Faces Of The Startup Nation: Q&A With Startup ‘Gardener’ Roy Povarchik

Roy Povarchik, 28, runs a growth hacking and content marketing agency that helps young startups, “build communities in the digital age”. He has worked with companies like PowToon and has ‘hacked’ the world of social media and online promotion. As part of his passion for growing startups, Roy is also a passionate blogger, with a number of his posts featured in noteworthy publications like “FastCompany,” “The Next Web” and more.

Who is your biggest inspiration? I actually have two major inspirations – Steve Jobs and Tom Waits. Steve Jobs is a big inspiration both for his strong empathy skills and the fact that he started from nothing. Jobs was able to create amazing products because he had an inherent ability to really understand people’s needs and behaviors. He knew what he wanted you to feel and knew how to get you there emotionally. My other inspiration is singer-songwriter Tom Waits. Aside from being the master of showmanship and brand building, I feel very close to Waits and his passions of staying close to the dirt. Creating something  beautiful from the most bizarre situations, personas and opportunities.  You always have to go back to the basics. Embrace the dirt and the soil – they are the most beautiful parts of life.

What were your first steps into the business world? When I was ten-years-old, I would offer to iron neighbors’ and family member’s clothes for money. I think I had reasonable prices.

Who is the one person, past or present, that you’d love to have dinner with? Steve Jobs on the day of his return to Apple in 1997.

Falafel or shawarma? Shawarma.

If you were a selfie, what would you look like? 

What is your homepage? Producthunt.com or Growthhackers.com depends on the day.

What’s your hidden talent? Wasting time on finding productivity hacks. See what I did there?

Who was your first celebrity crush? The cinematic version of Jim Morrison in ‘The Doors’ movie.

Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in ‘The Doors’.

What are you totally addicted to? My Wife. Work. Alcohol. Music.

What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Starting my own business when I was 21 with no real previous experience.

Bar Refaeli or Gal Gadot? Did my wife ask you to ask this question? I would have to say Bar Refaeli.

Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars. I love ‘Family Guy’, and lets face it, without Star Wars, Family Guy wouldn’t have as many episodes.

If you weren’t an entrepreneur, what would you be? I think I’d be a writer. I’m really passionate about writing. I actually almost published a book once. I was 19 years old at the time.

Tel Aviv or New York? Tel Aviv. It’s interesting enough to be international but small enough to feel like home.

If you could be a movie character, who would you be? Johnny Depp in ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.’

What is the best advice you ever got from your parents? Do what you love.

What is your favorite Hebrew word? ‘Mazleg’ (which means fork).

NoCamels’ “Faces of the Startup Nation” features the leading entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and visionaries to give you an exclusive peak into the movers and shakers of Israel’s innovation scene. If you want to suggest a “Face”, write us in the comments below!

Photos: courtesy/ Jim Morrison/ Steve Jobs