Buy and Sell Online Businesses

Motion Invest Review 2.0: The Story Behind Its Founders, Evolution, and Purpose

Posted by Leandro Miguel Gaffud
Posted on May 26, 2025
Updated on May 26, 2025

Key Takeaways

Motion Invest was created to fill a gap in the market for affordable, mid-range content websites often ignored by traditional brokers.
The founding team—Spencer Haws, Jon Gillham, and Kelley Van Boxmeer—leveraged their experience to design a user-first, trustworthy platform.
The company evolved from direct site acquisitions into a full online business marketplace featuring public listings and dynamic pricing.
Its Dutch auction model, rigorous vetting, and secure transaction system differentiate it from other digital asset marketplaces.
Motion Invest continues to grow by focusing on accessibility, educational support, and streamlined processes for buyers and sellers.

Founders and Leadership Behind Motion Invest

Motion Invest Review 2.0: The Story Behind Its Founders, Evolution, and Purpose Softlist.io

Image Source: Canva Pro

Motion Invest was founded by Spencer Haws, Jon Gillham, and Kelley Van Boxmeer—each bringing unique strengths. Haws, of “Niche Pursuits” and Long Tail Pro, offered SEO and monetization expertise. Gillham brought a data-driven approach from ventures like Website Income. Van Boxmeer, rising from assistant to CEO, added key operational leadership. Together, they shaped Motion Invest into a user-friendly, efficient, and disruptive platform.

1. Why the Founders Created Motion Invest

The idea for Motion Invest came from founders Jon Gillham, Spencer Haws, and Kelley Van Boxmeer, who saw a market gap for websites earning $50–$2,000 monthly—often ignored by brokers. Motivated by this underserved segment, they built a platform focused on reliability, transparency, and simplicity. Their hands-on experience in website investing shaped Motion Invest into a safe, expert-led space for everyday investors.

2. Challenges the Founders Faced

The founders of Motion Invest faced several challenges when starting the platform, many of which are common to new ventures in the digital and startup space.

Establishing Trust and Credibility: As experienced website buyers and sellers, the founders understood that trust was paramount in the online business community. They had built strong reputations over the years, and launching a new platform meant risking that hard-earned trust. They needed to ensure that every transaction met high standards to avoid damaging their credibility.
Addressing a Market Gap: The founders identified a specific gap in the market: Few, if any, reliable platforms existed for buying and selling websites earning $50–$2,000 per month. Creating a solution for this underserved segment required technical and operational innovation and convincing buyers and sellers that their approach was safer and more efficient than established brokers.
Personal and Financial Risk: Like most startup founders, they faced the uncertainty and instability of launching a new business. This included potential financial sacrifices, long working hours, the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, and the risk to their reputations if the venture failed or underperformed.
Operational Complexity: The founders decided to personally buy and sell websites through the platform, rather than acting solely as brokers. This unique approach meant they had to develop robust processes for due diligence, valuation, and site migration to ensure quality and protect buyers and sellers.
Planning and Scaling: Building a platform from scratch required careful planning and the ability to adapt quickly. Like most startups, it required balancing immediate operational demands with long-term vision and scalability, often without a clear roadmap or external guidance.

In summary, the founders of Motion Invest navigated challenges related to trust, market positioning, personal and financial risk, operational execution, and strategic planning as they built a platform tailored to a previously neglected segment of the website investment market.

The Origins and Purpose of Motion Invest

Image Source: Canva ProThe platform was born out of the founder’s frustration with the gap in the buy-and-sell website market. Existing marketplaces focused

Either on very low-value projects or large

Six-figure sites

Leaving mid-range

Profitable content sites without proper representation.

Motion Invest set out to fill this underserved space with a streamlined, trustworthy model. Its original approach was direct: the company purchased vetted content sites outright, giving sellers quick exits and providing buyers with pre-screened assets. The mission was clear from the start—create a digital asset marketplace that champions transparency, supports smaller investors, and protects all parties involved in the transaction.1. The Evolution of a MarketplaceMotion Invest evolved from a direct buyer to a full online business marketplace by offering listing options that let sellers reach a broader audience. Users gained flexibility to choose between instant sales or open market listings. The platform added features like a Dutch auction system, enhanced due diligence, and secure escrow services—demonstrating its commitment to fair value and secure transactions for buyers and sellers.Here’s a quick look at how Motion Invest has evolved over the years:

Year	Milestone	Description
2019	Founding and Direct Buying Model	Launched by Spencer Haws, Jon Gillham, and Kelley Van Boxmeer, Motion Invest began by purchasing vetted content sites directly for fast exits.
2020	Marketplace Expansion	Introduced public listings so sellers could market their sites, increasing flexibility and access for sellers and buyers.
2021	Dutch Auction System Introduced	Rolled out a Dutch auction feature that gradually lowers listing prices, encouraging transparent pricing and faster sales.
2022	Enhanced Due Diligence and Escrow	Improved site verification and integrated escrow services to enhance trust and protect transactions.
2023–Present	Ongoing Platform Improvements	Continued enhancements to UI, buyer support, and seller tools as Motion Invest builds out its role in the digital asset marketplace.

2. Purpose and Mission of Motion InvestMotion Invest was built with a clear mission in mind—to provide a reliable, efficient, and transparent platform for buying and selling vetted content websites. The founders aimed to solve long-standing challenges in the marketplace by focusing on trust, speed, and accessibility for everyday investors. Their approach makes it easier for individuals to participate confidently in the website investment space.Here are the core elements that support this mission:

Quality Assurance
Each website is thoroughly vetted to confirm domain ownership, revenue, and traffic, ensuring only legitimate, accurately represented listings are approved for sale.

Affordability and Accessibility
The platform focuses on content sites typically priced between $1,000 and $30,000, making investments more attainable for a broader range of buyers.

Streamlined Transactions
Motion Invest handles negotiations, escrow, and migration on behalf of sellers, allowing websites to be sold with minimal effort in as little as 48 hours.

Dutch Auction Pricing Model
Listings use a dynamic pricing system that reduces the price at fixed intervals until a buyer purchases or the reserve price is reached, encouraging fair and timely transactions.

Educational Support
Users gain access to blogs, guides, and webinars designed to simplify the learning curve and help them make informed decisions throughout the buying or selling process.

Through this combination of features and values, Motion Invest continues to lower barriers to entry and reshape the landscape of content website investing.3. What Makes Motion Invest UniqueIt stands apart from typical website marketplaces through its dedication to quality control, safety, and ease of use. Every site undergoes an in-depth vetting process to confirm its earnings and traffic before it’s ever listed. This verification saves buyers time and reduces the risk of scams or poor investments.In addition to free migration support and escrow-protected transactions, the platform features no upfront listing fees. Sellers only pay a tiered success fee once their website is sold. With its Dutch auction system and streamlined interface, Motion Invest offers a complete, frictionless experience for both sides of the deal.4. Impact and Reputation in the IndustrySince its launch, it has successfully facilitated hundreds of transactions worldwide. With over 260 buyers and over 500 satisfied clients, it has quickly gained a reputation for professionalism and transparency. Most deals are finalized within five days, a testament to the platform’s efficiency and user-first approach.Customer feedback consistently highlights the platform’s responsive support, rigorous site checks, and smooth migration process. Motion Invest has become the go-to digital asset marketplace for newcomers and experienced operators as more people look to invest in passive income through content sites. Its user-focused evolution continues to shape industry best practices.Final ThoughtsMotion Invest’s rise reflects both a clear market need and the strength of its founding vision. With a hands-on leadership team, customer-focused features, and a mission to democratize access to profitable websites, the platform has changed how people engage with content site investing. Motion Invest will likely remain a cornerstone of the digital asset marketplace as it evolves.If you’re inspired by how Motion Invest simplifies buying and selling websites, you’ll love how Softlist.io helps streamline software discovery. From top content creation tools to exclusive software deals, Softlist empowers digital entrepreneurs to compare, evaluate, and choose the best platforms for growth, just like Motion Invest empowers smart investing in online assets.FAQs

Is Motion Invest a Legit Platform for Buying and Selling Websites?

Yes, Motion Invest is a legit and trusted marketplace for buying and selling content-based websites, especially those earning between $50 and $2,000 per month. The Motion Invest team rigorously vets each listing by verifying income, Google Analytics data, and domain ownership before allowing a site on the platform. Since Motion Invest launched in 2019, it has earned a solid reputation among users who’ve successfully used it to buy and sell websites.

How Does Motion Invest Compare to Flippa and Other Website Brokers?

In the Motion Invest comparison with platforms like Flippa, the key difference is in vetting and buyer protection. While Flippa allows users to list quickly, Motion Invest provides due diligence, free migration support, and an escrow-secured process, making it ideal for those seeking lower risk. Motion Invest stands out for investors or sellers looking for a reliable website broker with high standards.

What Types of Sites Can You Buy or Sell Through Motion Invest?

The marketplace buys and sells content-based websites with steady earnings and clean traffic histories. Most websites for sale fall within the $1,000 to $30,000 range, making them ideal for solo investors looking to buy a site with manageable risk. If you’re planning to sell a site, Motion Invest specializes in content websites rather than e-commerce or SaaS businesses.

How Does the Dutch Auction Model Affect the Selling Price of a Site?

Unlike fixed pricing, Motion Invest uses a Dutch auction system, where the selling price of a site drops incrementally until a buyer steps in or a reserve is reached. This method helps sellers sell profitable content websites more quickly while ensuring that buyers get fair value. It’s one of the Motion Invest pros that makes the Motion Invest platform stand out in a crowded market.

Who Should Consider Selling Sites Through Motion Invest?

Anyone looking to sell a website with consistent earnings and traffic will find Motion Invest’s hands-off approach valuable. If you’ve tried site selling on other platforms and want a smoother, safer alternative, Motion Invest may suit your goals. While Motion Invest doesn’t cater to all types of sites, it’s ideal for those who want to sell profitable content websites without managing negotiations or transfers.