Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Blankenship.
Hi Tyler, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2018 with a degree in mechanical engineering and started my career designing roller coasters and amusement rides. It was an incredible experience that combined technical problem-solving with creativity, and I loved being part of projects that brought people joy. Around the time of the pandemic, I decided to explore other paths and spent a short time in financial planning. While I enjoyed the analytical side of it, the subject matter just didn’t excite me. I’d always known I wanted to run my own business, and during that transitional time, I realized I was already the go-to “tech guy” for family and friends (setting up Wi-Fi, troubleshooting devices, fixing TVs, etc.) so I decided to lean into that passion and turn it into something real.
In 2021, my wife and I moved to Charleston, South Carolina, and I launched Elevate Technologies. I didn’t have a formal background in the tech integration space, but I was driven to learn, and I quickly fell in love with the work. Over three years, I grew the business through word-of-mouth, great partnerships, and a genuine love for helping people create experiences through technology. In 2024, we relocated to Durham, NC where we reside today. While it was a challenge to rebuild in a new market, the Triangle has been incredibly welcoming. Today, Elevate Technologies works with homeowners, architects, and builders across the area on everything from full custom homes to retrofit projects. I’m excited to continue growing the business here and to keep creating experiences that make people happy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road—and I think that’s something more business owners need to talk about. A lot of times, people only hear from entrepreneurs once they’ve “made it,” and it can seem like their success happened overnight. But the reality is, building a business comes with constant challenges, self-doubt, and uncertainty. I started Elevate Technologies with no industry background, surrounded by companies that had been doing this for decades. It was easy to feel like the outsider trying to break into an established space. On top of that, the business is seasonal, which means we can go from incredibly busy in the fall or early summer to very slow in the off-season. That roller coaster brings both mental and financial stress, and you have to plan ahead so you’re not blindsided when the quiet months hit.
Day to day, the pressure of running the business can be intense. You carry the weight of knowing that nothing moves forward unless you make it happen. That mental load can be heavy, which is why having a strong support system and inner resilience is so important. We’ve also faced more tangible challenges like equipment failures, surprise expenses, or having to completely start over when we relocated from Charleston to Durham. That move meant rebuilding our entire client base and network from scratch. But through all of it, I’ve learned that confidence is key. You have to stay steady when things feel like they’re falling apart, and you also need the humility to plan for tough times when things are going well. That balance is what keeps you moving forward.
We’ve been impressed with Elevate Technologies, 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?
Elevate Technologies is a home and business technology company specializing in Wi-Fi and networking, audio, video, security, surveillance, and everything in between. I usually tell people, “If it plugs into the wall, we probably work on it.” Our specialty is working on custom homes, particularly during new construction. We’re often brought in by architects, general contractors, or homeowners to design and install technology systems that are fully tailored to the space. Every solution we create is custom-built for the client’s needs: no required brands, no minimum budgets, and no one-size-fits-all approach.
What sets us apart is the boutique, highly personalized experience we offer. As a small business owner, I’m involved at every step: from the initial consultation and design to managing the on-site installation. That tight feedback loop means nothing gets lost in translation, and changes can be made quickly and accurately without red tape or delay. We work closely with homeowners and design-build professionals to ensure every detail is dialed in. I’m most proud of the fact that Elevate is fully self-made—we’re independently owned, we’re not tied to any brands or distributors, and we have the freedom to be as flexible and responsive as our clients need us to be. At the end of the day, we live and work in the same community as our clients, and we love helping them create thoughtful, high-performance homes that are just as functional as they are beautiful.
How do you define success?
Defining success has always been a bit of a moving target for me. Is it about revenue? Growth? Happiness? At the end of the day, I believe success is about living a fulfilling, balanced life. Yes, making money and growing the business matter, especially when they allow you to enjoy life and create new experiences for yourself and your family. But more than that, I find the deepest sense of success comes from genuinely helping people. When a homeowner or builder tells me how much they love the work we’ve done—when they’re truly excited about the result—that’s what really sticks with me.
I don’t see success as a single milestone or a number on a spreadsheet. It’s not a destination you reach and then stop. It’s an ongoing journey of trying to do meaningful work, help as many people as we can, and stay connected to the community we serve. For Elevate Technologies, success means delivering projects that make our clients happy—not just in terms of functionality, but in how they feel about the experience. Even if a project is profitable, if the client isn’t satisfied, we don’t consider that a win. So we measure success not only by how well the business is performing, but by the quality of the relationships we build and the satisfaction of the people we serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elevatehometech.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatehometech/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatehometech/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevatehometech/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatehometech
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/elevate-technologies-durham
