Thomas Cooney
Birmingham
Co-founder and COO at Backr Sports
Age: 24
About
Born and raised in Birmingham, my journey as an entrepreneur began in high school when I was a part of launching my family's small business, Spiffy Staging and Design. We started from square one, based out of a storage unit using furniture from our living room to stage houses, to today where we manufacture our own furniture and have a warehouse in downtown Birmingham as well as a location in Austin, Texas. While I have since moved on to pursue my own passion in sports with Backr, I still serve as an advisor to the Spiffy team. I joined Backr as an intern in the summer of 2021 and quickly fell in love with the pace and industry environment in sports. I worked part time with Backr my last year in college and came on as the company's co-founder when I graduated. I currently serve as the COO running day-to-day operations, marketing, database management.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
When I graduated, I felt quite hesitant about entering a field of work with such inherent instability. I had already witnessed firsthand some of the trials and tribulations that accompany being a startup founder, and I wasn't certain if that kind of career and lifestyle was something I was prepared to fully commit to. My greatest achievement lies in summoning the courage to take that leap. Looking back, I find it hard to believe that I could flourish in any other professional environment. I also take immense pride in my affiliation with, and belief in, my city. The decision to remain and contribute to the city I hold dear, which brims with untapped potential, fills me with a profound sense of accomplishment.
How can we get more young people involved in tech and innovation in Birmingham?
I think giving kids today exposure and awareness of the tech and innovation scene in Birmingham. Growing up, I was unaware of the community and resources available to entrepreneurs and never saw it as a viable career path. I think getting educators and students firsthand exposure to the wonderful and innovative entrepreneurs in the city will inspire more people to take the leap and become an entrepreneur and innovator.
