Ventures
Entrepreneurship is one of the greatest forces for good on the planet.
One of Rusty’s greatest passions is using the power of entrepreneurship to make a positive impact on the world – here’s a look at the companies he’s involved with.
Zilker Media
Zilker Media is an award-winning boutique agency providing end-to-end brand building for some of the world’s top executives, thought leaders and companies. With an emphasis on people-driven marketing, Zilker Media is a category-leader in PR, digital marketing & lead generation and is one of Austin’s Best Places to Work according to the Austin Business Journal. Learn more at www.ZilkerMedia.com.
Advantage|ForbesBooks
Rusty’s first agency, Shelton Interactive, was acquired by Advantage|ForbesBooks in early 2016, at which time Rusty was named Senior Marketing Strategist of Advantage Media Group and Publisher of ForbesBooks. He continues to work closely with the Charleston, SC-based company to help leaders and entrepreneurs grow their business and create an Authority Advantage. Learn more at www.advantagefamily.com or www.books.forbes.com
Texas Hill Country Provisions
I’m happy to be an investor and supporter of Texas Hill Country Provisions, which was founded in South Austin in 2021.
Catch Engine
Catch Engine is a software platform founded by Nick Alter, Rusty Shelton and David Stromberg that allows customers to build quizzes and assessments in a low-cost, high-quality format. Over the past few years Catch Engine quizzes have been taken more than 700,000 times and its client list includes leading publishers, best-selling authors and top companies. Learn more at www.catchengine.com.
Alter Endeavors
Alter Endeavors is the official website partner of Zilker Media and builds the best online platforms (including this website!) for all Zilker Media clients. Learn more at www.AlterEndeavors.com.
Shelton Interactive
Founded after many sleepless nights in 2010, Shelton Interactive was Rusty’s first ever business. The company became one of the fastest growing small businesses in Austin and was widely recognized as one of the leading digital shops in the publishing industry. Known for its culture, team-based atmosphere and launch of more than 35 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, the agency was a blast to build alongside some of the most talented people in Austin. Rusty’s first successful exit, the company was acquired in 2016 by Advantage|ForbesBooks, whom Rusty still works closely with today. For more on the lessons learned building Shelton Interactive, click here to read the article Rusty wrote for Inc. Magazine about it.
Bibliomotion
Bibliomotion was a next-generation publishing company founded by Jill Friedlander, Erika Heilman, Barbara Cave Henricks and Rusty Shelton in 2011 that became a fast-growing imprint in the business book space. Acquired in 2016 by Taylor & Francis, Bibliomotion books continue to make an impact. Click here to read the Publishers Weekly article on the acquisition.