Alex Smith (businessman)

Alex Smith
Born (1986-11-06) November 6, 1986
Fort Wayne, Indiana
EducationIndiana University
OccupationEntrepreneur

Alex Smith (born November 6, 1986, in Fort Wayne, Indiana) is an American entrepreneur. He is the co-founder & CEO of 3BG Supply Co., an industrial distributor,[1] and the co-founder and CEO of KloudStax, a cloud computing company that became a Google Cloud Premier Partner in 2024.[2] He is also a co-founder of A Better Fort and the BAALS Music Festival.[3]

Biography

Alex Smith was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he attended Bishop Dwenger High School.[4] He graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in Public Financial Management.

Smith began his career as a financial planner at Galecki Financial Management but left financial services to co-found 3BG Supply Co.

An article in Industrial Distribution profiled Smith and 3BG's business model, describing how the company evolved into a “tech-enabled distributor,” combining drop shipping and a proprietary product data platform to modernize the industrial supply chain.[5]

In 2023 he co-founded KloudStax, a technology company focused on cloud computing services and Google Cloud licensing.[6] The company was recognized as a Google Cloud Premier Partner in 2024.[7]

Recognition and awards

  • 2014 — Recognized as Emerging Company of the Year by Fort Wayne Business Weekly.[8]
  • 2015 — Named a Business of the Year honoree at the Northeast Indiana Business Excellence Awards.[9]
  • 2015 — Nominated for Tech Innovation of the Year at the TechPoint Mira Awards.[10]
  • 2019 — Named Regional Business of the Year by Elevate Ventures.[11]
  • 2021 — Included on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the United States, ranking No. 2,124.[12]
  • 2022 — Received the Business Expansion Award from Greater Fort Wayne Inc.[13]

Projects

The MY CITY Project (HipHop4theCity)

In 2012, Smith facilitated a music project entitled, "HipHop4theCity",(aka The MY CITY Project) a community-driven hip-hop project that involved collaboration with local musicians, including rapper Nyzzy Nyce.[14] The project showcased the region's undiscovered talent and brought awareness to community involvement and the arts. Covered by Bloomberg, [15] it inspired the civic initiative MY CITY Summit.[16]

Personal life

Smith is married to Michaela Smith.[17]

References

  1. ^ Anna Wells (June 5, 2023). "Tech-Enabled, Customer First". Industrial Distribution. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  2. ^ "KloudStax Achieves Google Cloud Premier Partner Status". EIN Presswire. 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  3. ^ Jaclyn Goldborough (July 29, 2014). "A Better Fort Plans a Pair of Block Parties for Downtown Fort Wayne". The News Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  4. ^ "Dwenger Times" (PDF). Bishop Dwenger High School. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 11, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  5. ^ Anna Wells (June 5, 2023). "Tech-Enabled, Customer First". Industrial Distribution. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  6. ^ "MHS Grad Starts Tech Company KloudStax". Yahoo Finance. 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  7. ^ "KloudStax Achieves Google Cloud Premier Partner Status". EIN Presswire. 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  8. ^ "2014 Innovation Awards". Fort Wayne Business Weekly. November 6, 2014. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  9. ^ "Innovative Companies Honored". KPC News. 2015. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  10. ^ "Nominees Announced for 16th Annual TechPoint Mira Awards". TechPoint. 2015. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  11. ^ "Elevate Ventures Honors Five Statewide Winners". Elevate Ventures. 2019. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  12. ^ "3BG Supply Co. is a 2021 Inc. 5000 honoree". Inc. 2021. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  13. ^ "Tech-Enabled, Customer First". Industrial Distribution. June 5, 2023. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  14. ^ "HipHop4theCity". Indiana News Center. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  15. ^ "Can a Rap Video Make Fort Wayne Cool?". Bloomberg. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  16. ^ "City summit will inspire big ideas, challenge leaders". The Journal Gazette. April 6, 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-01-10. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  17. ^ Keiara Carr (June 19, 2014). "Inspiration for a Better Fort". Journal Gazette. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
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