Need/Want builds companies

We believe something magical happens when you keep the band together for the long haul. We’re creating many products that solve simple problems. Why? We’re creative people by nature who thrive by constantly building.

One reality when starting a company is that not everything will work. We’ve built a model that embraces this. We’re profitable, but if something ever went south, we have the capital from other ventures to persist through time. We’re building to last.

Why St. Louis?

We were originally based in San Francisco, but made the deliberate decision to relocate the company to downtown St. Louis. None of our founders are from here – it was purely a business decision based on talent needs, costs, and quality of life. We believe St. Louis is a hidden gem for starting a company.

Leadership

Marshall Haas

CEO & Co-Founder

A Texas native, Marshall began in architecture but soon discovered entrepreneurship. His last startup was acquired by MetaLab. He's been tinkering ever since.
@marshal
Jon Wheatley

Product & Co-Founder

Born and raised on the south coast of the UK, Jon moved to the US after founding Dailybooth which was later acquired by Airbnb.
@jon
Jason Cox

Head of Operations

In a former life, Jason was a fashion model in NYC. He later graduated from Mizzou with a bachelors in Health Administration. In his spare time he makes rustic furniture.
@needwantinc

We Value...

1

Optimism

Give constructive feedback. Pessimism has no place here.
2

Simple solutions

Add technology when needed, but never technology for technology's sake alone.
3

Transparency when possible

Good things happen when you make things and share them with the world.
4

Being diligent

Diligence & thoroughness with adequate rest.
5

Starting "green" and growing with us

Fresh thinking leads to innovative solutions.
6

Thinking longterm

Longterm thinking in business and relationships.
7

Taste

Design that is beautiful and simple.

Our Story

January 2013
Jon & Marshall meet via Twitter.
February 2013
Marshall pitches Jon on doing Smart Bedding with him. They begin working together.
May 2013
They meet for the first time in San Francisco to record Smart Bedding's marketing video.
July 2013
Smart Bedding launches on Kickstarter and sells over $57k of pre-orders in 30 days.
July 2013
While in San Francisco, they come up with the idea for Draft (later renamed Mod Notebooks).
August 2013
They decide to get serious and create a model for building many brands. Need/Want is born.
October 2013
The Need/Want website launches with a blog centered around total transparency.
November 2013
Jon and then Marshall write about their Airbnb stories – the posts go viral, kicking off the blog.
November 2013
Draft launches on Kickstarter. 10 days in they remove it after deciding to tweak the model based on customer feedback.
February 2014
Need/Want relocates its HQ from San Francisco to downtown St. Louis.
March 2014
Mod Notebooks launches to the public.
May 2014
Jason Cox joins as an intern, eventually growing into Need/Want's Operations Manager.
August 2014
Hatching launches – Need/Want's podcast about the inner workings of the company.
September 2014
Need/Want acquires Peel from Jon.
October 2014
Marshall leaves MetaLab to go full-time with Need/Want as its CEO.
October 2014
Emoji Masks launches as a side-project for Halloween and sells 5,000 masks in 4 days.
November 2014
Need/Want acquires Jarvis.
February 2015
New Need/Want office in downtown St. Louis
March 2015
#Launch is re-launched – a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and makers.
April 2015
Need/Want raises money from a select group of angel investors to further growth.
July 2015
Minimums launches – the most interesting possessions of the world's most interesting people.
November 2015
Ginny Carpenter joins Need/Want to oversee all customer service.
December 2015
Robby Klein joins Need/Want as head of Engineering.
January 2016
Jarvis is re-launched as Second and subsequently spun out of Need/Want.
February 2016
Smart Bedding re-launches as a premium linen brand. It sells out in the first 30 days.
April 2016
Opportunity Overload launches – a weekly email of the best entrepreneurial opportunities.
June 2016
Need/Want sells Emoji Masks
August 2016
Need/Want sells Mod Notebooks
November 2016
Need/Want buys the Ludwig, a mixed commercial and residential building, in downtown St. Louis
December 2016
Peel has its best year yet, growing 300% in 2016
January 2017
Need/Want moves into a new office in the Ludwig, one floor up from the previous space
May 2017
Need/Want grows to 12 people with the hires of a CFO, Director of Marketing, and more customer support staff
July 2017
Need/Want cancels the office lease and becomes a fully remote company
September 2017
Need/Want sells Primary and focuses all energy on growing Peel
Today
Are you working on something great? Get in touch with us! hello@needwant.com