Meet Josh Moser | Cofounder & CPO at Laborjack

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh Moser and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Laborjack was an incredibly simple concept when it first began. We didn’t have any money, resources, nor any idea what we were doing. It was all about trial and error, not quitting, and ultimately executing on what seemed like a very far fetched vision at the time. I often say now that I can’t believe I kept pressing due to my lack of experience – but today I’m glad I didn’t care what people thought and stuck with it!

There is no perfect time to start – and this theme is ever-present today, even after we have built a sizable revenue stream and have found product market fit. Problems don’t go away, they just change! That’s all a part of the entrepreneurial journey and process.

So in essence, there was no extreme “thought” that went into starting Laborjack. We posted one ad on craigslist offering “Labor only moving services.” Little did I know this ad would forever change my life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As I sit here writing this, the honest reality is that the Laborjack story is far from over. That statement is both terrifying and enticing, but that is the rush I am addicted to in the business world. The fear of the unknown is what you have to be ready for.

We have made countless mistakes, wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on ideas that didn’t work, spent time in areas that didn’t see results, and experienced every emotion under the sun to get where we are today. Starting a business is a very non-linear journey, and that is OKAY!

Laborjack now employs 10 full time individuals and supports thousands of contractors and customers on our platform. My thoughts on that statement? I want to employ 100 full time individuals and support millions of contractors and customers on our platform – but it takes time.

If there is one invaluable lesson I have learned in entrepreneurship, it is that you have to pursue aggressively and patiently. This sounds like a paradox, because it is. Patient doesn’t mean “lazy” and aggressively doesn’t mean “reckless.” Rather, it is about working extremely hard over a long period of time and expecting things not to work the way you want them to for a long, long time.

Laborjack is finally expanding outside of Colorado this year, and that has been 7 years in the making. On day one, my cofounder Blake Craig and I were crazy enough to set our sights on scaling a “nation-wide company.” Are we crazy? Maybe a little, but we are no where near the finish line and still have a lot to prove. But I am more confident and blessed than ever with the amazing team, product, and support system I have that has taken years to build effectively,

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fort Collins is a real gem! It seems to be that Denver and Boulder absorb all of the spotlight in Colorado but i am fine with that, keep Fort Collins a secret!

In all seriousness, Colorado in general is an amazing place. To start the weekend we will hit the downtown scene in Fort Collins – possibly hitting up Odelles or New Belgium for Happy Hour. Then, we will cruise to the square and hang out in the Laborjack office, play some cornhole, and then head out for margs at Illegal Petes!

We aren’t drinking too much, however, because the next day we are headed out snowmobiling or skiing in the mountains, two of my favorite things to do.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many countless advisors, friends, and family members that have supported me and my team along our pathway to success. It would almost be impossible to name all of them, but here are a few!

-CSU Entrepreneurship | Where we did our first pitches, and found faculty who helped us in the early stages of our startup. Special thanks to Jessica Rawley, Mark Madic, and Burt Deines.

– Seamus Nally | An advisor, mentor and friend who helped us build out the first version of our software.

-Shawn MacRitchie, Sam Solt, and Steve Stoecker | Our advisory team from SAGE (Senior Advisory Group for Entrepreneurs)

-Innosphere | Believed in me and offered me an internship to learn more about entrepreneurship, market research, and comp financial analysis of startups

-My parents | Believers and supporters turned investors! My mom and dad have been incredible support for me throughout this wild journey. They asked me after I graduated from college, however, if I was going to get a job. Instead, I moved into my business partners unfinished basement and started paying myself $1,200/month and paid $350 for rent.

-My friends | Amanda Lederhos (my fiance) Gray Whitney, Gage Clifton, Stein Christensen, James Cao, Luke Wagner, Dom Alarid… and so, SO many more great supporters and friends in my life (so sorry if I forgot to mention you!)

Website: laborjack.com

Instagram: instagram.com/laborjack or instagram.com/joshmos

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmoser-laborjack/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laborjack/