What does it really mean to build a purpose driven business—and how can focusing on more than just profit transform your success?
As an entrepreneur, you know the tension between chasing growth and staying true to your deeper mission. In this episode, Kyle Kamrooz, founder and CEO of Bonus Home, opens up about the lessons he’s learned in real estate, technology, and venture capital—and why putting purpose over profit is not only more fulfilling but also a smarter long-term strategy.
By listening, you’ll learn:
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How to align your business decisions with a mission that sustains you beyond financial gains.
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The pitfalls of taking capital from partners who don’t share your values—and how to guard against it.
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Why building wealth through homeownership offers a powerful example of combining purpose with impact.
Press play now to hear how prioritizing purpose over profit can reshape the way you grow, lead, and leave a legacy.
Early Lessons in Entrepreneurship
[04:30] — Kyle describes growing up in a family of immigrants, watching his father build a mortgage business, and learning early the values of resilience and opportunity.
[09:15] — By his mid-20s, Kyle had built a nationwide mortgage lending company. He shares how timing, grit, and a willingness to embrace risk fueled rapid growth in a hyper-competitive market.
[15:40] — The 2008 financial crisis hit hard, and Kyle reflects on the dangers of being undiversified in a cyclical industry, plus the importance of stepping back to reassess purpose and direction.
[21:05] — Transitioning out of lending, he leaned into technology and built a software company that gave him a firsthand education in raising capital and scaling with an engineering-heavy team.
The Power of a Purpose Driven Business
[28:42] — Kyle explains why not all money is good money, warning of the risks when investors don’t share your values. Protecting a purpose driven business means setting clear boundaries with partners.
[33:18] — He highlights the critical lesson of putting purpose over profit: long-term impact and mission alignment must outweigh short-term gains if you want to build something sustainable.
[39:12] — Through his venture capital firm, Operate Ventures, Kyle shares how investing in other founders reaffirmed his belief that supporting purpose-driven businesses creates stronger outcomes for everyone.
[42:50] — Kyle describes how purpose-driven business isn’t just a slogan—it’s a guiding principle that influences decisions on who to invest in, what industries to support, and how to drive change.
Building Bonus Home
[47:10] — The inspiration behind Bonus Home comes from his father’s experience selling a house too soon, losing out on generational wealth. This sparked Kyle’s passion for helping others avoid the same fate.
[54:20] — Kyle explains how Bonus Home gives families access to their equity without forcing them to sell, offering a practical solution for building wealth while staying aligned with the mission of financial empowerment.