Meet Innovator of the Week
Charles Denault
Founder & CEO of SimpleCharters
Please provide your 30-second pitch about your company.
SimpleCharters is a global marketplace to book private jets, instantly. Whether it’s a single engine plane, a luxurious cabin for the family, or the fastest business jet on the market, SimpleCharters connects customers with charter operators to book the flight efficiently and safely. With world-class concierge support and a growing selection of available aircraft, SimpleCharters is the easiest way for people to book their next private flight.
Who or what was your best resource for starting your company?
Although it’s not tangible, networking was the single best resource for starting SimpleCharters. The entrepreneurial ecosystem is incredibly complex and diverse. I’ve made some great connections and found that people are more than willing to help. There’s a fallacy, especially with the engineering types, that “if you build it, they will come.” That’s not often the case. In my experience, the single best way to discover if your product or service will achieve market fit is to forge the relationships by hand. There’s no secret here; it’s good ol’ fashioned networking.
What was your biggest obstacle in starting your company and how did you overcome it?
Breaking into an extremely tight-knit market as a 20-something technical founder has been interesting. My team has had to convince everyone that we are serious about solving the problems plaguing the industry. We overcame this obstacle through sheer persistence and determination. We built lasting relationships from the start and developed a product that didn’t cut corners.
What’s the best advice you have received?
The best guidance has been that the “move fast and break things” mantra sweeping through the tech industry isn’t always appropriate. Since SimpleCharters is moving multimillion-dollar aircraft across the country, we’ve been extremely calculated in building this business. Every detail has to be perfect, from the user-experience to the flight itself.
What about the NH lifestyle appeals to you?
Living and working in New Hampshire means being able to enjoy the best of all four seasons. I especially love the beautiful coastline, fun beaches, and plentiful mountains. It also helps to have easy access to Boston and New York City when required. Plus, year round flying is always an adventure.
What does the future look like for your company?
As we continue to grow, our focus is on providing an exceptional and efficient experience for all users. SimpleCharters will continue to provide an increasing amount of aircraft inventory and availability across the globe.
Connect with Charles Denault on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook!
Connect with Simple Charters on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!