EO Charleston Member Spotlight: Dan Rivers

EO Charleston, the local chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), represents some of the Lowcountry’s best and brightest in the business. We make it our duty to network and grow local businesses, support fellow entrepreneurs and celebrate our successes. This month, we’re proud to highlight Dan Rivers and his real estate investments group, Rivers Capital Group, founded in 2020.

How did you become an entrepreneur?

Rivers got his start working with a property management company in Boston after graduating from college. Initially, his goal centered around climbing the corporate ladder.

“I always knew I wanted to be in business to some degree,” Rivers said. “My goal was to be a company VP by 30 years old, and I hit that goal.”

But as he continued to climb the ranks, he wanted to set new goals for himself.

“The corporate world was great. I was high up and making good money, but I just wasn’t fulfilled,” he said. “I just needed a change.”

Dan and his wife would pack up and move down to South Carolina, where he would get his real estate sales license. But it was the connections he made at monthly breakfast meetups that made him realize he could truly run his own business.

“It was the first time in my life I was around big ideas,” he said. “Being in that room got me excited and ultimately got me to believe in myself.”

What does your company do?

Rivers Capital Group focuses on real estate, flips, buy and hold opportunities, and short-term rental revenue management. Dan says they are dedicated to helping others build wealth through real estate, by helping investors build their portfolios, whether it’s flipping properties or helping young people find their first homes.

But the biggest growth that Dan has seen since starting his company is the growth in himself.

“A big thing I overcame was imposter syndrome,” he said. “I’ve realized the past doesn’t define the future.”

And along the way, his personal growth has reflected the growth of the company. Rivers Capital Group broke seven figures a few years ago – a mighty feat for a team of four.

“We’re all part of a tight-knit group,” he shared. “And have direct influence on how successful we are (as a company).”

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

We’ve all heard the typical “do what you love” speech from our parents prior to picking a career, but Dan says it’s not necessarily a requirement to be a great entrepreneur.

“I love real estate, but what I love to do is help people build wealth,” he said. “More than anything, make sure you stick to your values.”

Dan highlighted that having non-negotiables and strict values is the biggest key to success in running a company the way you envision it.

“Line up the values, the mission and the vision of your life, not only just your business,” he said. “And from there, you can do anything as an entrepreneur.”

Dan lives by a mantra that he doesn’t have regrets in life, only lessons learned. He acknowledged that it would’ve been great for him to begin his entrepreneurial journey earlier in life, but the route he took helped him gain all of the real estate experience he has now.

Dan also opened up about having two major heart surgeries earlier in life, and those surgeries still stick with him today with how he approaches his life and career.

“I’m not afraid to take risks. Life’s short, and I’m going for it,” he said. “A lot of people hesitate to become an entrepreneur and just bet on themselves, and I think [the heart surgeries] gave me the ability to bet on myself.”

What are your goals for the future of your company?

Dan was very passionate about his main goal for Rivers Capital Group, which was to make sure his team didn’t feel too overwhelmed.

“I could say ‘become a $20-million-dollar company,’ but it’s not necessarily about the numbers,” he said. “It’s about being able to give my team the ability to reach their personal, professional and financial goals while developing a business with a strong name in the industry.”

Dan examined how social media is tuned to showcase everyone’s highs, but he treats the lows of life with just as much respect, creating a blend of his personal and professional life.

However, above all else, he wants to continue setting high personal and professional goals and encourages others to do the same.

“Don’t be afraid to dream big,” he said. “It’s so easy to set goals that are attainable or to put limitations on us, but imagine instead of trying to run a $1 million company, you try to run a $100 million company. What if you fall short and run a $10 million company? You’re still winning.”