Meet Russell Crooms | Founder & CEO of Savvy Dev Hub and BuildWithSavvy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Russell Crooms and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Russell, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, starting my own business came down to one big realization: if I wanted the kind of life and freedom I kept dreaming about, I had to build it myself.

I hit a point where I knew working for someone else — no matter how good the job — was never going to create the future I really wanted. I wanted to create something lasting, something meaningful, and something that could grow far beyond just me.

That’s when I decided to take the leap and start Savvy Developer Hub. From there, BuildWithSavvy was born — a platform designed to make it easier for others to launch and grow online without all the stress and complexity.

It wasn’t just about starting a business; it was about taking ownership of my future and doing the work I know I’m meant to do.

What should our readers know about your business?
Savvy Developer Hub, LLC is the tech company I founded to bring high-impact ideas to life through lean, purpose-driven MVPs. It’s not just a one-product brand — it’s a launchpad for solving everyday problems with thoughtful, accessible technology.

Right now, we’re actively working on two flagship projects under that umbrella: BuildWithSavvy and Grocery Savvy.

BuildWithSavvy helps entrepreneurs and small businesses launch beautiful, fully managed websites—without the technical overwhelm. Instead of getting lost in a sea of plugins, templates, and backend settings, our users get a complete web presence handled for them. We manage hosting, updates, optimization, and support—so business owners can focus on growing their brand, not fixing their site.

Grocery Savvy, our second major project, is a mobile app designed to make healthy grocery shopping easier and more informed. It connects users’ grocery lists with their personal health goals, helping them shop smarter, avoid unwanted ingredients, and track progress over time.

But what really sets Savvy Developer Hub, LLC apart is how we build. We don’t just chase trends—we build with empathy. We prioritize usability and impact over hype. Our goal isn’t to create the most complex tools—it’s to create the right tools, for the right people, at the right time.

I’m proud of the fact that we’re not just building “cool ideas.” We’re building real solutions that people can actually use in their daily lives. Things that simplify, support, and improve—not complicate.

That said, the journey wasn’t easy.

Before Savvy Developer Hub, LLC, I launched businesses that didn’t work out. I faced failure, burnout, and self-doubt. I even questioned whether I had what it took to be an entrepreneur. What got me through wasn’t luck—it was a shift in mindset. I decided to rebuild from the ground up.

I taught myself how to code—not to become an engineer for someone else, but to build things I believed in. That process taught me discipline, patience, and how to break big ideas into small, solvable pieces. It gave me the clarity to pursue this company the way I always envisioned: lean, focused, and user-first.

If there’s one thing I want people to take away from our story, it’s this:

You don’t have to start perfect—you just have to start. And if you keep going, even through the setbacks, what you build can truly make a difference.

That mindset is baked into every project we launch at Savvy Developer Hub, LLC—and I’m just getting started.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Dallas has so many things to do and see. I’ve always been into business and creativity, so if my best friend were visiting for a week, I’d make sure they experienced a mix of what makes this city so inspiring.

We’d probably kick things off in Downtown Dallas — just soaking in the skyline, visiting a few local shops, and maybe grabbing a coffee at a place like Otto’s Coffee & Fine Foods inside The Adolphus. I love the energy downtown brings, especially if you’re into tech, startups, or just admiring the city’s growth.

After that, we’d head over to Deep Ellum, one of my favorite spots in the city. The vibe there is unbeatable — from the murals to the live music and independent restaurants. We’d grab lunch at Pecan Lodge (some of the best BBQ in the state) or maybe Niwa Japanese BBQ if we’re in the mood for something different. At night, there’s always something going on — whether it’s catching live music at Trees, finding a hidden speakeasy, or just walking the streets and discovering something new.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to give credit first to God. My faith has been the foundation of everything I’m building, and spending more time fasting, praying, and studying the Bible has helped keep me centered and moving forward.

I’m also really thankful for the ministry of Jonathan Shuttlesworth and my home church for providing so much encouragement during some critical seasons.

On the technical side, I’m grateful for creators like Programming with Mosh and GreatStack’s YouTube channel. Those resources — along with many coding courses I invested in — helped sharpen my skills and gave me the tools to actually build what I had in my mind.

As far as books that made an impact, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone, and The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss all challenged the way I think about work, freedom, and scaling something meaningful.

Website: https://buildwithsavvy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildwithsavvy_/

Twitter: https://x.com/buildwithsavvy_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Buildwithsavvy/61573834874361/

Image Credits
Credit Savvy Developer Hub, LLC