Ty Morse is an American composer, documentary film producer, and entrepreneur whose technology startup, Songwhale has become a leader in mobile marketing both in the U.S. and internationally.
Since 2007, Morse has expanded Songwhale from its offices in Pittsburgh, PA, to several overseas markets, including Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. A two time Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, Ty has been featured as an expert in digital strategy for direct response marketing, especially in the Asian market, in N.Y. Times, Forbes, Huffington Post, Wired Magazine, NPR, PBS, Discovery Channel, and several other leading media outlets.
Q: What would you like to see your team accomplish in 2019?
We are focusing on expanding awareness of our platform to specific niches so that more customers can enjoy our industry-leading platform.
Q: What were the most challenging areas in the early stages of the company’s growth?
Focus was an extremely challenging area in the early stages. You must be able to make decisions about which clients you wish to serve and which products you wish to create. Spreading the business too thin or trying to be a one-stop shop can derail a business. In the beginning, we had to learn this the hard way.
Q: Who is your role model or hero?
Walt Whitman.
Q: What is your favorite book?
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.
Q: Do you use any specific method or system to run daily operations?
Accountability.
Q: Why did you choose your present industry at this time?
We knew we wanted to focus on handheld devices because everyone has one in their pocket. At the time we started our business, SMS was the most common form of communication on the planet, and it has continued to be a dominant form of communication globally.
Q: What is the best/worst moment you can remember in your career?
Worst: Learning that being too trusting can be a fatal flaw in business.
Q: Looking back – if you could advise a younger version of yourself to do something different – what would it be?
Do not burn bridges. Especially the Bridges of Madison County.
