Meet Sam Kulikov

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Kulikov.

Sam, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Through college, I found myself creating… creating often. Whether it was music, art, or business, I was eager to try new things and find out what I was good at.

It took me years, all the way up until I graduated from UMKC, to build up the courage to really commit to something and see where it took me. Along the way, I found myself reaching success by investing in the skills that came naturally to me instead of searching for what I was ‘good at’ or what society thought I should do.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
From learning how to sell to learning how to lead, building your own business comes with an overwhelming amount of struggle. With that being said, overcoming these struggles is a key component to being successful as an entrepreneur (and likely all other professions).

In the beginning, most of us don’t have the capital (financial or labor) we need to launch our startups into explosive success right away. We have to build things that don’t work and do things that no one will congratulate us on. We have to struggle behind closed doors for a while until we get our product right.

At times, we just don’t know if we can keep going but it’s important to remember that our struggles aren’t in vain when we fight for our passions. Failure isn’t the end of the road. We recognize that it is simply a pit stop on the way to success.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
First and foremost I am a proud alumnus of the Bloch School at UMKC where I received my undergrad in Business with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship. Upon graduating, I figured I might as well put my newly minted degree to use, and with that, we launched our marketing agency Social Apex a month before I graduated from college back in 2018.

We quickly found our stride and after a few years began working with some of Kansas City’s biggest brands on content, branding, and digital campaigns. Some of these clients include DoorDash, Charlie Hustle, Sporting KC, & the American Jazz Museum.

In 2019, we started building the foundation of what we now know as the Pioneers. The Pioneers are an esports organization that was founded here in KC but that operates on a global scale. Our organization is now home to some of the best esports teams in the entire world with sponsorships ranging from Logitech to GFUEL to Price Chopper to Jack Stack!

In both businesses, I am an owner, a founder, a marketer, and a creative… but most importantly I am a product of my mindset and those around me. I’m grateful for every teacher, mentor, partner, friend, and family member that helped me get to this point. I could’ve never done any of this on my own… none of us can.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Who you surround yourself with dictates the type of future you can build for yourself.

Whether you’re looking for a business partner, a mentor, or simply a friend in the space remember to keep your intentions clear and your brand authentic. You want to find people who can see through your facade and give you real, honest feedback.

None of us are perfect whether it’s personal or professional and we need others to help hold us accountable so that we can grow to be the best version of ourselves. If you want to start finding more people to connect to then a good first step is to get out there more in-person and on social.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself – that’s how you’ll attract the people you need.

Contact Info:

• Email: sam@kcp.gg
• Twitter: twitter.com/KCPKuli

Image Credits
Social Apex