“Who gives a hoot? We do.”
And this is where it all began.
I Am No One from Nowhere
My friends know me — but in the grand scheme of things, I am no one from nowhere.
So, what qualifies me to build something revolutionary?
Well… what qualifies anyone?
The truth is, everything starts with an idea.
Ideas come from joy, from purpose — and sometimes, from loss.
I had everything.
And then, I lost everything.
From Rock Bottom to Radical Vision
I spiraled into a deep depression. A darkness even those closest to me couldn’t see.
But even in my lowest moments, my heart stayed focused on helping others.
Not to get rich.
Not for fame.
But to build something real — something that would help people pay their bills without fear… put food on the table without worry… and sleep peacefully knowing their lights wouldn’t be turned off tomorrow.
I wanted to restore the American dream we were all promised — and return dignity to those struggling to survive in a world that’s become far too unforgiving.
I Knew the System — And I Knew It Was Broken
I wasn’t starting from scratch. I had already built something before.
A thriving business — selling on Amazon, eBay, and more.
Over $3 million in revenue in my best year. A warehouse. A team. Real momentum.
But here’s the truth no one wants to talk about:
Success in that world comes with a price.
When big corporations see you growing too fast, they don’t celebrate you — they crush you.
They throttled my listings. Silenced my visibility.
Even my daughter, 1,200 miles away, couldn’t find my products online.
Legal? No. But when billion-dollar corporations write the rules, who’s going to stop them?
I Could’ve Quit. I Didn’t.
I adapted.
I worked through nights and tears and millions of lines of spreadsheets.
I mapped it all out. Two steps forward, three steps back. Four steps forward, one step back.
Until… the vision took shape.
And then I realized:
This was never about a warehouse. Or employees.
This was about people. All people.
This was about a platform owned by the people, for the people.
For Eight Years I Battled Depression — But Never Stopped Building
For the last two years, I searched for one person who would believe in what I was trying to do.
One person who could help bring this to life.
But no one came.
Because, after all —
I am no one from nowhere.
Why would anyone believe in me?
Until One Morning… It All Clicked
A small moment. A spark.
And suddenly, I saw it:
Start local. Build it for your neighbors. Help your hometown. Then let it grow.
Let those who believe in it early become the ones who benefit the most.
Jeff Bezos’ parents invested $250,000 in Amazon.
They’re billionaires now.
That’s not the path we’ll take.
Hootinanny will grow differently.
Without billionaire investors calling the shots.
Our customers will be our investors.
The more you support the platform, the more it supports you.
So Who Is Thomas Lander — Owlenstein?
🦉 I’m the guy big corporations tried to silence.
🦉 I’m the man who chose people over profits.
🦉 I’m the one who fought back — not for revenge, but for justice.
I am Owlenstein — and I’m building something that can never be taken away by greed.
Because this isn’t mine anymore — this is ours.
We’re tired of corporate greed.
We’re tired of the rules being written by those at the top.
It’s time to flip the system on its head.
And we’re coming for you.
🦉 Welcome to Hootinanny.
“Who gives a hoot? We do.”
Thomas Lander, aka Owlenstein — Founder of Hootinanny
“Built for the people. Fought for by one of them.”