Investing in Impact
WHAT IS ETHNO HOLDINGS
WHAT WE DO
Invest
Ethno is an equity investor for early stage companies that are positioned to scale. We look for blue ocean opportunities and invest in companies that need digital marketing and technical infrastructure to help take the next step of growth. Ethno operates as an active investor and works with the Founders to create infrastructure to grow site traffic, leads and new customers. We work with the Founders to find key opportunities to deploy funds to maximize customer growth.
Grow
Ethno focuses on companies that heavily leverage digital marketing and technology for growth. We retain ownership of technology, software code and intellectual property that we license and leverage in new projects. Ethno deploys a consulting and implementation team for every new project to launch and optimize our assets and investment. Our investment capital is deployed for growth and not operations, with the focus on maximizing the blue ocean opportunity.
Impact
Ethno filters its investments by impact as well as opportunity. In addition to having a blue ocean opportunity and being ready to scale, a project must meet certain criteria for impact. Ethno only invests in projects and companies that have the ability to leverage their growth for impact. We look for opportunities to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the least reached and marginalized.
OUR
PROJECTS
Marketing.biz
Marketing Company
Marketing.biz is an AI marketing company using a powerful mix of customized AI tools and Fortune 500 marketing experience to help businesses scale.
Status: Invested 2024 - Active
Special Strong / Strong Education
Fitness
Special Strong, recognized for empowering special needs individuals through fitness with over 1,200 trainers worldwide, has been honored as a top franchise by Entrepreneur and Franchise Directory.
Status: Invested 2023 - Active
Energy Outlet
Retail Energy Platform
Energy Outlet, a Texas-based retail energy platform, collaborates with major providers to offer optimal plans and pricing, expanding to New York in 2024 after onboarding 10,000 customers and launching sister sites.
Status: Invested/Co Founded 2017 - Active
Adaptive Fitness
Fitness | Tech Platform
Adaptive Fitness, affiliated with Special Strong, leverages AI and social media to expand its reach and offer virtual training for individuals with mental and physical challenges, significantly growing its audience in 2024.
Status: Co-Founded 2023 - Active
Unite Life
Non-Profit/Ministry
Unite Life, founded by Dwayne and Cherice Stoltzfus in 2014, utilizes technology from Ethno Holdings to connect hundreds of thousands to Christian communities, demonstrating significant spiritual growth through advanced digital strategies.
Status: Founded 2017 - Active
Prayer Map
International Prayer platform
Prayermap.com is the world’s largest and only interactive platform for prayer using technology to empower and allow more than 200 million users in 195 countries to experience praying for one another in times of need.
Status: Founded 2020 - Active
Smith Monitoring
Security
Smith Monitoring, a home security firm once operational in Texas, Georgia, and California, gained recognition for workplace excellence and growth before its 2014 acquisition by NRG and subsequent merger with Relient Security.
Status: Co-Founded 2006 - Sold 2014
Crystal Clear Concepts
Water Purification
Crystal Clear, a Texas-based water filtration company, leverages proprietary software to monitor contaminants, earning accolades from Forbes and INC Magazine and securing a significant license deal in 2018.
Status: Invested 2017 - Sold 2019
Compass Business Services
Christian Media Company
Compass, originally a digital marketing agency in China, transformed into a licensed Christian media company, reaching millions and connecting thousands to Christian communities annually through proprietary software.
Status: Co-Founded 2010 - 2018 Merged with Unite Life
Deep Space Robots
Web Development
Deep Space Robots, a software company specializing in complex solutions, has significantly contributed to digital evangelism with innovative technologies, achieving a 400% revenue growth from 2019 to 2023.
Status: Invested 2020 - Sold 2023
Share The King // Prayer Map
Christian Distribution | Technology Platform
Share the King, co-founded by influencers Rashawn and Denise Copeland, partners with Unite Life to amplify faith-based content across 80+ social media properties, reaching over 100M people monthly and launching impactful initiatives like PrayerMap.com.
Status: 2021 - Active
Press Bible
Bible Commentator App
Press Bible, an app featuring hundreds of video commentaries to elucidate the Bible, collaborates with Unite Life to connect new believers worldwide, including over 30,000 in China, to Christian communities and translated into 100+ languages.
Status: Invested 2014 - Sold 2019
THE STORY
ABOUT US
When I was a kid, maybe 9 or 10, I remember standing at the beach looking out into the ocean. I was literally standing in front of a “blue ocean” thinking about all the people and opportunities that were out there. While I was standing there I felt like God spoke to me in my mind and heart that I would get to see the nations and the people of the world. My wife Cherice had a similar experience when she was a teenager. As she was looking at a sunset she felt God’s call and promise that she would see sunsets all over the world. As we got older we both realized that the blue ocean opportunity that was in front of us was not to just travel but to share the goodness of God in places that have limited access. Ethno was started to be a vehicle for our family and others that have a similar call and vision to provide practical help and share the goodness of God to the marginalized and those in need throughout the world.
We are a family run organization with 8 family members and 3 generations currently involved in various elements of the business and impact projects. We currently live in Lucas TX, with the Ethno office in Mckinney TX.
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