Kai Kaapro
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Co-Founder @ TourScale | Tour and Activity Franchise Leader | TBJ 40 under 40
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
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- MAdjunct ProfessorMeredith CollegeDec 2023 - Current (1 year 7 months)Meredith College - School of Business BUS 405 - Venture Management
- TCo-Founder and Co-OwnerTiki PubAug 2022 - Current (2 years 11 months)Tiki Pub is TourScale's newest national brand offering Tiki Party Boat businesses nationwide. It's first location, in Ponce Inlet, FL, launched in August 2022.
Co-Founder and CEOTourScaleSep 2020 - Current (4 years 10 months)I am the co-founder and CEO of TourScale, a tour and activity franchise platform that helps entrepreneurs live the dream of owning their own business, while crafting exceptional and unique customer experiences. As the franchisor of popular tour concepts such as Trolley Pub, Cruisin' Tikis, Tiki Pub, and Paddle Pub, TourScale has quickly grown to 82 units in under four years. We are proud to be the largest and most experienced party bike, party boat, and cycle boat operation in the country. We are currently accepting applications from driven and passionate individuals who want to join our franchise system. With TourScale, you will have access to unparalleled support and expertise, from initial setup to ongoing marketing and operations. We- TManaging PartnerTourCraftMay 2019 - Current (6 years 2 months)I am the co-founder and managing partner of TourCraft, a manufacturing company dedicated to the creation of unique assets that create unforgettable experiences. TourCraft manufactures specialty vehicles and vessels for the tourism industry and is currently the largest manufacturer of cycleboats, tiki boats and party bikes in the USA. Our USCG certified, COI'ed fiberglass vessels are manufactured in partnership with A&M Manufacturing in Alachua, Florida. We manufacture both cycleboats and tiki boats currently. Our NHTSA-grade party bikes are manufacturing in partnership with Quadracycle Design Company in Georgetown, Texas. Here is a list of our current offerings: Poseidon 26 - Cycleboat - 26 passengers plus 2 crew Neptune 16 - Cyclebo
- PCo-Founder and Co-OwnerPaddle PubOct 2017 - Current (7 years 9 months)Paddle Pub operates 16 and 26-passenger pedal-powered boats. We have operations and franchisees in 16 markets across the country, with many more to come.
- TStudent AssociateThe Garber Venture Capital FundOct 2011 - Dec 2011 (3 months)• Admitted into MBA internship for tech fund focused on bioscience technology • Due diligence for bond investment in medical software venture; co-authored deal-qualifying memo which included competitive, financial & management analysis, IP risk and exit strategy
- TCo-Founder and Co-OwnerTrolley PubJan 2011 - Current (14 years 6 months)Highlights • Founded growing national tourism company which operates eco-friendly pedal-powered tours across the country. • Expanded business from a single location to operations and franchisees in 16 markets across the country. • Lobbied state and local governments for regulatory changes to permit business operations • Created and executed company policies to create an efficient company culture that extends from management to the front line • Consistently driven dramatic revenue and profit growth year-to-year Responsibilities • Oversee five managers and sixty employees • Strategic expansion into new markets • Managerial accounting • Legal/regulatory analysis • Public and media relatio
- KCo-founder & Managing PartnerKaapro Cole VenturesJan 2011 - Dec 2023 (13 years)Kaapro & Cole Ventures is a tour & activities investment holding company dedicated to the creation of unique group and tour experiences. The company is currently the owner of: TourScale - a national tour & activities franchisor Trolley Pub - the largest directly operated party bike operation in the US Paddle Pub - the largest directly operated cycleboat operation in the US Tiki Pub - A new tiki boat tour company offering six-pack and COI'ed party boats across the US Vision: A world where fun is recognized as an essential part of a healthy life. Mission: Bring people together in unique ways through memorable group activities.
- ICo-Founder, Strategy OfficerInnoBlueNov 2010 - Oct 2013 (3 years)• Co-founded business technology incubator resulting in over 800K in capital investment for Innoblue startups and alumni in the first year alone. Since then the group has gone on to mentor dozens of startups per year and facilitated millions in startup funding. • Drafted and obtained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status; managed mentorship program providing management, marketing and legal consulting for 30 startups; negotiated strategic partnership with local government, including lease from city for downtown office.
- DPartnerDimplesSep 2010 - Jun 2013 (2 years 10 months)We develop ink-saving software and perforated fonts in order to contribute to our environment by saving CO2 emissions and to save people money. Check it out at http://GetDimples.com
- UJudicial InternUnited States District Court for the District of ArizonaMay 2010 - Aug 2010 (4 months)• Provided caseload support for the former Chief Judge, Honorable Stephen M McNamee • Drafted two published court decisions: Spina v. Maricopa County and Rause v. Paperchine; composed bench memos on vicarious employment liability & conflicts in contracts
- Lead Student Machine MechanicUniversity of ArizonaAug 2006 - Jul 2009 (3 years)• Led other student workers in the maintenance and repair of the equipment for the largest student union center in the country • Created and programmed an inventory database for tracking the thousands of equipment parts and dozens of suppliers used in the department
- KOwner and ContractorKaapro RemodelingJun 2003 - Feb 2006 (2 years 9 months)• Specialized in bathrooms, flooring, masonry, painting, framing, decks, roofing and gardening • Negotiated dozens of construction contracts, maintained suppliers and hired workers
Education
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- PJuris DoctorPenn State Dickinson LawJan 2009 - Dec 2012 (4 years)• Andrew G. Curtin Scholar • Student Senator at the Penn State Faculty Senate • Executive Board Member of the Student Bar Association • Founder and President of the Law and Entrepreneurship Project • Volunteer for the Internal Revenue Service's V.I.T.A. program • Member of Phi Alpha Delta • Wrote on to Penn State Law Review • Represented law school @ the St. John's Securities Triathlon • Co-Chair of the Nittany Lion Entrepreneurship Conference Committee
- B.A, Magna cum Laude, Russian. Minor in Business Administration.University of ArizonaJan 2006 - Dec 2009 (4 years)• Founder, President, Executive VP, and Executive Secretary of the Beta Phi Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity • President of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship