- Date published
How WON Communications grew one bold step at a time.
Every entrepreneur has a different reason for taking the leap.
For Matt Thomas, founder of WON Communications, it wasn’t a lifelong dream or a meticulously crafted business plan. It was an opportunity.
“Technology advanced to the point that I could compete with local DSL and cable offerings,” Matt said. “Some new spectrum and equipment came about that could do a gigabit over short distances, and that intrigued me to look at an urban deployment much closer.”
That curiosity became a business.
Taking the First Step
Like many entrepreneurs, Matt didn’t have every answer before getting started. Instead, he made a decision that many founders eventually face: move forward despite the uncertainty.
“It was all a risk,” he said. “My biggest decision was to say ‘F-it’ to the fear of moving ahead. Found a way to make it work and took baby steps to start the business in my backyard.”
Those baby steps eventually grew into WON Communications, a company that has provided business internet and communications services throughout southwest Missouri since 2015.
A Boost from efactory
Before the company became what it is today, Matt found efactory.
He won the very first business pitch competition hosted by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business 2 Business Expo in 2014, earning $5,000 to help launch his concept along with 6 months of free office space at efactory.
That support helped turn an idea into a company.
Today, WON Communications has grown into a team of 16, serving businesses across southwest Missouri and beyond. As the company has expanded, Matt has continued to lean into opportunities for growth, most recently participating in a leadership program through efactory’s Missouri SBDC at Missouri State University. The program brings together CEOs of growing businesses from across the state to identify scaling opportunities, tackle common challenges, and learn from one another.
Choosing a Different Kind of Growth
Ask Matt about setbacks, and he doesn’t point to a catastrophic failure or a business crisis. Instead, he reflects on the growth path he intentionally chose.
“I really don’t put the business out there enough,” he admitted.
While many technology companies chase rapid expansion, Matt took a more measured approach.
“I simply have not taken the aggressive growth path so common with technology-based businesses. Many times, I wish I could have been more aggressive. But, it has had some benefits as well. Quality of life versus quantity in life, I suppose.”
That deliberate pace has allowed the company to build lasting customer relationships while adapting to an industry that looks dramatically different than it did when WON launched.
Rather than standing still, WON Communications is evolving alongside the market, continuing to refine what it offers businesses throughout the region.
Success Isn't What It Used to Be
Many founders can point to a moment when they knew their business would succeed.
Matt isn’t one of them.
“I do not think I have realized that yet,” he said. “Every day is a question of whether or not we are doing the right thing and making decisions that will provide for everyone in the business.”
It’s a perspective that reflects the reality of entrepreneurship. Success isn’t a finish line; it’s a continual process of learning, adapting and making the next right decision.
His definition of success has evolved just as much as his company has.
“It used to be a dollar figure,” he said. “That has changed. If I had to sum it up, I would say a multi-state operation that provides an outstanding livelihood for everyone involved in the company and a stellar reputation for giving a damn about our customers would be a great way to spell success.”
Looking Ahead
It’s clear that Matt isn’t finished building. But if he could go back and give one piece of advice to the entrepreneur who was just starting a business, his answer is relatable to many founders.
“Stop over analyzing and move faster, you nit wit.”
It’s advice born from experience — and a reminder that sometimes the biggest obstacle standing between an idea and a business is simply taking the first step.