Useful Studios

A Useful Studio intent on making change happen that isn't guaranteed or obvious. Watch this space.

Founder

PlayTreks

I'm an early investor in PlayTreks, an ML/AI-driven SaaS data analytics company for the music, media and entertainment industry, offering  solutions for musicians and artists everywhere.

Seed Investor

Dlala Studios

I'm an early investor in Dlala, an award-winning independent games studio started by some of the brightest and most dedicated people I've ever met in the gaming industry.

Unity

- Leading an internal game studio with designers, artists and engineers.
- Inspiring and creating games for Unity professional services customers.

Studio Head - Solid Studios - A Unity game studio

- Led teams, strategy and partnerships for strategic parts of centralised tooling and process within Unity R&D
- Leader for the infra and on-prem data centre group within Unity's internal engineering services group.
- Established continuous improvement of systems, productivity and success through a focus on people's strengths and leadership capability.

Senior Engineering Manager - Unity Developer Effectiveness 

- Leadership of quality engineering focused on Core technology and Release.
- Coached and directed quality managers for release and sustainment, resulting in positive growth in terms of a direct impact on customers
- Established a Customer QA function with the team in Lithuania. Hiring a strong manager to build and direct technical teams on solving customer problems through code and issue management
- Working with VP of Core engineering and engineering directors - resulting in clear quality built-in strategies and closer partnerships with release & quality engineering

Head of Quality Eng: Core & Release Eng

Microsoft

- Leadership of Microsoft teams across several key XBOX franchises and development studios/locations: Quality-focused engineering for Forza Horizon, Minecraft & Sea of Thieves
- Transitioned teams away from conventional games testing to a world where everyone was responsible for the quality of their work. 
- Encouraged and developed a team culture where trust was increased and performance was measured not just from results, it came from how much others were helped along the way.
-  Increasing impact and quality of teams and deliverables while also eliminating waste & reducing costs by 30%
- Established long term partnerships, frameworks, deliverables and measurements with internal and external quality partners (vendors, contractors)

Principal Software Engineering Manager -  Xbox Game Studios

- Head of quality teams for Europe Microsoft Studios & Minecraft globally
- Transitioning mindset from test focus to quality engineering focus
- Led the direction for distributed teams across Lionhead studios, Rare, Minecraft & Turn10 publishing

Senior Software Engineering Manager - Microsoft Studios

- Head of Eng quality & release at Lift London Studios
-Established a consumer operations team focused on entertainment as a service, ensuring community management, customer service, test, and release were fully integrated, giving the customer a voice across the studio
- Established a test engineering function resulting in an improved test bias across key  development functions
- Restructured release from a discipline to a process – reducing headcount need and overall cost

Senior Program Manager - Lift London (a Microsoft game studio)

Test and quality leadership for entertainment franchises and propositions at Microsoft studios

- Introduced and implemented agile test management methods into teams
- Managed multi million dollar test projects, completing on time and under budget
- Directed large and distributed test teams across parallel product
- All projects released through certification first time without failure
- Top in manager feedback 3 years running

Projects: Fable 3, Fable: Coin Golf, Fable Heroes, Fable: The Journey

Senior Test lead - Microsoft Game Studios

Electronic Arts

- Developed and implemented key specialist testing principles for EA Europe
- Created new and innovative QA consultancy and release processes, reducing cost and increasing submission success
- Managed local and distributed teams driving solutions for QA & test on EA franchises such as Burnout, Battlefield, Crysis & Harry Potter

Senior QA Manager (QA shared services) - EA Europe

QA manager - multi-platform certification, multiplayer labs and technical testing

QA Technical compliance manager (specialist testing) - EA Europe

QA Technical supervisor - EAUK

From writing my first game on my home computer as a young boy, to leadership in the gaming industry as an adult.

After joining Electronic Arts I focused on building effective teams and integrating creative gaming passion, doing more with less, and engineering principles for problem solving. My journey continued with Xbox at Microsoft, where I contributed to iconic games such as Fable, Forza and Minecraft. 

At Xbox, I evolved into a specialist in modern game development & test. The world of gaming engines beckoned next, leading me to Unity Technologies. My role there expanded beyond gaming content, delving into technical aspects of Unity's game engine and then merging both engine and content where I created and led an internal game studio making games for Unity customers.

Outside of my work, I'm a husband and father, and love time with my family. Through my website, marcuspurvis.com, and here on LinkedIn, I create content that emphasizes effective living and making a positive impact, both in and out of work.

MARCUS P.

Kurt Lohse

VP of Marketing

Boredroom, LLC (Bored & Thirsty)

Boredroom, LLC a.k.a. “Bored & Thirsty” is a California-based CPG company whose mission is to fuel people to become more happy, free, and inspired through art, fashion, entertainment, and hydration. Our purpose is to create a unique lifestyle brand focused on helping people discover new art and entertainment while giving companies the first effective offline marketing platform to market Web3 promotions and NFT projects to the masses.

Why is our mission so important? Mainly because it makes hydration fun, but also because it will help usher in a new era of mass NFT utility awareness and Web3 lifestyle adoption.

To actualize our mission, Bored & Thirsty manufactures canned beverages in the 16oz format and allows for as much as 80% of its can surface to be used to promote advertisers’ digital affinity programs and NFT-related consumer campaigns. Get in touch with us today to find out how easy it is to get your brand's project into the hands of millions of bored and thirsty fans.

Founder, CMO

Betty Pin LLC

Building a new haircare products company focused on making the lives of professional hairdressers easier. We are launching a new, patented hairpin called the "Betty Pin" to compliment the Bobby Pin as the dual staple of hair hardware in international hair styling. Betty Pins are superior to regular hairpins simply because they are designed stay in and preserve the widest array of up-dos and formal hairstyles for weddings, formal events, and dancing & high activity uses. We received our U.S. Patent #9,974,372 and are currently sourcing manufacturers, packaging, fulfillment, distributorships. and more.

President

Technossus

Technossus offers comprehensive technology solutions, software development, and computer systems design consulting to companies looking for business acceleration and transformation.

Head Of Global Marketing

LOKKER

Leading the marketing strategy and operations for advancing Lokker's leading-edge data security solution. Committed to making Lokker's technology platform the gold standard in integrated 3rd-Party application privacy controls for companies worldwide.

Branded Online Ecommerce

•	Managed a portfolio of 4 major clients (fashion, apparel, and beauty brands), which drove $35M+ in annual revenue 
•	Repositioned company as a leading SaaS/PaaS technology solution for brands looking to scale online commerce operations to an enterprise solution 
•	Oversaw a team of 14 personnel throughout daily marketing/e-commerce operations; achieved an average of 210% of sales quotas
•	Led re-imagining of the company’s brand; developed new brand identity, style guide, product messaging, and multi-channel marketing plan
•	Developed all marketing processes, tools, and reporting functions while supporting lead generation programs and proposal development
•	Collaborated with product team and developers to define product offerings, pricing, and competitive positioning
•	Provided influence and direction of creative assets in collaboration with internal and external designers/agencies 
•	Notable clients: Hurley, Joe’s Jeans, Brookstone, Milly

Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing

Releventure, LLC

•	Launched a full-service marketing agency focused on original, multi-format content creation, social media engagement, software development, website development, digital publishing and advertising, content performance analytics, and business process improvement
•	Spearheaded business development; built a portfolio of Fortune 100 clients including Seagate, Intel, and Providence St. Joseph Health
•	Managed a team of 12 (writers, developers, project managers, account managers) to ensure optimal delivery of client services 
•	Generated $5M+ in annual revenue; achieved an average of 200% in revenue growth, year-over-year

Chief Executive Officer

Poptent

•	Directed marketing and sales operations for the world’s largest social platform for professional and pro-am video producers (250K+ profiles)
•	Oversaw 20+ personnel to expand client base and secure new contracts – contributed to the company’s achievement of $18M annual revenue 
•	Led international sales and marketing departments to develop innovative new approaches to increase the company's creative SaaS solution
•	Collaborated with VP of Business Development and COO to create new revenue streams that generated an additional $2M+ within 1 year
•	Defined and amplified Poptent's global brand as the largest crowdsourced producer of video content for commercial marketing and advertising 
•	Collaborated with Fortune 500 executives to improve digital marketing and social media strategies through video content programs
•	Notable clients: Jaguar, Land Rover, Four Seasons, eBay, AT&T, Nestle, PayPal, Sony, Adidas, Amazon, T-Mobile, Broadcom, Experian, Pacific Life, Western Union, Petco, Coldstone, Anheuser Busch

Chief Marketing Officer

DB Studios, Inc.

•	Built the company’s marketing department and defined strategy which increased overall company revenue from $20M to $30M per year (design and manufacturing company ) prior to the company’s sale to InnerWorkings (NASDAQ: INWK)
•	Contributed to the development of pitch proposals ($10M+) to major clients (Kroger, Burger King, Bacardi, Starbucks, Adidas, Nike)
•	Led re-branding of the company as a full-service design, manufacturing, and shopper marketing agency in the custom retail environment, point of purchase display, and product packaging industry

Senior Director Of Marketing

Mobad Media

•	Managed business development operations of a mobile app developer, a publisher of amazing interactive digital 3D story books, and a developer of a revolutionary digital publishing platform designed for producing interactive 3D story books from traditionally illustrated books and graphic novels
•	Secured major contracts with notable clients, ranging from $150K – $300K+, which resulted in increased revenue through royalties
•	Developed the company’s lead generation system; managed company’s CRM to prospect leads throughout various stages of sales cycles
•	Created marketing campaigns (digital, print, social, events) to provide market players with latest product offerings

Vice President Of Business Development

Keycode.com

•	Created and launched a new online business model for generating interactive, variable-value online coupon offers for local and national retailers
•	Wrote the online business method patent application, business plan, and raised $3M+ in Angel and Venture Capital investment funding
•	Managed new website & online application development, search engine optimization (SEO), paid search campaigns (SEM), and client relations
•	Negotiated major business development deals with leading online media companies; sold the company in October 2010
•	Headed a “super affiliate” marketing website and syndication network which generated $120M+ in retail sales ($7M in affiliate revenue)

Founder & CEO

Kurt Lohse, a dynamic entrepreneur and co-founder of Boredroom LLC, is making waves in the beverage industry with his innovative approach to consumer packaged goods (CPG). Alongside his partner Darin Rasmussen, Lohse has embarked on a mission to transform the conventional water category into a vibrant platform for artistic expression through their venture, Bored & Thirsty. This revolutionary Media + CPG brand stands out for offering a unique and refreshing premium alkaline water experience that aligns with contemporary consumer demands for both quality and creativity.

Lohse's journey with Bored & Thirsty is marked by significant achievements and partnerships, reflecting his visionary leadership and strategic acumen. Notably, the company has gained prominence as the exclusive water partner for the Life is Beautiful Music Festival in Las Vegas, leveraging this opportunity to gain mass exposure. Bored & Thirsty also introduced an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) enabled can of alkaline water featuring a song clip from Snoop Dogg, illustrating Lohse's commitment to merging technology with consumer goods. Further solidifying the brand's market presence, strategic relationships have been established with major players like 7-Eleven, Save Mart / Lucky, and C3 Presents the festival arm of Live Nation. These partnerships, along with the company's focus on sustainability and high-quality manufacturing processes, underscore Lohse's dedication to creating a brand that resonates with a wide range of consumers while maintaining an environmentally conscious footprint.

Kurt Lohse's professional background extends beyond Boredroom LLC. He founded and led Releventure LLC, a content marketing agency since its incorporation in California thirteen years ago, and before that as the CEO of his media start-up, Keycode, from 1999-2010, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to entrepreneurship and business development that positively transforms industries.

Specialties: Executive Leadership, Sales & Marketing, Management, Digital Marketing, Digital Commerce, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, Website Publishing, Digital Media, Sales, Sales Management, Business Development, Online Marketing, Video Production, Retail Display, Visual Merchandising, Retail Environments, Business Planning, Marketing & Sales, Creative Project Development, Digital Commerce, Retail Marketing, Mobile Applications, Online Publishing, Affiliate Marketing, Shopper Engagement

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The Battle

MARCUS P.

Kurt Lohse

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