Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Marks.
Hi Todd, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Todd’s Story: From a Basement Startup to a Portfolio of Companies Shaping the Future
Todd Marks started with nothing more than a laptop, a basement, and the belief that technology should make life easier, not harder. What began as a small digital shop quickly grew into Mindgrub Technologies, a company he built project by project, fueled by curiosity, grit, and the conviction that great user experiences could change industries.
In the early days, Todd wrote code at all hours, pitched clients wherever they would listen, and learned the business side the hard way—by doing it himself. Over time, Mindgrub evolved from a scrappy mobile shop into a full digital agency delivering enterprise websites, mobile apps, and large-scale platforms. The company went on to earn a 10-year streak on the Inc. 5000 list, grow a national team, and become known for solving difficult problems with smart, human-centered design.
But Todd didn’t stop there.
As emerging technologies reshaped the landscape, he shifted Mindgrub toward AI—launching AILabs, building custom agentic systems, and helping organizations adopt intelligent tools that transform how they operate. At the same time, he expanded into hospitality, real estate, venture capital, and product ventures through Marks Inc., the parent company he now leads as President and CEO.
Today, Todd oversees a portfolio that includes Mindgrub Technologies, Mindhub Coworking, Mindpub Restaurant, Revvy Wash, Mindgrub Ventures, and several early-stage companies—from AI kitchen assistants to veterinary triage agents. He serves as the visionary for the whole ecosystem, focusing on innovation, AI strategy, and the next decade of growth, while planning a relocation to a new hub for his family and businesses.
What started in a basement is now a multi-company enterprise—still driven by the same belief Todd began with: technology, used well, can improve lives, empower people, and change the future
We’ve been impressed with Mindgrub, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
About Mindgrub / Marks Inc.
At our core, we build technology that improves lives, simplifies work, and drives business success. Mindgrub began as a digital agency and has grown into a full ecosystem of companies under Marks Inc., spanning technology consulting, AI innovation, venture capital, hospitality, and product incubation. But the centerpiece of everything we do is Mindgrub Technologies — our award-winning digital consultancy best known for building enterprise-grade websites, mobile apps, AI systems, and user experiences that actually work for people.
What We Do & What We’re Known For
We help organizations modernize, automate, and accelerate. Our specialties include:
• AI strategy and implementation (custom agents, chatbots, automation systems)
• Web and mobile application development
• Digital experience design and UX
• Marketing, SEO, and ACES support for sustained growth
We’re known for taking complex business problems — in healthcare, education, government, cybersecurity, utilities, and beyond — and turning them into elegant, usable technology solutions.
What Sets Us Apart
Three things:
1. A human-centered approach to AI and emerging tech.
We don’t chase hype. We design AI that real people can rely on, using safe, governed, enterprise-grade systems.
2. A “Prompt-to-Product” delivery model.
We can take an idea, prototype it in days, validate it with real users, and turn it into a functional product in weeks.
3. A culture built on ingenuity, ownership, and collaboration.
Our teams operate with curiosity and accountability, allowing us to move fast while delivering enterprise-level quality.
We’ve also earned a 10-year streak on the Inc. 5000 — something extremely rare in our industry — and that consistency comes from pairing innovation with discipline.
What We’re Most Proud Of
Brand-wise, we’re proud to be known for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible while staying grounded in what clients actually need. We’ve built a reputation for:
• Showing organizations how AI can truly work for them
• Delivering technology that feels crafted, not cookie-cut
• Building long-term partnerships, not just projects
We’re also immensely proud of AIWorks, our AI innovation division, which is helping clients adopt agents, automation, and intelligent workflows that redefine how their businesses operate.
What We Want Readers to Know
If you’re looking for a partner who understands both the emerging future and the realities of running a business today, that’s us. Whether it’s a custom AI agent, a new website, a mobile app, or a full digital transformation, we focus on solutions that create measurable, lasting impact.
We don’t just build technology.
We help companies take the leap into the future — with clarity, creativity, and confidence
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
On Risk Taking
I’ve always seen risk not as something to avoid, but as something to manage intentionally. I don’t take blind risks — I take informed ones. For me, risk is the cost of progress. Every meaningful leap in my career, and in Mindgrub’s history, has required the willingness to step into the unknown with a clear hypothesis, a strong plan, and the grit to see it through.
One of the biggest risks I ever took was starting Mindgrub in the first place. I launched the company with no outside funding, no safety net, and no promise that anyone needed what I had to offer. I left a stable career, worked out of my basement, and bet everything on the belief that technology could make life easier for people. That decision changed the trajectory of my life — and it taught me that courage paired with discipline is a powerful combination.
Another major risk was shifting our entire business toward AI. We were an established digital agency with steady demand for apps, websites, and enterprise platforms. Moving aggressively into AI meant cannibalizing some of our own work, retraining teams, realigning our offerings, and investing deeply in capabilities before the market fully matured. It was a pivotal moment. But we leaned in because we knew the future wasn’t waiting. That risk resulted in AIWorks, our agentic systems work, and a completely new growth engine for the company.
Beyond technology, I’ve taken risks in real estate, hospitality, and venture capital — launching a restaurant, developing properties, and investing in early-stage companies. Not all of them were easy or straightforward. But every risk taught me something critical: the goal isn’t to avoid failure; it’s to design your bets so even the failures push you forward.
I don’t think of myself as reckless or fearless. I think of myself as a builder. Builders make decisions before certainty exists. My philosophy is simple:
If the upside is transformational, the mission is meaningful, and the team is aligned — you take the risk. You just take it carefully, thoughtfully, and with both eyes open
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Mindgrub.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindgrub
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/mindgrub/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindgrub
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mindgrub
