CJ Follini

NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate

I teach in the NYU Masters Program specifically about Real Estate Investment Trusts, Financing and Investment

Adjunct Professor of Real Estate

NOYACK Wealth Club

Noyack Wealth Club (weareNOYACK.com) is a nonprofit whose mission is to provide financial education to younger generations so Millennials & Gen Z don't hae to resort to TikTok. NWC is a safe space for learn about personal wealth management, interact with peers with the same questions and invest in private markets as they experience the Great Wealth Transfer.

NOYACK provides the first ever generative LLM, an AI  trained on all topis needed to control your financial destiny. From trust & estate to #retirementment planning to family financial planning to insurance of all kinds to investing in #alternativeinvestments.

NWC also provides: online masterclasses, live events, mentorship, research.

The Great Wealth Transfer - $42 trillion by 2040 - the largest wealth transfer in the history of our planet. NOYACK launched only 4 months ago and already built an audience of over 300K strong!   Education, community and access is our product | integrity, innovation, transparency, and inclusivity are our beliefs... that's what we believe in, that's who we are. We are NOYACK...and so are you. #AccessGranted

Founder & CEO

Noyack Investing Club

NOYACK is revolutionizing self-directed wealth management  by making world-class private investments accessible to all investors, not just the institutions. At our core is a commitment to financial education and technological innovation, empowering individuals with the knowledge to invest like billionaires. It’s not about quick returns or cashing out. It’s about making smart financial decisions for your future. Our goal is to teach members to fish for themselves so they can build generational wealth. Whether they’re looking to make a small investment or have just inherited a family nest egg they need to protect - we’re here to transform their lives, their kid’s lives and if all goes as planned, their kid’s kid’s lives.
NOYACK is all about creating a new kind of wealth management culture; one that doesn't lead with transaction but brings people together in a community space for young investors to learn, connect and generate wealth through private investing. Financial literacy AND access as social impact. We want to open up that door and give access to the powerful world of Private Investments.

Come with us, to the room where it all happens. 

We are Noyack.
And so are you.  
AccessGranted.™

Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer

SpaceX

Seed Investor

Nalu Bio 

Pre-Seed Investor

Golden Seeds

50% of the U.S. population are women. 42% of entrepreneurial ventures are women-owned. Since our founding in 2005, we have been propelled to identify promising women entrepreneurs, to support their growth, and to better align these ratios to create value through the breakthrough ideas and tenaciousness of women entrepreneurs. Women are starting businesses at record levels, with the ideas, skills and talents to build great companies.  Golden Seeds, one of the nation’s largest and most active early-stage investment groups, focuses squarely on female founders. Our investment thesis rests on extensive research with a compelling conclusion: gender diverse teams produce better return on equity. By seeking companies where women hold leadership positions and own substantial equity, we fund companies likely to have diverse perspectives that will contribute to ultimate success.
Golden Seeds members have invested over $140 million in over 200 exciting women-led companies … and counting. Headquartered in New York City, Golden Seeds has chapters in Arizona, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, New Jersey, New York and Silicon Valley

Early Stage Investor

Noyack

Noyack was the asset manager for a nine family alternative multi family office with $1.15 billion of alternative investment AUM. NOYACK allocated to  commercial real estate, seed VC, consumer packaged goods, and special situations.

Chief Investment Officer

IMMINENT

SUCCESSFUL 7X EXIT FOR OUR INVESTORS! 

We have a big idea - an operating system with everything you need in one place to get your employees more engaged. We believe workforce productivity begins with purpose.

So it is our mission to create technology and content that harnesses employees' passion for doing good while also providing them with resources they need to stay healthy. Finally, we want to support employees by providing them the information that they need as well as a social environment where they can be heard.

Introducing OAHU- IMMINENT's holistic approach to workforce wellbeing. Giving  + Habitat + Wellbeing + Social = Inspired.  We assist Fortune 1000 companies & brands to achieve amazing workforce goals by treating their employees as their first customers.
Employee360™ is a simple, yet powerful employee engagement portal that streamlines the onboarding process to engage employees and galvanize their passion to get involved. We provide state-of-the-art software tools to improve bi-directional workplace communication. We identify social impact movements, successful non-profits or non-governmental organizations around which to create holistic CSR campaigns. And we produce or curate employee-created video stories, immersive or full VR, that enable progressive brands to build truly authentic relationships with their employees and customers alike. 

Finally, our integrated social toolkit enables the marketing department to distribute the original content or their curated employee stories to a highly targeted audience informed by proprietary data insights. 

Happiness, productivity, volunteering, sharing... that’s why we feel IMMINENT offers a better way for companies to achieve 360-degree wellbeing. That’s what we believe in. That’s what drives us. That’s our cause.
 
In the world of doing good, the future is IMMINENT.

Economic Innovation Group

Founded by Sean Parker, John Lettieri, and Steve Glickman, EIG is a bipartisan public policy organization that combines innovative research and data-driven advocacy to address America’s most pressing economic challenges. From our headquarters in the nation’s capital, EIG convenes leading experts from the public and private sectors, develops original research, and advances creative policy proposals that bring new jobs, investment, and economic dynamism to U.S. communities.

Member Of The Board Of Advisors

Ten Paces Media

Oscar-winning producer (Slingblade) and head of studios. Builder and investor in physical  studio infrastructure as well as SVOD, immersive video (VR/AR/360°). Created subsidiary to build content IP library & publishing.

Executive Producer

Hi, I’m CJ Follini, Professor of Real Estate at NYU’s Schack Institute and the Founder of NOYACK, a holistic personal wealth management platform built for Millennials, and specifically, High Earners Not Rich Yet (HENRY's) . NOYACK exists to help you take control of your financial journey with the tools, community, and education you need to build the future you deserve. We’re here to guide you through the Great Wealth Transfer by making private market investments accessible to everyone, not just the ultra-wealthy.

You can find out more about me and NOYACK here -  https://bit.ly/3Ujnj9S

You can join 145,000 young adults in our leading newsletter - https://bit.ly/3MhCeNv

Being the son of Italian immigrants and watching my father, a decorated NYFD fireman, build a successful construction business was my introduction to hustle. But at 16, when he suffered a stroke, my life took an unexpected turn. I had to step away from my dreams of the NHL to run the family business with zero knowledge. That experience lit a fire in me to figure out not only how to survive but thrive—learning on the fly and turning challenges into opportunities.

Over the past 30 years as Chief Investment Officer of a multi-family office, I delivered 23% annual returns by investing in real estate, venture capital, and other alternative assets. But when the pandemic hit, it shifted my focus beyond just returns. It became about creating a legacy of financial empowerment for younger generations, especially those set to inherit trillions in the next few decades.

That’s why I founded NOYACK—to build a space where you can learn, grow, and invest alongside others in private markets. I created this for the younger version of me, the 19-year-old who didn’t have access to resources or anyone to turn to for help. Whether you’re making your first small investment or safeguarding your family’s future, NOYACK is here to help you build generational wealth on your terms.

At NOYACK, we believe in ‘Investing for Love’—for your family, your dreams, and the life you want to create. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about building something meaningful that lasts. We’re on a mission to open the doors to private investments for you, making sure you’re equipped with everything you need to shape your financial future.

Join us. Let’s disrupt the status quo and take control of our wealth journeys—together. AccessGranted™

Professor of Real Estate

The future of wealth management is Agentic AI —  get in early this time.



It feels like the right moment to share this milestone with you.

Over the past few years, many of you have watched me build NOYACK from a simple idea into a real company. Now, it’s time to invite you into the next chapter.

What is NOYACK?

We build AI agents for Millennials and GenZ DIY investors—tools that do the money work so they can actually build wealth, not just collect finfluencers.

This week, we quietly opened our community round on Wefunder.

In just 48 hours, early supporters have already invested over $12,000.

Now I’m making it official:

🚀  NOYACK is raising through a community round on Wefunder..and the best part is YOU CAN INVEST AS LITTLE AS $100   🚀

   🔗 https://lnkd.in/ez-X34KM
⸻

For the first time, my own community—newsletter readers, students, founders, family office peers, and this LinkedIn network—can invest alongside us, not just cheer from the sidelines.

💡 What you’re investing in

We’re building agentic AI that acts on users’ behalf, not just gives them tips:

🧠 Noyack.ai – a 24/7 money mentor that speaks human, not jargon
📈 Prophit.ai – an investing copilot that helps users build and optimize portfolios based on real data
👥 A team with deep fintech and family office experience, having managed over $100M in assets

We sit at the intersection of two historic shifts:
	•	The largest wealth transfer in history
	•	AI becoming the default interface between people and their money

Our belief is simple:

The future of wealth-building will be driven by agentic AI.
We intend for NOYACK to be a core part of that future.

🎁 Early-bird terms for my network here:   🔗  https://lnkd.in/ez-X34KM

To thank you for being early supporters, we’ve reserved SPECIAL EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNTED SHARE PRICES on our Wefunder round for this community.

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could've invested in OpenAI or Anthropic or Perplexity, not just read about them,” well, this is your moment to take a serious look at investing in NOYACK for as little as $100 . Board our  🚀

🔗   https://lnkd.in/ez-X34KM
⸻

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported NOYACK up to now—and to those who will join us in what’s next.

Let’s build the future of wealth together.


Startup investing is risky and illiquid. You can lose your entire investment. Nothing here is investment advice. Please review all terms and risks on Wefunder before investing and only invest what you can afford to lose
#AgenticAI #Fintech #WealthTech #StartupInvesting #CommunityRound #crowdfunding #MillennialInvesting #FutureOfFinance

Charles Follini

No alternative text description for this image

WealthMindset #37: Start now, because someday you'll wish you had.

Every high earner I mentor hits the same wall: "I should’ve started earlier."

Remember, today is the youngest you’ll ever be.
The most strategic move isn’t looking back with regret—it's deciding that today becomes your Day One.

Wealth doesn’t just grow from income. It multiplies through knowledge, timing, and mindset.
You don’t need perfect conditions, you need intention and momentum.

Many people already track macros, steps, and screen time. Time to track and train your money the same way.

If you want to build serious wealth, it starts with thinking differently—then acting accordingly.

"No matter your age, you’ll always wish you started younger. But today is the youngest you’ll ever be."

If you wish you invested in Apple decades ago, Agentic AI is your second shot.

Agentic AI is the next paradigm — tools that think, plan, and execute autonomously.

The wealth transfer is already happening. The early adopters won’t just profit — they’ll reshape industries.
Some will become millionaires. A few? Billionaires.

The only question is: will you be one of them? Learn how to invest in Agentic AI now 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03X6MTP0 

AccessGranted™

The most expensive financial mistake you’ll make? A forgotten beneficiary form.

Most people treat beneficiary designations like a one-and-done checkbox. But here’s the truth: your retirement account doesn’t care what your will says. It follows the form.

That means your ex could inherit your 401(k). Your stepkids could be left out. Or worse — your estate could trigger a tax bill your heirs didn’t see coming.

This isn’t just about legacy — it’s about control. And clarity.

✅ Did you remarry?
✅ Did you roll over a retirement account?
✅ Did you list contingent heirs?

If you haven’t reviewed these forms recently, you’re gambling with one of your biggest financial assets.

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to untangle this alone.

⭐ Head to NOYACK. ai — it can guide you through the conversation points you should be having with your beneficiaries, and help decode complex topics in plain English 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03Sf02K0

Don’t just pass on assets. Pass on intention.

AccessGranted™

I’m not that short - 5’ 11” on a good day - it’s just that my wife is really tall.  👢

Thanks to Joshua Greenberg and Bank of America Private Bank

Most people stress over saving a few thousand on taxes every December.

I get it. You max your 401(k), maybe donate to a charity, and sell off a loser or two from your portfolio — all solid moves. But let me reframe it for you:

Are you building a life around tax avoidance… or financial freedom?

Reducing your tax bill this year can save you a few bucks.
But owning the next decade? That takes a different mindset.

Instead of trying to outmaneuver the IRS every December, you could invest in something with compounding, generational potential — like Agentic AI.

While the rest of the world is stuck playing defense, I’m inviting you to play offense.

Stop focusing on tax tricks. Start building long-term autonomy. Invest in the tools that could rewrite your financial future.

Learn how you can invest in agentic AI fundraiser today — and build freedom for decades, not just this tax season 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03WHq3p0

Or comment below any questions you have about Agentic AI ... let's talk 💭

AccessGranted™

Trump proposes a 50-year mortgage... Let’s talk about it.

Yes, stretching your loan over half a century lowers your monthly payment. But here’s the cost:

📉 Slower equity — $38K+ less after just 10 years
💸 An extra $335,000 in interest over time
🔁 More risk exposure — 5 decades of job changes, divorce, or downturns
🧬 And worst of all: passing debt, not wealth, to the next generation

That’s not a solution — it’s a trap dressed like affordability.

When buying a home starts to feel like renting from your future self, it’s time to pause and reassess.

Affordability isn't about longer timelines. It's about smarter strategy. That includes knowing when to buy, how to structure your loan, and how to use real estate to build, not bleed, wealth.

Have housing or mortgage questions? Ask NOYACK. ai — your 24/7 wealth mentor.

It runs scenarios, explains trade-offs, and helps you make informed decisions built for your future — not just your payment today.

Try NOYACK. ai today 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03Tg93g0

AccessGranted™

Wealth doesn’t come from guessing right once. It comes from building a repeatable system—then sharpening it like a blade.

My personal playbook? Identify. Build. Test. Revise. Scale.

That’s the framework I’ve used across ventures, asset classes, and markets. And it’s how I teach others to stop winging it—and start owning their financial future with intention.

If you’re not auditing your wealth-building process, then you’re not optimizing—you’re reacting. And that’s how people with six-figure incomes still feel stuck in the middle class.

You don’t need more hustle.
You need a better operating system.

That’s why I created NOYACK. ai — your 24/7 wealth mentor co-pilot to design, test, and scale your personal ownership strategy BEFORE you act. 

👉 Run your process through NOYACK. ai to identify what’s working — and what’s quietly draining your freedom: https://hubs.ly/Q03VsDWM0 

AccessGranted™

Invest in Agentic AI so your kids won't need a Trump Account. 

If your idea of generational wealth is hoping your kids get a “Trump Account” someday… you're already behind.

A $1,000 government starter fund for newborns sounds good—but it’s not a plan, it’s a band-aid. Tax complications, contribution limits, and rigid rules? That’s not financial freedom. That’s dependency—just dressed up with a patriotic bow.

Here’s my take: the wealthy aren’t waiting for handouts. They’re investing ... specifically in Agentic AI. Why? Because owning the platforms that use AI—not just using the tools—is how you buy your time back, multiply your dollars, and build freedom across generations.

Millennials and Gen Z: You’ve got income, you’ve got hustle. Now you need assets that work for you.

You want to help your future kids? Build wealth now so they never need a “Trump Account.”

This is about taking the lead. Let’s make financial freedom your legacy—starting today. 👇

Want to start investing in agentic AI? You don’t need permission. You need access. Learn how to invest in Agentic AI here 🔗 https://hubs.ly/Q03WSKcz0 

AccessGranted™

The future of wealth isn’t just digital. It’s intentional.

I’ve been watching a shift that reminds me of the early days of the internet—except this time, the transformation is agentic.

Agentic AI doesn’t just respond to commands—it understands your intent and acts on your behalf. That means systems that personalize in real time, make decisions autonomously, and adapt as your goals evolve.

Now imagine applying that to your money. 💰

That’s what we built with NOYACK. ai — your personal AI wealth partner. It doesn’t just spit out generic advice. It teaches you. It adapts to your goals. And it helps you make smarter moves with speed and confidence.

AI is already reinventing how billionaires manage their empires. Why can’t it do the same for you?
Try NOYACK. ai today 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03T6FRl0

AccessGranted™

Everyone wants to know if AI is a bubble. I think that’s the wrong question.

Even Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of JPMorgan Asset & Wealth Management, agrees — AI is an opportunity. It’s a revolution. Especially when it comes to how we build and protect wealth.

Here’s my take: AI isn’t just for tech bros and traders. It’s for anyone who wants smarter, faster, more personalized financial decisions.

Most people wait for Wall Street to validate a shift before acting. But if you’re reading this, you’re not “most people.”

💡 AI is already reshaping everything — from how companies scale, to how individuals manage cash flow, taxes, portfolios, and risk.

That’s why we built NOYACK. ai — a 24/7 agentic AI designed to help you run financial scenarios, explore investment strategies, and make informed, confident moves toward financial freedom.

If the CEO of JPMorgan sees AI’s impact on wealth management... Imagine what it could do for yours.

⭐ Try NOYACK. ai now — your personal wealth mentor 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03TgDkf0

AccessGranted™

You worked hard for your gains. Don’t let taxes take more than they should.


Or worse — watch your gains disappear while waiting to sell.

Before the year ends, here are two tax-smart moves every self-directed investor should know — especially if you’re a millennial HENRY managing your own portfolio.

📬 130,000+ people already get our weekly newsletter…shouldn’t you?  👉 https://bit.ly/493fTA6

⸻

1️⃣ Use your losses — don’t just hold them

If you’re down on a stock but still believe in its future:
	•	Buy more shares now at the lower price
	•	Wait 31 days (to follow IRS rules)
	•	Sell your original, higher-cost shares to realize a tax loss

That loss can offset gains — or reduce your taxable income by up to $3,000. You stay invested, but get a real benefit now.

⸻

2️⃣ Protect gains you can’t sell yet

If you’re planning to sell in January (to time income, bonuses, or taxes), but you’re worried the market could dip in the next 45 days:
	•	Consider a put option
	•	It works like insurance: if your stock drops, the option gains value
	•	You protect your upside — and don’t risk watching your gains disappear

⸻

💡 Simple, legal, effective.
These are the kinds of moves that can change your after-tax results.

At Wealth Club, our nonprofit helps professionals build real financial literacy — without the jargon.

📬 130,000+ people already get our weekly newsletter, Wealth Blueprint (formerly NOYACK Wealth Weekly).
Clear, actionable insights delivered every week.

👉 https://bit.ly/493fTA6

#FinancialLiteracy #TaxStrategy #MillennialFinance #CapitalGains #TaxPlanning

My family was twice decorated FDNY, NYPD and never once did they hide their faces. 

If someone is breaking the law then justice should ALWAYS be served 

But if you’re too cowardly to show your face while doing it the maybe it isn’t JUST. 

Otherwise, as  Sebastian Maniscalco says, “It ain’t right.”

 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)  and US Border Patrol  - be proud of your job if you’re doing the right thing and don’t be COWARDS

Open article: The Washington Post on Instagram: "A crowd of bystanders confronted federal agents in Charlotte, North Carolina on Nov. 18 after they were seen arresting a man identified as Joshua Long in the parking lot of a shopping center. Long had been documenting Border Patrol's activities in the city, according to the Charlotte Observer, who also reported that he had been freed from an FBI office after six by instagram.com

The Washington Post on Instagram: "A crowd of bystanders confronted federal agents in Charlotte, North Carolina on Nov. 18 after they were seen arresting a man identified as Joshua Long in the parking lot of a shopping center. Long had been documenting Border Patrol's activities in the city, according to the Charlotte Observer, who also reported that he had been freed from an FBI office after six

AI isn't just changing tech... it’s also holding up the U.S. economy!

Nearly HALF of America’s GDP growth this year came from AI-related investment. Not just software and chips—but data centers, infrastructure, and stock market momentum powered by AI hype.

This isn’t just a tech trend. It’s the foundation of a new economic era. And that means opportunity—for those paying attention.

But here’s where I get concerned:
🧠 We’re in a moment where a few mega-players (you know the names) are pouring hundreds of billions into AI.
💸 Consumer wealth is riding high off AI stock surges.
🧱 Even construction jobs are being buoyed by data center builds.

If this growth engine slows (or stops) the ripple effect could hit everything from your portfolio to your paycheck.

This is exactly why I keep saying: don’t just be a consumer of tech—become an owner in it. Build wealth by investing in the infrastructure behind innovation.

The AI wave is here and NOYACK is opening the doors for everyday investors to own a piece of the infrastructure driving it all. Learn how to get early access to the AI infrastructure powering the future:

Invest in the next OpenAI here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ez-X34KM

AccessGranted™

Money and mental health are not separate topics. Never have been.

I’ve mentored enough founders, investors, and first-timers to know:
📉 When your finances are off, your mindset suffers.
📈 When your mindset is off, your money decisions aren't great.

The truth is, most financial “advice” doesn’t reflect the real world Gen Z and Millennials are navigating—rising costs, delayed milestones, and nonstop pressure to “hustle harder.”

But what if the smarter move wasn’t more grind, but more clarity?
✅ Emotional awareness before market moves
✅ Systems over hustle
✅ Boring basics (like fee-free investing) over viral TikTok tactics

My advice? Build wealth with intention. Protect your peace like it’s an asset. And stop comparing your timeline to your parents’. That’s a different economy. A different world.

If you're feeling stuck or unsure where to start—ask NOYACK. ai 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03TgRwZ0

Your 24/7 AI wealth mentor is built to run the numbers, map out the strategy, and give you personalized, actionable guidance—whether it’s about investing, budgeting, taxes, housing, or building long-term wealth.

No guesswork. Just clear answers and next steps — anytime you need them.

AccessGranted™

AI isn’t just disrupting industries — it’s testing your leadership.

You don’t need to be a coder to understand AI.
But if you're building wealth or managing capital, you do need to understand what powers it — and what breaks it.

Because here’s the truth:
AI isn’t neutral. It reflects the bias of the data it learns from and the people who train it.

If you’re not paying attention to how your AI tools handle privacy, transparency, or fairness, you’re not just taking a technical risk — you’re taking a reputational one.

As AI continues to scale across finance, real estate, healthcare, and hiring, ethical literacy isn’t optional — it’s a competitive edge.

The leaders who win in this next cycle won’t just use AI. They’ll use it wisely.

At NOYACK, we don’t just build with AI. We build with accountability.

That’s why we created NOYACK. ai — your 24/7 copilot built to deliver transparent, ethical, and explainable answers in real time.

Try NOYACK. ai now 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03SfK1S0

AccessGranted™

Definitely what an innocent person would do 😂😂

Everyone’s panicking that AI will take their job. 🤖
The real risk? Letting AI pass you by while you keep trading time for money.

As an investor and operator, I don’t use AI to “do my work for me.” I use it to multiply my judgment. It’s my tool belt.

It can calibrate my risk, define my downside and analyze data.

The top performers aren’t automating creativity. They’re using AI to amplify it. If you’re serious about building wealth and navigating your career in the age of AI, here’s what I’ve learned (and live by):

✅ Invest time in learning how AI actually works.
✅ Treat AI as a means to scale wisdom, not just output.
✅ Audit your inputs.
✅ Make AI part of your wealth strategy.

If you’re a high earner, AI shouldn’t just make you faster at email. It should help you see patterns earlier, test ideas cheaper, and move capital with more confidence.

That’s exactly why I’m building NOYACK. ai—to put institutional-grade AI in the service of your financial education/freedom, not the other way around. 

The future belongs to the ones who know how to remix technology into meaning.

🔍 Curious how we're doing this at NOYACK to help you grow smarter, not just faster? Visit NOYACK. ai 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03LxygN0 

AccessGranted™

By the time people feel the AI wave, it will already have reshaped how wealth is built.

Agentic AI—systems that don’t just “chat” but actually take action—is already running inside major platforms. When names like Forbes and Intuit are spotlighting Agentic AI, that’s your cue the wave isn’t theory, it’s deployment. 

Software giants are using agents to reconcile books, run payroll, speed up payments and guide decisions. Now boardrooms are waking up to a new reality: if an AI agent can surface forgotten data or act on bad signals, your upside and your risk both get amplified.

Here’s how I look at it as an investor and operator:
🔹This isn’t a feature trend; it’s a new financial infrastructure layer.
🔹 Early ownership in that layer has historically created outsized, generational wealth.
🔹 The win goes to people who combine curiosity with caution: embrace the tech, demand security and transparency. 

That’s why we’ve built our own Agentic AI focused on fixing personal wealth management with next-gen AI. 

Ever wished you invested in Apple when it first came out? Here's your opportunity to not live with regret: learn more about how you can reserve your spot to invest in NOYACK's Agentic AI 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q03VRN680

Comment “AI WEALTH” or DM me to learn more and invest now in our campaign.

AccessGranted™

Who's next? :)    👉    https://lnkd.in/ez-X34KM

Strategy & Finance Executive | Scaling Impact-Driven Companies Beyond $10M | Strategic CFO | Certified Scaling Up Advisor

Scaling Founders Beyond $10M with Strategy, Financial Clarity, and Leadership Expansion

Most companies stall not because of lack of effort—
but because the founder has outgrown the systems, strategies, and financial models that once worked.

At Ascend Growth Ventures, we partner with CEOs of $3M–$10M companies to implement Scaling Up, strengthen financial infrastructure, and elevate leadership teams—building businesses that scale profitably and predictably, without burning out the founder.

By integrating Scaling Up, Exponential Organizations, and CFO-level financial insights, we deliver a complete, battle-tested system for sustainable, high-performance growth.

🔹 We Work With CEOs Who Want To:
✔️ Scale revenue and profits without chaos
✔️ Build self-managing leadership teams
✔️ Unlock hidden cash flow and improve financial decision-making
✔️ Sharpen their strategy for exponential growth
✔️ Prepare for capital raises, acquisitions, or exits

🔹 Our Core Focus Areas:
  * Strategic Scaling Up Implementation

  * Financial Strategy & Cash Optimization

  * Leadership Team Development

  * Systems for Predictable Growth

  * Valuation Prep and Exit Strategy

✅ Why Work With Me?
25+ years of experience scaling businesses from the inside out:
➡️ Regional CFO, GE Gas Power (LATAM, +1.5GW record year)
➡️ Strategic finance and underwriting leadership at GE Capital
➡️ Business/project development for 8-figure ventures
➡️ Trusted advisor to founders scaling past $10M and beyond

✅ Industries We Specialize In:
✔️ Clean Energy & Decarbonization
✔️ Industrial Goods & B2B Services
✔️ Impact-Driven Companies
✔️ Scaling Coaching & Consulting Firms

🧠 If You're Ready to Scale Intelligently and Sustainably

Let's have a strategic conversation about where you are—and where you can go.

Easiest way to work with me?

Book a private power hour call and let's create your vision.
https://calendly.com/cruzagamboa/90-min-power-hour

Cruz Gamboa

The market tells stories. Your financials & metrics tell truth.

In 2001, Amazon's stock cratered from $113 to $6.

Wall Street declared it dead.

Let's be clear: that had to be terrifying. Even for Bezos.

Watching 95% of your valuation evaporate. Hearing the whispers. Feeling the pressure from every direction.

But here's what separated him from founders who fold in those moments, he kept coming back to his dashboard:

Customer acquisition costs...improving. 

Fulfillment efficiency...improving. 

Contribution margin per unit...improving. 

Defect rates...declining.

The stock price reflected fear. 

The operating metrics reflected reality.

Confidence isn't the absence of fear. It's choosing to trust what you can measure over what you can't control.

This is Financial Intelligence: knowing which numbers actually predict your future, especially when everything around you is screaming that you're losing.

Watch the video. Bezos is calm. 

Not because he wasn't scared, but because he had clarity.

He knew exactly what was true inside his business.

That's how you survive what looks like a reversal, and come out the other side stronger.

That's how $6 becomes $1.7 trillion.

So here's my question for you:

What would it be worth to have that kind of clarity the next time everything feels like it's falling apart?

To know—not hope, not guess—that you're on the right track?

That's the game worth playing.

Check out comments for details

#founder #growth #ceo #scalingup

Helping Founders Break the $10M Ceiling | Strategy, Cash Flow & Leadership Systems | Scaling CFO

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Hamdi Ulukaya didn’t just build a yogurt brand, he redefined an industry.

No investors. No marketing budget. Just purpose, grit, and belief.

In 2005, he saw an ad.
An abandoned Kraft yogurt factory.

Everyone saw a money pit.
He saw possibility.

He didn’t have the money.
So he took a loan.

Bought the factory.
Kept 5 employees who believed when no one else did.

No income.
No sales.
No marketing.
Just faith, and a recipe from home.

Two years later, in 2007, Chobani was born.

No ads. Just bold packaging and pure taste.

Retailers hesitated.
But the people loved it.

Within 5 years, #1 yogurt in America.

Over $1B in sales.
The giants, Dannon, Yoplait, couldn’t catch up.

He stayed private.
Gave 10% of the company to his employees.

Hired refugees.
Put people before profit.

When asked why, he said:

👉 “Business is the strongest force for good, if it puts people first.”

From a shepherd in Turkey…
To a billionaire who still walks the factory floors.

Lesson?
You don’t need investors.
You need integrity.
You don’t need luck.
You need courage.

Because the dream still works, if you do.

Loved this story. Let me know your comments. 

What problem in your business keeps calling for your most creative energy?

#CEO  #FOUNDER #GROWTH #SCALINGUP

At 40, he’d lost everything.
His company. His savings. His confidence.
Most people would’ve walked away.

But Aaron Krause wasn’t “most people.”

He went back to the garage.
Back to tiny problems no one cared about.
And from that… came a smiling sponge the world didn’t see coming.

Stores rejected him.
Investors laughed.
The idea sat on a shelf for years.

But he didn’t quit.
He took one uncomfortable shot: Shark Tank.

He walked in with a box of sponges.
He walked out with Lori Greiner.
$200,000 for 20%.
Momentum activated.

Then the episode aired…

Overnight demand.
Shelves cleared out.
Factories overloaded.
Scrub Daddy everywhere, from Walmart to Bed Bath & Beyond.

A simple sponge became a billion-dollar brand.
Not because it was cute.
Because he executed when life said “stop.”

Here’s the truth:

👉 He didn’t need a perfect plan: he needed one more attempt.
👉 He wasn’t chasing validation: he was chasing resilience.
👉 He proved the principle every founder forgets:
A small idea + relentless execution can beat a big idea that never ships.

Critics mocked the smile.
Then watched it become one of Shark Tank’s biggest wins ever.

The ones who win?
They push past rejection.
They build through uncertainty.
They keep going when almost everyone quits.

Because billion-dollar outcomes don’t happen in comfort, 
they happen right after the moment you think it’s over.

#resilience#scalingup#founderstory#entrepreneurship

li_at

JSESSIONID

LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn

They emailed eBay 200 times.
eBay ignored every single one.
Most people would’ve given up.

But Marc, Oliver, and Alexander Samwer weren’t “most people.”

They cloned eBay.
Launched it in Germany.
Executed with speed and perfection.
Within months… eBay bought it back for $43 MILLION.

Then the brothers doubled down.
They built Rocket Internet, the company that turned cloning into a billion-dollar machine.

They copied.
They improved.
They scaled.
And they sold again, and again, and again.

Here’s the truth:

👉 They weren’t chasing approval, they were chasing execution at scale.
👉 They didn’t wait to be discovered, they created their own leverage.
👉 They mastered the one principle most founders overlook:
Doing it better beats doing it first.

Critics called them “copycats.”
But behind the noise, the Samwer brothers built an empire worth billions.

Most people stop when they hear “no.”
The one who succeed?
They push when it’s uncomfortable.
They build when others hesitate.
They turn rejection into momentum.

If you want outsized results, do what most won’t:
Step past comfort.
Step past doubt.
Step past fear.

Because the biggest payoffs live right beyond the point where almost everyone quits.

#scalingup #growth #ceo #bostonfounders

Two friends, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield.

One dropped out.
One got rejected from med school.
But both wanted to build something.

First idea: bagels.
Too expensive.
So they pivot to ice cream.

No experience. No investors.
Just a $5 correspondence course from Penn State.
$2.50 each.

They find an abandoned gas station in Vermont.
Borrow $12,000.
Do the renovation themselves.

Ben can’t even taste properly, a condition called anosmia.
So he focuses on texture.
Big chunks. Wild swirls. Bold flavours.

What others saw as a weakness became their edge.

Within months, lines formed outside the door.
Free Cone Day became a tradition.
Word spread fast.

Few years later, they launched Cherry Garcia.
The brand took off across the country.
Soon, Ben & Jerry’s was making over $500M a year.

All from $12,000 and a $5 course.

Lesson?
You don’t need the perfect start.
You need creativity, courage, and the guts to turn constraints into leverage.

#scalingup #ceo #founder #growth

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁.

Steve Jobs said it best, the greatest people are self-managing.

They don’t need direction. They are the direction.

When you’re scaling, this is the difference between speed and stagnation.

You can’t build a $10M company micromanaging every move.
You build it by surrounding yourself with people who:

➡️ See the problem before you do.
➡️ Fix it without asking.
➡️ Then tell you how they made it better.

That’s who scales companies.
Not followers.
Not “yes” people.
Builders.

If you have to keep pushing your team to move, 
you don’t have a scaling problem,
you have a people problem.

The truth?
The best teams don’t need managing.
They need mission.

Hire those who act like owners.
Give them the target.
Then get the hell out of their way.

That’s how you scale.
That’s how you win.

#scalingup #ceo #founder #growth

He built a dating site that generated exactly zero activity.
No users. No traction. No revenue.

Most leaders call that a failed model.
I call it an early audit.

Three ex-PayPal employees launched “Tune In Hook Up,” expecting market fit.
What they got was silence.
Operational cost? Rising.
User acquisition? Non-existent.
ROI? Negative from day one.

But here’s what mattered:
They reviewed the data instead of reacting to the emotion.

They noticed users trying to upload videos
Not for dating, but for everyday moments.
Unintended behaviour, but real demand.

So they executed the smartest financial move any early-stage team can make:
A low-cost pivot.

Same infrastructure.
Same upload system.
Zero additional burn.
Just a shift in positioning:
Share any video.

And that decision changed their entire valuation trajectory.

Users scaled exponentially.
Cost per acquisition plummeted.
Engagement skyrocketed.
Suddenly, they weren’t running a dating site…
They were running the internet’s first true video platform.

By 2006, their risk profile had flipped
High growth. High virality.
And high legal exposure.

Enter Google.
They offered $1.65B in stock for a business that still had no established monetisation engine.
From a financial lens?
That’s called derisking the future.

Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim accepted.
Smart move.
They transferred operational liability…
And secured generational wealth.

Today, YouTube contributes over $40B in yearly ad revenue
and sits at a valuation north of $500B.

All from a product that started as a complete miss 
until the data told a different story.

Lesson:
You don’t scale perfection.
You scale what the market proves it wants.
Listen to the numbers, not the narratives.
And never underestimate the ROI of a well-timed pivot.

#CFOInsights #Leadership #Strategy #Scalingup

She sold her engagement ring for $10,000.
Ten years later, Vicky Tsai built a $500M skincare empire.

Most people call that crazy.
I call it commitment.

She walked away from a six-figure job…
Moved back into her childhood bedroom at 30…
Got rejected for 18 months straight…
And kept going anyway.

1,000 units.
Her last $5,000.
No safety net. No backup plan.

Month one? $2,000 in sales.
Most people quit here.
Vicky didn’t.

She packed every order by hand.
Wrote thank-you notes to strangers.
Built trust one customer at a time.

Then the internet found her.
Demand exploded.
Sephora called.
And the bedroom startup became one of the fastest-growing skincare brands in America.

In 2019, Unilever bought Tatcha for $500 million.
The $10,000 ring she sold?
It turned into 50,000x.

Lesson?
You don’t need permission.
You need conviction.
And the courage to burn Plan B. 

#ceo #founder #growth #scalingup

He got fired.
The company he built said, “We don’t need you anymore.”
Everyone forgot him.

But Steve Jobs didn’t stop.

He poured tens of millions into a failing company called Pixar.
Everyone thought he was crazy.
Most would have quit.

12 years later… that gamble sold for $7.4 BILLION.

Here’s the thing:

👉 He wasn’t chasing money. He was chasing vision.
👉 He embraced risk when others ran from it.
👉 He bet on what he believed in, even when the world said no.

Most people quit right before the payoff.
The real winners? They push through when it’s hardest.
They see opportunity where others see failure.

If you want massive results, you need to do what most won’t.
Step past comfort. Step past doubt. Step past fear.

Because the biggest payoffs live just beyond the point where almost everyone quits.

#scalingup  #growth #ceo

Steve Jobs

He built pole barns to pay for college.

Decades later, John Menard Jr. built Menards, an $18B home improvement empire.

Most people call that luck.

I call it financial discipline.

He opened a small lumber yard in 1964…

Kept prices rock-bottom by building his own factories…

And built every store with cash, not debt.

No investors. No loans. No noise.

While others chased speed and Wall Street, John chose control.

He knew his margins by product line. He tracked cash flow like a pilot tracks altitude. He made the numbers his single source of truth.

Store by store. State by state. Slow, steady, unstoppable.

When 2008 hit, he didn't scramble; he expanded.

Today?

340+ Menards stores. $13B+ revenue. 3rd third-largest home-improvement chain in America. Still 100% private.

The lesson?

You don't need to grow fast. You need to grow right.

That means: 
→ Knowing your profit margins by service line 
→ Tracking cash flow weekly, not just at tax time 
→ Building systems so the business works, not just you

Financial clarity isn't about being a "numbers person."
It's about building simple, repeatable habits that let you scale with confidence.

Have the courage to own every decision, starting with your numbers.
#founder #growth #businessmindset #financialclarity #scalingup

At 22, he was rejected by Toyota.
At 38, his factory was bombed. Twice.
Most people would’ve accepted defeat.

But Soichiro Honda wasn’t “most people.”

He went back to the workshop.
Back to broken engines and scraps no one wanted.
And from that… came a machine the world didn’t see coming.

Japan had no money.
Fuel was scarce.
Factories were rubble.

But he didn’t quit.
He bolted a tiny motor onto a bicycle 
not pretty, not perfect, but powerful enough to move people again.

Stores ignored it.
Critics dismissed it.
He kept building anyway.

Because he wasn’t chasing applause.
He was chasing motion.

Then came the breakthrough…

The Super Cub.
Light. Reliable. Unbreakable.
The bike that took Japan and then the world by storm.

A simple motorbike became a $100B legacy.
Not because it was glamorous.
Because he refused to stop when everything told him to.

Here’s the truth:

👉 He didn’t need perfect conditions: he needed one more rebuild.
👉 He wasn’t chasing status: he was chasing solutions.
👉 He proved what most innovators forget:
Small beginnings + relentless persistence beat rejection every time.

Toyota turned him down.
Life knocked him down.
But he got back up again and again until the world couldn’t ignore him.

The ones who win?
They rise after failure.
They create after chaos.
They build when everyone else quits.

Because billion-dollar stories don’t start with luck
they start with someone who refuses to give up.
#scalingup #founder #CEO #boston

Most people think success comes from working harder, dreaming bigger, or thinking smarter.

Here's the truth: none of that matters if you don't act.

In one simple test, a $50 bill was up for grabs. 

Everyone wanted it. 
Everyone talked about it. 
Everyone wished they had it…

Except Debbie.

She stood up. She walked forward. She took it.

That's it. 

That's the difference between winners and everyone else.

While everyone else burns time and money chasing online strategies that become less effective every day…

The smartest entrepreneurs thriving in 2025 are walking away from their screens and adding an extra 7-figures through live events.

Real humans. In-person communities. High-profit partnerships.

The ultimate advantage in the age of AI isn't replacing humanity with efficiency; it's experiences that are deep, connective, transformative, and profitable.

Getting face-to-face with your ideal clients AND peers is the most consistent solution to the Trust Recession.

I'll be at Event Profit Engine in Austin (December 10-12)...and I still have 4 discounted tickets.

If you're ready to get clarity on the financial blind spots keeping you from scaling, this is your moment.

Don't sit in the room wishing. 

Be Debbie.

P.S. Stop waiting for perfect timing. The money, the deal, the break… it's waiting for the first person who moves. Will it be you? DM me AUSTIN for ticket details.
#scalingup #CEO #founder #growth

He was dropped at an orphanage at seven.
No food. No money. No choice.

By 14, he was on a factory floor, making metal frames.
One wrong move crushed part of his finger. Permanent injury.

Most people would quit. Most people would settle.
He didn’t.

He watched. He learned.
Every machine. Every process. Every decision.
Night classes. Every penny saved. Knowledge accumulation.

At 26, he opened a tiny eyewear shop in the Italian Alps.
Nothing fancy. No connections. Just him, a few employees, and an obsession with understanding the craft end-to-end.

Most competitors sold parts. He had a different idea: make complete frames. Control the product. Own the market.

By the 1980s, he was making designer frames for fashion houses.
By 1995, he bought LensCrafters—suddenly he controlled both the product and the retail.

Then came Ray-Ban.
Everyone said he overpaid $640 million for a dying brand.
He didn’t see risk. He saw opportunity.

Ray-Ban wasn’t just glasses anymore.
Movies. Celebrities. Fashion statements.
Value multiplied. Brand exploded.

He kept buying. Oakley. Sunglass Hut. Prada. Versace. Chanel. Pearle Vision.
Vertical integration? Check. Market dominance? Check. Monopoly? Almost.

When he died in 2022, Leonardo Del Vecchio had $25.8 billion.
One orphan. One factory worker. One relentless learner.

Lesson:
You don’t need luck. You need mastery, observation, and relentless execution.
Start small. Learn everything. Then own the ecosystem.

#ceo #scalingup #growth #founder

Passion isn’t happiness.
It’s pain.
It’s grinding when no one is watching.
It’s suffering through every mistake, every rejection, every late night, just to build something nobody thought was possible.

Jensen Huang didn’t follow the market.
He didn’t wait for AI to be big.
He invested 10,000 engineer-years ahead of demand.
He pivoted Nvidia from graphics chips to AI dominance.
That’s vision. That’s first-principles thinking. That’s suffering smarter than everyone else.

Breakthroughs aren’t born in comfort zones.
They’re born when you refuse to quit, when you embrace the grind, and when you’re willing to suffer today for what the world will celebrate tomorrow.

Extraordinary isn’t given.
It’s earned.
Through struggle.
Through relentless work.
Through being willing to do what everyone else won’t.

If you want to be great, get comfortable being uncomfortable.

#scalingup #growth #ceo #founder

Most founders don't fail because of competition.
 They fail because of the blind spots they never see coming.

Cash looks fine… until it doesn't. Revenue grows… but profit disappears. You hire fast… and spend months fixing mistakes. You work harder… but scale refuses to unlock.

I spent 20+ years at GE Capital navigating these exact challenges at a corporate level.

Closing an $800M+ power plant deal? That taught me cash flow precision. Managing international transactions? That revealed the profit leaks most miss. Building high-performance teams? That showed me the cost of hiring fast vs. hiring right.

Those frameworks didn't just help me lead deals—they gave me the blueprint for scalable growth.

Now I help founders apply these same battle-tested systems to their businesses.

The 7 blind spots in this carousel? They're the ones holding 90% of founders back from predictable, profitable scale.

If you want to go deeper… Download my free ebook in the comments. 

Fix the blind spots. Scale with clarity. Build a business that runs like a pro—because you learned from one.
#scalingup #founder #ceo #growth

7 Blind Spots

𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.

Most founders know Pinterest.

Almost no one knows Paul Sciarra, the guy who paid early salaries out of his own pocket, skipped taking income, and carried the company when no one else believed.

He wasn’t a “supporter.”
He was the architecture.

And then the quiet part of startup life happened.
Not a blow-up.
Not a fight.
Just… inches.

One meeting he wasn’t invited to.
One decision he didn’t have visibility into.
One board conversation that happened without him.

By the time Pinterest crossed millions of users and raised over $100M…
Paul was out.

He walked away with ~$15M.
Not nothing.
But painful when your original idea becomes a $25B enterprise.

This isn’t a story about betrayal.
It’s a story about leadership, governance, and identity.

𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆.
They lose it when:
 • they stop owning the financial strategy
 • they delegate governance without understanding it
 • they avoid hard conversations
 • they let investors define the path
 • they disconnect from the role of architect

You can build something extraordinary…
and still get written out of your own success if you don’t stay in the seat you were meant to own.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 $𝟯𝗠–$𝟭𝟬𝗠 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻.
The product works.
The company has traction.
Teams are growing.

 But governance, capital strategy, and leadership identity aren’t keeping pace.
That’s the real risk.

𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻:
Your idea can change the world,  but only if you stay in the role of architect as it scales.

Own your equity.
Protect your seat.
Upgrade your thinking.
Build with intention.
The threat isn’t being pushed out.
The threat is drifting out of your power.

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
 Are you building like the founder…
 or leading like the architect?

#ceo #founder #scalingup #growth

Mastermind Scaling Dinner 

This past Wednesday night in Boston, twelve leaders got uncomfortably honest about their real constraints.

No pitch decks. No surface-level networking. 

Just the Hero's Journey framework and one question: 

"What's actually stopping you from scaling?"

Three principles guided the conversation:

🪞 Your Business is a Mirror 

The bottleneck in your business is a reflection of a constraint in your leadership. 

Stop fixing symptoms. Fix the leader, and the business scales.

🐉 Constraints are Your Greatest Leverage

 Your biggest constraint is not a problem—it's the dragon guarding your next treasure. 

The right constraint, once identified and solved, unlocks massive, non-linear growth.

⚖️ Not All Success Has the Same Price

 You can build a company that breaks you, or one that fulfills you. 

Alignment + Clarity = Sustainable Success.

🎯 What showed up:

Estate planning. Cybersecurity. Medical devices. Food distribution. Banking. Fractional sales leadership. IT services. M&A law. Green infrastructure. Urban revitalization. Job search acceleration.

Different industries. Same truth: Every business grows until it hits a constraint, then grows no further.

The magic wasn't in solving everything in one night. 

It was in naming the real constraint out loud - not the sanitized version we tell at networking events, but the 2am version that keeps us up.

Some constraints were about capital. Others about people, partnerships, or positioning. A few were about letting go of what got them here to embrace what gets them there.

🤝 The vulnerability created immediate value: Real partnerships forming. 

Actual introductions being made. Problems being reframed. Resources being shared.

Thank you to Adrian Mendoza and the Mendoza Ventures team for hosting us.

And to everyone who showed up: Marco A. Schiavo , Geoffry Gilton, Joshua Sigsworth, PT, DPT, Dominic Endicott, Jacques Cohen, Maud Dentico, Vasant Narayan, Raffi Yardemian, CSL, Paul Smith, Alex Khalarian, and Sam "Butch" Nigro.

This is what happens when you build community around truth instead of transactions.

The Mastermind dinner happens monthly ( but we are taking a break in December). If you're a founder or executive in Boston or Greater Boston working on something real and willing to get honest about your constraints, let's talk.

We are going to start hosting Metro West dinners as well. More to come.

P.S. - Curious about finding the constraint for your business? Drop a comment or DM.

Most founders don’t fail because they’re lazy.
They fail because their goals are small.

Small goals keep you grinding.
Big goals force you to rebuild the system.

When you raise the target to 10x, everything changes:
your strategy, your thinking, your standards, your circle.

You stop playing in the crowded middle
and start operating where very few people dare to go.

10x isn’t harder.

It’s cleaner. 
It’s clearer. 
It’s smarter.

Stop playing safe. Start playing big.

I learned this lesson the hard way.

I wanted to grow my LinkedIn presence to 100K in a year.
I had 2k followers. 

A few people said that it would take years and that I was unrealistic.

Maybe they would have been right - if I'd believed them

I tried anyway. 
I took a course to learn from others who were ahead of me.
I showed up here every day.
Continuously improved my content (and my mindset)
Hired people to help me.

Did I accomplish my goal?
NO. 

I am still at 72k followers today, a year into that challenge.
But I am still grateful for the results. 

Can you imagine what would have happened if I had played small?
I may be at 15K followers at best. 

And that's the whole point. 

Even if you miss the 10X mark, it beats linear thinking. 

This same principle is why I help founders identify the 7 financial blind spots killing their scale - because small thinking about money keeps you grinding, while 10x financial clarity forces you to rebuild the system.

Want to apply 10x thinking to your finances? 

I've identified the 7 blind spots most founders miss. 

Download the guide; link is in the comments. 

#founder #ceo #growth #scalingup

10X Thinking = 10 X Results

He bought a bankrupt textile factory for $15 million.
Forty years later, Bernard Arnault built a $500B luxury empire.

Most people call that impossible.
I call it vision.

He didn’t invent anything.
He didn’t design a product.
He didn’t chase trends.
He just saw what others couldn’t.

Buried inside that dying company was a forgotten gem: Christian Dior.
Everyone overlooked it.
Arnault didn’t.

He sold everything except Dior.
Bet the house on one iconic brand.
And rebuilt from zero.

Then he made an even crazier move
He went after LVMH.
Louis Vuitton. Moët. Hennessy.
The crown jewels of French luxury.

The elite hated it.
The media mocked it.
It was the most hostile takeover France had ever seen.
Arnault didn’t blink.

He bought the shares quietly.
Took control boldly.
And turned LVMH into a global machine.

One acquisition at a time.
Fendi. Tiffany. Givenchy. Sephora.
Dozens of brands reborn under one ruthless strategy:

Let creators dream.
But keep the business razor sharp.

While tech giants chased disruption…
Arnault chased timelessness.

While others discounted…
He raised value.

In 2023, he became the richest man on Earth.
Quiet. Precise. Unshakeable.
He outplayed every tech titan without writing a single line of code.

Lesson?
You don’t need to invent.
You need to see the hidden gem
And have the courage to bet everything on it.

#entrepreneur #growth #businessstrategy #founder #scalingup

𝗛𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀.
𝗛𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Back in the early 2000s, Jon Oringer wasn’t building empires, he was just trying to find affordable stock photos for his tiny online business.

But what he found instead… was an opportunity.

Stock images back then cost $300+ per photo, a luxury small creators couldn’t afford.

So Jon did something different:

▶ Bought a camera
▶ Took 100 photos a day
▶ Built his own website
▶ Uploaded 30,000 photos
▶ Charged $49/month for unlimited downloads

That’s how Shutterstock was born.

No fancy investors. No marketing team.

Just a subscription model, executed brilliantly.

He wasn’t selling images,
he was selling convenience, freedom, and access.

And the best part?

Every sale cost him nothing to reproduce.Pure passive income.

By the time Shutterstock went public in 2012,
Jon still owned 55% of it.

His net worth crossed $1 billion,
built from a camera, a simple website, and consistency.

That’s not luck.
That’s vision meeting execution.

Because the smartest entrepreneurs don’t wait for an opportunity,
they create it by solving a problem once
and selling the solution over and over again.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧:

Stop chasing “new.”
Find one problem.

Solve it better than anyone else.
Then systemize, scale, and sleep while your solution works for you.

#Entrepreneurship #ceo #BusinessModel #founder #scalingup

taplio

The Battle

CJ Follini

Cruz Gamboa

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreCJ Follini's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCruz Gamboa's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

CJ Follini

Cruz Gamboa

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}CJ Follini's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCruz Gamboa's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreCJ Follini's LinkedIn Performance