A decade ago, Massachusetts native Wes Schroll had an idea for a universal rewards app — a totally new kind of platform that makes it easy and fun for consumers to earn rewards for everyday purchases.
Today, Fetch is America’s Rewards App, the nation’s leading platform for brand-consumer connections that transforms everyday purchases into rewarding experiences and helps brands create lifelong consumes with the power of Fetch points.
With 11 million weekly active users and partnerships with more than 650 brands across CPG, restaurant and retail, Fetch is setting a new standard for consumer engagement and proving that rewards are a better advertisement. The company also was one of Startup Boston Week's 2024 sponsors.
Startup Boston spoke to Wes about his journey with Fetch and his advice for fellow entrepreneurs. Check it out!
SB: You dropped out of college to start Fetch, now valued at nearly $3 billion. What fueled your decision to take such a bold step?
WS: I became obsessed with the idea of simplifying rewards for consumers. I was frustrated by how loyalty programs required so many hoops to jump through, and I believed there had to be a better, more intuitive way to reward people for everyday shopping.
Dropping out of college allowed me to put all of my energy into Fetch, which was still in its early stages. It was a huge risk, but I felt that if I could focus 100% on the idea, we could make something special happen. That decision was driven by a sense of urgency—I saw an opportunity, and I didn’t want someone else to beat us to it.
SB: What were your early ventures, and how did they prepare you for Fetch?
WS: I launched two businesses while I was still in high school. One was a phone case that doubled as a wallet, and the other was a simple tablet designed for educational use, without all the distractions of smartphones. Both ventures were incredibly valuable learning experiences — I had to figure out the basics, like market research, LLC formation, networking and building out a team from scratch. Those early experiences showed me how to think through problems, iterate and keep moving forward — even (and especially) when things don’t go as planned. That “test and learn” mindset has been crucial at Fetch.
SB: You’ve mentioned a core philosophy of “defeat the odds.” How has that shaped your approach to Fetch?
WS: Fetch has always been about challenging the status quo. I was 20, pitching a totally new kind of rewards app to grocery and CPG execs who had been in the business for decades. It was intimidating, especially since most of them weren’t used to taking advice from someone my age. But I’ve always believed that if you can show people the value of your idea and how it solves a real problem, they’ll take a chance on you. In our case, we didn’t just have to sell the idea of Fetch to consumers—we had to prove to brands that we could deliver results. That “defeat the odds” mindset—proving that we could succeed where others doubted us—has been a driving force behind every decision we make.
SB: What role did resilience play in Fetch’s early days?
WS: Dropping out of college to start a business isn’t a common path, and it was hard because it isolated me from a lot of the normal social interactions of college life. There were moments when I doubted myself, but I always came back to the belief that Fetch could work if we stayed focused, persistent and nimble.
Resilience for our team isn’t just about getting through the challenges; it’s about learning from them and using them to get better. That’s something I’ve carried with me throughout this journey—adversity is a signal that you’re on the right path because it forces you to grow.
SB: What advice do you have for entrepreneurs looking to build their own “good to great” journey?
WS: Don’t shy away from the challenges. You’re going to feel like you’re on the verge of failure most of the time, and that’s completely normal. In fact, it’s often a sign that you’re pushing in the right direction. I always tell people to lean into that discomfort because it usually points to where you need to focus your energy. Use that fear to prioritize the things that really matter and don’t let the noise distract you. The most important thing is to keep moving forward—iterate, adjust, and learn from every step, no matter how small.
Lean into discomfort because it usually points to where you need to focus your energy. Use that fear to prioritize the things that really matter and don’t let the noise distract you. The most important thing is to keep moving forward—iterate, adjust, and learn from every step, no matter how small.
SB: What’s next for Fetch? Can you talk about your new tagline, Live Rewarded?
WS: Live Rewarded, represents our vision to become a true rewards-for-everything platform. We’ve already taken major steps toward by adding more brands and new verticals, plus experiences like Fetch Play, where users can earn rewards for mobile gaming, and Fetch Shop, which integrates with e-commerce. But this is just the beginning.
The future of Fetch is all about expanding even further—rewarding users not only for shopping for virtually anything they do, whether it’s streaming, fitness activities, or beyond. We want Fetch to be a seamless part of daily life, where no matter what you’re doing, you’re always earning points and feeling the value of living rewarded.
For our partners, this evolution means more opportunities to engage with consumers across a variety of touchpoints. As Fetch continues to expand, brands will have even greater access to real-time insights and more ways to create meaningful, long-term connections with their customers.
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A huge thank you to Fetch for their support of Startup Boston Week 2024! You can learn more about Fetch on their website. For updates like this straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to Startup Boston's newsletter using the form below.
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