Steve Thiel

My Story

I am a business owner, digital marketing professional, and committed father and husband.Over the years, I've built and sold multiple businesses, including HotPress Web, UGURUS, and now Thiel Agency.I value growth, integrity, and a commitment to serving others, and I lead with purpose in both my professional and personal life.My focus is on impact, not just profits, and I prioritize faith, family, and building meaningful relationships.

Early Life

I grew up in Plano, Texas, and graduated from Plano Senior High in 2000. Raised with my younger brother by both parents—my mom as a homemaker and my dad as a sales executive and entrepreneur—I learned the value of hard work and creativity early on. Growing up, one of my biggest challenges was moving in middle school, forcing me to adjust socially and establish new friendships.From a young age, I was interested in business. I started my first lawn mowing business at 15 and sold my first eCommerce website in 1999. I also had an early passion for technology, coding, and computers, which led to me creating a website management system in college before platforms like WordPress existed.Sports were a big part of my life—baseball, football, and later, endurance sports like marathons and triathlons. I also enjoyed art, history, business, and computer classes in school. My entrepreneurial spirit grew through high school and college, where I started several businesses, setting the stage for my future career.

Education

I started my college journey at Texas Tech University, where I maintained a 3.8 GPA, before transferring to the University of Texas. Though I didn’t complete my degree, I chose to focus on growing my digital marketing agency full-time.I am currently pursuing a B.A. in Christian Ministry at Colorado Christian University, with plans to pursue a Master’s in Executive Christian Ministry after that.Alongside formal education, I’ve learned extensively from books, courses, and mentors.Notable titles on my bookshelf include the Bible, Federalist Papers, Breakthrough Advertising, Running Lean, Traction, Letting Go, and 48 Laws of Power, which have all shaped my thinking and approach to life and business.

Career

I’ve been fortunate to build and sell several successful businesses. My first digital marketing agency, HotPress Web, worked with small businesses and nonprofits in the Denver metro area. We had notable clients like Breckenridge Brewery, Colorado Ballet, and Denver Preschool Program. The company grew to 8 employees and nearly $1M in annual revenue before I sold the business to Distill Agency in 2012.At the same time, I co-founded BC Gurus, a blog about our agency’s use of Adobe’s Business Catalyst platform. What began as a blog turned into a successful training and app provider for digital agency owners, eventually leading to our resources being integrated directly into Adobe’s software.After selling HotPress Web, we retained BC Gurus and launched UGURUS, a coaching and training program for digital agency owners. We grew UGURUS into a business generating seven-figure annual revenue before I exited in 2019 and the business sold to Digital Ocean.Today, I run Thiel Agency, focusing on digital marketing for the education, home services, and ministry sectors, and Thiel Built, a home services business specializing in roofing and solar projects. Both ventures are aligned with my values of simplicity, purpose, and service.

Achievements

Personal Life

I’m married to my beautiful and amazing wife, Emily. We enjoy dinner dates, wine, and tapas on sunny afternoons, making sure we prioritize time together. We have an infant daughter together.I also have two older children—my son (6) and daughter (8). Our family enjoys spending time at the Denver Zoo, visiting Dave & Buster’s, going out for dinners and ice cream, and spending time outside.We attend Riverside Church, where I serve on the vision leadership team and volunteer in various church missions to support our community.Outside of family and faith, I enjoy skiing in the winter, golfing in the summer, and running a half-marathon every Spring and Fall. I believe in keeping things simple and focusing on what truly matters: faith, family, and meaningful work.