Episode 48: From Fintech to Faith Tech – The Mind of a Modern Multipreneur

Episode 49: Building the future from a dorm room – The Mindset of a 20-Year-Old Founder

Ameen Raisi is the Co-Founder and COO of What2Do, a social discovery platform designed to help people connect through real-world experiences. While studying molecular and cellular biology and public health at Johns Hopkins University, he is helping build a startup focused on reducing loneliness and increasing social engagement among young adults. Beyond What2Do, Ameen is an accomplished content creator who has built a large Pittsburgh Steelers community online. His work reflects a passion for entrepreneurship, community building, and creating meaningful connections both online and offline.

ASP6: Crowdfunding as a capital alternative: How Smart Startups Win when VCs say no

Justin Starbird, CEO of The Aebli Group, discusses crowdfunding for startups, alternative capital strategies, founder engagement, and building communities that drive growth.

ASP5: Why the Best Customer Experiences Still Feel Physical

WHY THE BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES STILL FEEL PHYSICAL In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast [https://www.rebelcommercesolutions.com/startup-podcast/], I sat down with John Petri, CEO of Fuel BMC, to discuss entrepreneurship, sports culture, branding, resilience, and what it takes to build a successful sports branding agency. “The rise of the analog is here.” That line from Mark Stern perfectly captures a shift many businesses are starting to feel. In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast [https://www.rebelcommercesolutions.com/startup-podcast/], I sat down with Mark Stern, CEO of Custom Box Agency, to discuss entrepreneurship, customer experience marketing, physical product engagement, health transformation, and why human connection matters more than ever in the AI era. This episode fits both our Austin Startup Series and Agency Spotlight Series because Mark is building something genuinely different inside the marketing world. FROM CORPORATE CONSULTING TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP Mark’s story starts far away from entrepreneurship. He grew up in Alabama believing success followed a very traditional path: * college * graduate school * corporate career * financial security That mindset eventually led him into management consulting at Deloitte after earning his MBA at Duke University. On paper, everything looked successful. In reality, the lifestyle became exhausting. For six years, Mark lived the “road warrior” consulting life: * constant flights * endless travel * high pressure * little personal balance Eventually, he hit a point where he realized: “This can’t be it.” That moment became the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. THE PROBLEM THAT CREATED CUSTOM BOX AGENCY One of the things I appreciated most about this conversation was how practical the origin story was. Custom Box Agency did not start because Mark wanted to launch an agency. It started because he became frustrated buying expensive digital products, masterminds, and programs that still left customers confused and overwhelmed. His thought was simple: “Why not physically send people everything they need to succeed?” That insight eventually evolved into Custom Box Agency. Today, the company helps businesses create physical onboarding and customer experience campaigns designed to: * improve engagement * increase retention * streamline onboarding * enhance customer success EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Mark Stern and Custom Box Agency 03:02 Mark’s Journey from Corporate to Entrepreneurship 06:06 Understanding Custom Box Agency’s Offerings 09:07 The Importance of Physical Experiences in a Digital World 11:59 Differentiation and Positioning in the Market 14:50 Health Transformation and Its Impact on Business 23:51 Conclusion and Call to Action Mark Stern headshot [https://rebel-commerce-solutions-v1780569845.websitepro-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mark_stern_headshot-300x300.jpeg] WHY PHYSICAL EXPERIENCES MATTER MORE IN THE AI ERA This was probably the strongest theme of the entire episode. As AI-generated content explodes, Mark believes people are increasingly craving: * physical experiences * authenticity * human connection * trust He described it as: “digital distrust.” That idea really resonated with me. As more interactions become automated, physical experiences become more memorable because they feel real. That creates a huge opportunity for businesses willing to think differently. IT’S NOT ABOUT SWAG One thing Mark emphasized repeatedly: Custom Box Agency is not simply shipping branded merchandise. Instead, they engineer experiences. That includes: * onboarding systems * journey maps * printed resources * physical tools * gamified customer journeys * retention campaigns The goal is to help customers achieve outcomes faster while creating stronger emotional connection along the way. THE UNEXPECTED HEALTH CONVERSATION One of the most interesting parts of this episode came unexpectedly. Mark shared his personal health transformation journey after realizing he had reached a breaking point physically during COVID. At one stage, he reached 250 pounds and began questioning how sustainable his lifestyle really was. What followed was a complete shift in: * fitness * nutrition * accountability * sleep * energy management The deeper insight was powerful: If your health becomes the weakest link, eventually your business suffers too. That part of the conversation felt especially relevant for founders and agency owners. ENTREPRENEURSHIP, IDENTITY, AND REINVENTION Underneath the agency discussion, this episode was really about reinvention. Mark walked away from the traditional definition of success to build something more aligned with: * creativity * freedom * fulfillment * human connection That tension is something many entrepreneurs quietly wrestle with. And honestly, I think that’s why this conversation resonated with me personally. JOHN PETRI LINKS: fuelbmc.com [https://www.fuelbmc.com/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnapetri/]

ASP4: Fueling Big Sports Brands: Why Business-Minded Creativity Wins

WHY BUSINESS-MINDED CREATIVITY WINS IN SPORTS BRANDING “It all starts with a good brief.” That line from John Petri captures the philosophy behind Fuel BMC. In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast [https://www.rebelcommercesolutions.com/startup-podcast/], I sat down with John Petri, CEO of Fuel BMC, to discuss entrepreneurship, sports culture, branding, resilience, and what it takes to build a successful sports branding agency. John’s story moves from Buffalo to Atlanta, from corporate leadership roles to entrepreneurship, and eventually into working with major sports brands and organizations. This episode is part of the Agency Spotlight Series. FROM BUFFALO TO ATLANTA John grew up in Buffalo, New York, surrounded by sports culture. Naturally, that passion became part of his identity early on. After studying graphic design, he moved to Atlanta looking for opportunity, warmer weather, and a stronger creative industry. That move became a turning point. Over time, John built experience across: * Agency environments * Corporate brand leadership * Sports marketing * Retail experiences * Creative direction Those experiences laid the foundation for Fuel BMC. WHY SPORTS BRANDING IS DIFFERENT One of the strongest themes in this episode is that sports branding is not just about logos or visuals. Instead, it is about understanding fan culture. John explains that if you do not genuinely understand sports fans, you cannot effectively market to them. That includes: * Team identity * Fan behavior * Community culture * Emotional connection Because sports are emotional, branding decisions carry much more weight. This perspective gives Fuel BMC a more strategic approach than traditional creative agencies. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Fueling Big Sports Brands 03:06 John’s Journey from Buffalo to Atlanta 05:52 Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship 08:47 Understanding Sports Culture and Fan Engagement 12:07 The Sharks Experience and Entrepreneurial Resilience 14:56 Building Relationships in Business 17:52 Working with Family: Balancing Business and Personal Life 20:55 Health, Family, and Stress Relief 23:53 The Meaning Behind Fuel BMC 27:02 The Discovery Process at Fuel BMC John Petri headshot [https://rebel-commerce-solutions-v1780569845.websitepro-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/john_perti_headshot-300x300.png] THE ENTREPRENEURIAL LEAP After years working in-house at major brands, John eventually launched Fuel BMC following a corporate layoff. That transition was not easy. At one point, John invested nearly everything into pursuing a major opportunity with the San Jose Sharks. Although the project did not fully materialize, the experience became a defining entrepreneurial lesson in resilience, risk, and persistence. That part of the conversation stood out to me because many entrepreneurs experience moments where belief has to outweigh certainty. RELATIONSHIPS DRIVE EVERYTHING Another major takeaway from this episode is how much John values relationships. Throughout the conversation, he repeatedly credits: * Mentors * Team members * Clients * Family * Partners for helping Fuel BMC grow. That relationship-first mindset also extends internally. John explains that he sees leadership as serving his team rather than managing them. In an agency world increasingly focused on automation and scale, that human approach feels refreshing. BUILDING AN AGENCY WITH FAMILY John also shared insights about building Fuel BMC alongside his wife. That part of the conversation was especially interesting because entrepreneurship and family life often become deeply interconnected. Rather than separating business and personal life completely, John views them as part of the same mission: * Building a business * Raising a family * Supporting a team * Creating something meaningful together That perspective gives the episode a very grounded feel beyond marketing strategy alone. AI, CREATIVITY, AND THE DISCOVERY PROCESS Toward the end of the episode, we discussed AI and creative workflows. John made an important point: AI is powerful, but it still requires strategy, direction, and human judgment. Even with advanced tools, successful creative work still depends on: * Understanding the audience * Building the right brief * Asking the right questions * Aligning with business goals As John puts it: “It all starts with a good brief.” JOHN PETRI LINKS: fuelbmc.com [https://www.fuelbmc.com/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnapetri/]

Episode 48: From Fintech to Faith Tech – The Mind of a Modern Multipreneur

FROM FINTECH TO FAITHTECH: INSIDE THE MIND OF A MODERN MULTI-PRENEUR “Disney taught me how to develop teams.” That line from Roger Phipps stayed with me long after this conversation ended. In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast [https://www.rebelcommercesolutions.com/startup-podcast/], I sat down with Roger Phipps — a serial entrepreneur operating across FinTech, PropTech, AI, construction technology, communication strategy, and immersive faith-based virtual reality experiences. This wasn’t a typical startup conversation. Instead, we explored the mindset behind multi-preneurship, the realities of scaling companies, leadership lessons from Disney, and how AI is reshaping industries faster than most businesses realize. WHAT IS MULTI-PRENEURSHIP? Roger describes multi-preneurship as managing multiple businesses simultaneously. However, he explains it with a more memorable analogy: Entrepreneurship is jumping off one cliff and building your parachute on the way down. Multi-preneurship is jumping off multiple cliffs at the same time. That mindset has defined much of Roger’s career. THE PIVOT FROM CORPORATE LEADERSHIP TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP Before becoming an entrepreneur, Roger spent years in leadership roles at Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies. At one point, he believed he had reached the destination: * Executive leadership * Financial success * The dream home * Corporate achievement Then life changed. A major personal transition forced Roger to reevaluate what he wanted from work and life. That became the inflection point that pushed him into entrepreneurship. What followed was a rapid rise inside a FinTech startup focused on solving problems inside the credit union industry. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Multi-preneurship 02:06 The Journey from Corporate to Entrepreneurship 05:57 Finding the Right Partners 11:07 Lessons from Disney Leadership 18:04 Current Ventures and AI Exploration 23:17 AI Adoption in Fortune 500 Companies 24:32 Transforming Industries with AI 27:34 The Real Estate Industry’s Complexity 30:02 The Role of Real Estate Agents 35:10 Integrating Faith and Technology 40:25 Experiencing the Bible in Virtual Reality Roger Phipps headshot [https://rebel-commerce-solutions-v1780569845.websitepro-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/roger_phipps_headshot-300x225.jpg] BUILDING A FINTECH BUSINESS BY SOLVING INDUSTRY PAIN POINTS Roger explains that the credit union space had been underserved technologically for years. Instead of building generic tools, the company focused specifically on the unique operational needs of credit unions: * Digital marketing * Software * Hardware * Cybersecurity * Digital branches The key insight was simple: Understand the industry deeply enough to solve problems others ignore. That focus helped the business scale rapidly. DISNEY LEADERSHIP LESSONS One of my favorite sections of the episode was Roger’s discussion about leadership training at Disney. Unlike many corporations, Disney focused on holistic leadership development: * Mental well-being * Physical health * Communication * Emotional intelligence * Team development Roger explained how Disney actively invested in helping leaders become better humans first — not just better managers. That philosophy heavily influenced how he later built and managed entrepreneurial teams. WHY MOST BUSINESSES STILL STRUGGLE WITH AI The AI section of this conversation was especially interesting. Roger argues that only a small percentage of Fortune 500 companies are using AI effectively today. The reason? Most businesses struggle to diagnose their own inefficiencies. Instead of simply adding AI features to existing systems, Roger believes businesses should rethink workflows entirely from the ground up. One major theme throughout the episode: AI should enhance human capacity — not simply replace people. REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY IS STILL BROKEN Roger also discussed how industries like: * Real estate * insurance * construction * healthcare have fallen behind technologically. One of the projects he is working on uses AI-powered video and audio analysis to automate property inspections and asset management workflows. Instead of replacing workers, the goal is to eliminate repetitive manual tasks and increase operational capacity. That distinction matters. FAITH MEETS TECHNOLOGY Toward the end of the conversation, Roger shared one of his most fascinating projects: A virtual reality Bible experience. The idea is to allow users to immerse themselves visually inside biblical environments while reading scripture. Using VR technology, users can: * Explore historical environments * Experience biblical scenes visually * Participate in remote Bible studies * Better understand historical context The project combines: * Faith * archaeology * education * immersive technology in a surprisingly thoughtful way. FINAL THOUGHTS This episode was one of the most wide-ranging conversations I’ve had on the podcast so far. We covered: * entrepreneurship * AI * leadership * team culture * real estate * faith * virtual reality * communication strategy and what it really means to build multiple businesses at once. Roger’s story is a reminder that entrepreneurship is rarely linear. ROGER PHIPPS LINKS: www.vpohomes.com [https://www.vpohomes.com/] www.prezaid.com [https://www.prezaid.com] www.projectaidra.net [https://www.projectaidra.net] www.myvrbible.com [https://www.myvrbible.com] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerphippsmba/]