(This story is part of series introducing a new awards program by the Dayton Business Journal called Inno Under 25, about young entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners in the Dayton region.)
About 18 months ago, Kyle Schmidt was wrapping up his freshman year at the University of Dayton.
He was also launching his own company.
Schmidt, now 20, co-founded Corvexxe last year with his brother, Will. The chemical distribution business gained momentum during the pandemic, providing household cleaners and personal protective equipment — like hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray and masks — to local organizations at a time when demand far outpaced supply.
What began as a two-person garage startup has grown considerably since then. Today, Corvexxe employs nine people between Springboro and Atlanta, and the Schmidt brothers are actively building their core business: Supplying specialized cleaners to manufacturers and industrial markets.
In many ways, it's a complement to their dad's entrepreneurial spirit.
"That's what he did coming out of college," Schmidt said. "He started his own business as a chemical manufacturer, and he ran it for 20 years."
"Growing up, he would take us to work sometimes, so we saw the day-to-day life of an entrepreneur," Schmidt said. "I loved watching him do everything it takes to run a business. For me, that was something I always aspired to do."
Schmidt said his father's guidance played a big role in Corvexxe's success — especially early on.
"He's seen it all before," Schmidt said. "When we were struggling to find customers, he told us, 'It's normal. The first couple months are slow. Keep putting your head down; keep going to work.' We followed that, and it has turned out pretty good."
He also provided valuable mentorship as Covid-19 transformed the business landscape. Initially, Kyle and Will didn't intend to supply generic products like hand sanitizer. But their dad saw what companies needed, so he encouraged them to consider it.
"He knew the ins and outs of what we needed to do," Schmidt said. "Will and I just did our best to learn everything we could, and we're still learning to this day."
Now a rising junior at UD, Schmidt still manages the day-to-day operations at Corvexxe while working toward his finance degree. He and his brother split responsibilities: Kyle oversees accounting and invoicing, and Will heads up business development efforts.
This year, Corvexxe is in the midst of another growth spurt. Kyle and Will are looking to hire more people, and they plan to soon double the size of their headquarters in Springboro. They recently purchased a distribution facility in Atlanta hope to continue expanding along the Interstate 75 corridor.
Corvexxe still serves local businesses, but the company now distributes its products to other states, too. Schmidt and his brother are reaching a niche demographic — namely auto plants, breweries and other industrial segments.
As for their dad, he's now a part-timer. He spends a couple days a week at the Springboro warehouse, helping the Schmidt brothers navigate the entrepreneurial world.
"I truly love the fact that it's a family business," Schmidt said. "There's nothing better than getting up and going to see your family at work every day. To me, that's something to be really grateful for."
Corvexxe
Founded: January 2020
Address: 245 Advanced Dr., Springboro, 45066
Owners: Kyle and Will Schmidt
Total employees: 9
Website: corvexxe.com
