Franklin is a city bursting with creative energy, where every corner reveals the fruits of its residents' labor. Yet, it’s easy to overlook the stories behind the businesses that define this vibrant community. These enterprises are often the result of visionaries who channel their passions into impactful ventures. Alex Goulart, the owner of new creative agency, Fire Kite, exemplifies this spirit.
Goulart’s journey to Franklin is as unique as his work. A Brazilian raised in England, his upbringing was shaped by his parents’ careers in maritime law. “My childhood was spent living and traveling internationally in Europe, South America, and the
U.S.,” he says. Despite initial plans to follow in his parents' footsteps, Goulart quickly discovered that law was not his calling. “After one week of reading the same sentence over and over, I realized a law degree wasn’t for me and switched to an English and modern languages degree. By 19, I knew I wanted to get into advertising.”
Creativity seemed to be an innate part of Goulart’s identity. “I’d write and perform skits at home and school, always adding to a book of ideas that I still carry around with me,” he recalls. This inventive streak paved the way for his current role as the founder of Fire Kite, a company with a bold mission - “Inspired by Ben Franklin’s key kite experiment, our goal is to help brands become legendary
through audacious acts of creativity. Strategically grounded creative is an underutilized superpower that any business can employ to create an outsized impact in the marketplace,” Goulart says.
Fire Kite’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that blending in with the crowd is the riskiest move a brand can make. Instead, the company focuses on helping businesses stand out through “smart, logical thinking combined with uninhibited, creative leaps; reason and ‘unreason’ as it were.”
After two decades of honing his craft at global agencies like BBDO New York and 180 Amsterdam, Goulart made the leap to entrepreneurship. “I figured I had learned just enough to be able to set out on my own,” he says. Drawing on his background in copywriting and creative direction, he has assembled a talented team of partners specializing in brand strategy, production, and media planning. Together, they offer a comprehensive suite of services, including video, experiential, photography, social media
and digital campaigns - whatever medium is most effective for a client’s needs.
One of Fire Kite’s standout projects last year was its work for Vaulted, the gold investment app from McAlvany Financial Group. To break through the conventions of the precious metals industry, they resurrected King Tut as their brand mascot and even bought him a seat behind the home team's bench at a Denver Nuggets game, where the commentators talked about him on live TV. The campaign led to a 200 percent increase in account signups and trade volume and prompted McAlvany to sign Fire Kite as its agency of record for all three of its brands.
“It’s really exciting to build something from the ground up and connect with so many talented and ambitious people who all share the drive to make great, creative work,” he says. Goulart’s passion extends beyond his business. He’s committed to nurturing Franklin’s creative community and helping it gain national recognition. “I would like to see Nashville and Franklin specifically become more prominent players on the national ad scene. There are many fledgling creative businesses led by very talented people popping up in our area, so whatever I can do with Fire Kite to draw attention to our local creative community will, hopefully, benefit everyone.”
According to Goulart, Franklin is poised for a creative renaissance. “The creative scene here is exploding," he says. "People with major market experience in design, animation and film are planting seeds right here in Franklin. Increasingly, creative excellence will be a hallmark of this region.”
With a clear vision and unwavering dedication, Goulart and Fire Kite are helping to shape Franklin into a hub of innovation and commercial artistry. By supporting local talent and fostering collaboration, they’re not just creating memorable campaigns—they’re building a community where creativity thrives. FireKite.co