcoming Muster event.

As for advice to other entrepreneurs about their health, Boutwell offers this wisdom: Don’t put it off. Being an entrepreneur is all about constant improvement in all of life’s facets. You can’t perform optimally in any capacity, if your fitness is neglected.

May 24, 2017Ayumi Fukuda Bennett

Mississippi Delta's Budding Entrepreneurs Get a Boost From Higher Purpose Co.Doors Open at Nashville Technology Council's Tech Hill Commons
3 years ago #MyStartupStory, TennesseeBunker Labs, bunker labs nashville245
retro
Ayumi Fukuda Bennett

Ayumi is the founder of Startup Southerner.

Website Twitter

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Share It!
0
GooglePlus
0
Facebook
0
Twitter
0
Linkedin
Posts
Recent Comments
  • East Tennessee Startups Have Chance to Win $15,000 on 2017 Startup Day « Startup Southerner on #MyStartupStory: Start a Beer Fund With BrewFund
  • East Tennessee Startups Have Chance to Win $15,000 on 2017 Startup Day « Startup Southerner on Ed Pershing, CEO of PYA, Reflects on Entrepreneurial Journey
  • Salemtown Board Co.: Scaling a Social Enterprise « Startup Southerner on Entrepreneurial Thinking for Nonprofits
  • Salemtown Board Co.: Scaling a Social Enterprise « Startup Southerner on The EntrepreLingo Series: S Is for Scalability
  • Domonique Townsend on The Unbalanced Reality of Work-Life Balance for Working Mothers
Be up-to-date!
  You Might Also Like  
In the South, Startup Events, Tennessee

Before Bunker Labs, A Call to Serve the Country

Mike Tacke is a new business owner participating in the upcoming Bunker Nashville Muster, but his call to serve came on 9/11.

Tennessee

Get to Know Blake Hogan, the Dot Connector behind Bunker Labs Nashville

Blake Hogan answers 10 questions about his childhood, his call to serve and lessons learned from his past ventures.

#MyStartupStory, Tennessee

After Bunker Labs EPIC program, This Music-Tech Startup Keeps On Target

Ear.IQ's Stephen Davis successfully navigated both the entrepreneur resources and the patent process.

#MyStartupStory, Tennessee

Leaving Silicon Valley: On Way to Building Funding in Nashville, Neil Whitney Finds Community to Match

Neil Whitney and his startup Menud moved from Silicon Valley to Nashville and ended up finding social capital beyond his imagination.

#MyStartupStory, Diversity and Inclusion

Renee Bobb’s Latest Move Brings Her Back to the Game She Loves

Owner of Music City Icons shares her love of basketball and how her military experience combine to shape her business career.

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
Most Viewed
2016 FOUNDING SPONSOR
your-image-description
2016 FOUNDING SPONSOR
2017 © Startup Southerner, LLC