May 28, 2025
Cam Doody’s story is one you don’t hear every day. From launching Bellhop in college towns to running a venture studio out of Chattanooga, he’s consistently taken the less obvious route - and made it work. Bellhop started as a scrappy idea to help students move, and it grew into a regional giant with a private equity exit under its belt.
But Cam wasn’t interested in riding off into the sunset. What he saw after the Bellhop chapter was a startup world that had lost its edge - too much noise, not enough discipline. That realization became the spark for Brickyard.
The Road to Brickyard
The foundation of Brickyard was no coincidence. Cam built it to be the opposite of what most founders experience - no pitch competitions, no status games, no distraction disguised as opportunity. Just focused work, deep product thinking, and a full commitment to building something real.
The phrase “burn the ships” came up frequently. The idea that once you're in, there’s no turning back. That’s what Brickyard asks of its founders. That level of sacrifice creates a different kind of clarity. And in a place like Chattanooga - not exactly the heart of the VC scene - that focus becomes even more intense.
Lessons from Bellhop: When Constraints Become Strategy
Cam shared some behind-the-scenes decisions that changed the course of Bellhop. Like when leasing trucks turned into a logistics nightmare - and they had to pivot. Rather than give up, they partnered with a final-mile logistics provider and doubled down on what they did best. That kind of flexibility, combined with some well-timed luck, turned into leverage.
Why Grit Still Matters
If there’s one through-line in Cam’s story, there’s no shortcut to building something that lasts. Grit, clarity, and a willingness to block out the noise are the real differentiators. And while Brickyard isn’t for everyone, it’s clear that it’s working for the people who are all-in.
What Chattanooga Makes Possible
Their Chattanooga roots aren't a gimmick. It’s part of the thesis. Cam pointed out that if Brickyard were in the Bay Area, there would be too much comfort, too many easy outs. Chattanooga forces a kind of intentionality - and attracts founders who are ready to trade buzz for build time.
Conviction Over Consensus
Conviction beats consensus.” Building something original means pushing through resistance, trusting your gut, and being okay with people not getting it.
A Few Takeaways from Cam's Journey:
- Product-market fit comes before scale. Everything else builds on that.
- Eliminate noise early. Distraction is the enemy of durability.
- Play the long game. Building something great takes years - maybe a decade.
- Hard work is the cost of entry. There’s no way around the grind.
To hear more about Cam's journey and Brickyard's unique approach to startup building, tune in to our latest episode of Electrifying Growth!
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