Jeremy Terman turned a likely ‘no’ into a tech career; his advice: Don’t wait for permission to start

The biggest risks are in doing nothing, said Jeremy Terman, encouraging entrepreneurship students at UMKC to take the plunge — even if at times the world might be telling them they aren’t ready.

“You don’t have to be in a box. You don’t have to listen to what the rules are,” said Terman, an investor and serial entrepreneur who forged his own path in business, including with an unconventional start in a Mizzou business program. 

“If you try for something, what’s the worst that can happen?” he asked earlier this month at UMKC’s First Tuesday Founder Series. “They say no. But what if they say yes?”

Terman’s journey — from Kansas City student to co-founder of one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing esports organizations — is marked by a blend of persistence and a knack for identifying untapped opportunities, he described to the crowd. From early ventures like the now-defunct mobile app Pocket Points, to his pivotal role in DoorDash’s expansion, Terman’s entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to take risks have shaped his success.

Business and entrepreneurship students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City listen to comments from serial entrepreneur Jeremy Terman during UMKC’s First Tuesday Founder Series; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Power of persistence

Armed with the passion of a budding entrepreneur, Terman wanted to join the University of Missouri’s Cornell Leadership Program but recognized he lacked the formal academic requirements. The outcome of his petition — driven by passion and skills over GPA or ACT scores — served as a pivotal moment, giving him the confidence to pursue opportunities that seemed out of reach.

“When I was at Mizzou, I said, ‘Here’s my skill set. Here’s why I can be here.’ And they let me in,” said Terman, describing his acceptance to the exclusive program. “It was just another great example of not having to follow the rules if you believe in what you’re chasing.”

Terman’s tenacity earned him a Verizon internship as a freshman — thanks to an encounter at a career fair that collided with his resume and eagerness to learn. Within two years, he advanced to Verizon’s business-to-business division, gaining valuable skills in sales, leadership, and creating his own opportunities, he said.

Serial entrepreneur Jeremy Terman speaks to students during UMKC’s First Tuesday Founder Series; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

From startup to DoorDash

Those early experiences laid the groundwork for Terman’s next big move: a leap into the startup world with Pocket Points, a college-focused mobile app. Although the venture didn’t pan out as hoped, it provided valuable lessons on risk-taking and adaptability, he said.

Serial entrepreneur and investor Jeremy Terman speaks in September 2021 at the Techstars Kansas City Demo Day event; photo by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News

“I could have gone to Verizon, made six figures, and stayed in corporate, but I wanted to build,” said Terman. “That’s when I knew I wasn’t about the money; I wanted to create something.”

His time with Pocket Points connected him to the world of high-growth tech and led him to DoorDash — a then-emerging company that would put Terman on the map as a leader in national sales. 

He was instrumental in DoorDash’s early market launches, signing local restaurants and negotiating large-scale contracts that eventually led to $2 billion in national deals, he recalled. 

“I was fortunate enough to join DoorDash when it was still in its early stages,” Terman said. “At the time, Postmates was the dominant player in Kansas City. But when they offered me a job to launch in Cincinnati instead, I took the risk. That market became one of our best.”

His talent for recognizing opportunities and adapting to changing environments allowed Terman to thrive at DoorDash, where he eventually took on enterprise-level sales roles, proving his capability to handle national accounts.

Jeremy Terman, KC Pioneers

Building the KC Pioneers

Despite DoorDash’s opportunities, Terman’s entrepreneurial drive persisted. In 2019, he co-founded the Kansas City Pioneers, a rising esports powerhouse attracting top talent and corporate sponsors both regionally and nationally.

Sam Kulikov, Jeremy Terman, LJ Browne, Mark Josey and Alex Laughlin, Kansas City Pioneers, at the Halo Global Major tournament, December 2021, Raleigh, North Carolina, where the Kansas City Pioneers finished 6th in the world; photo courtesy of the KC Pioneers

“I never thought I’d get into esports, but the more I learned about the industry, the more I saw the massive potential,” Terman said. “Esports is just like any other business — it’s about building a brand, building a community, and being passionate about what you’re doing.”

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The KC Pioneers is now a leading Midwest esports organization with teams in Rocket League, Halo, and Fortnite. For Terman, building the business is about connecting a community rooted in innovation and leadership.

“Esports, to me, is about bringing people together and creating something special from the ground up. That’s the kind of culture we’re building with the KC Pioneers,” he said.

Take the next leap

Today, Terman’s role is in restaurant technology sales at 7shifts, a company that provides scheduling and labor management software for restaurants.

A University of Missouri-Kansas City asks a question to serial entrepreneur Jeremy Terman during UMKC’s First Tuesday Founder Series; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

As a leader in the industry with over nine years of experience, Terman continues to scale the company’s Midmarket team, which focuses on restaurants with 10 or more locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Through it all, his advice to budding entrepreneurs remains simple: take risks, build relationships, and always stay curious.

“Luck favors the prepared hand. Every person you work with or meet could be a future collaborator or a source of opportunity,” said Terman. “It’s all about putting yourself out there, learning from every failure, and not being afraid to take the next leap.”