Founders Future

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, we sit down with Sabrina Amjad, Founder of Vanbri Consulting, a boutique firm helping organizations navigate digital transformation through human-centric strategy and AI adoption. A former Deloitte and EY consultant with global experience across 5 continents, Sabrina shares how her journey—from Bangladesh to building Dubai’s judicial system to advising Fortune 500 companies—led her to launch Vanbri. She reveals why most tech transformations fail (hint: it’s not the tech) and how her firm bridges the gap between C-suite vision and frontline execution, especially for mid-market companies.

Sabrina also pulls back the curtain on the challenges of scaling a niche consultancy—from the feast-or-famine cycle of referrals to assembling a team of seasoned strategists. She discusses her vision for Vanbri’s next chapter: launching a female-led think tank with powerhouse leaders from Saudi Arabia to the WHO, and offers listeners free advisory hours to help them navigate today’s turbulent business landscape. Whether you’re a consultant, transformation leader, or purpose-driven founder, this episode is packed with insights on turning complexity into clarity.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, Ed Jalinsky, founder of Paxion Cybersecurity, shares his mission to democratize cybersecurity through consulting, education, and AI-driven SaaS solutions. Inspired by personal experiences—from 9/11 to a family member’s devastating online scam—Ed reveals how Paxion’s three revenue channels (consulting, education/talent development, and proprietary AI tools like Paxi AI) aim to protect businesses and vulnerable populations. With an $8M valuation and a Series A in progress, Ed discusses the challenges of lengthy enterprise sales cycles, building a scalable sales force, and aligning profit with purpose through nonprofit partnerships.

Ed also dives into the future of Paxi AI, a GenAI-powered XDR platform set to launch in 2026, and emphasizes the critical need for "cyber maturity" across generations. From cold showers for focus to Tony Robbins-inspired habits, he shares how mindset and mentorship fuel his rapid growth. With a focus on mid-market enterprises and underserved communities, Ed’s vision blends cutting-edge tech with human-centric security—proving that cybersecurity isn’t just about tools, but education and accessibility.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, Janneh Wright, founder of PRIMUS Business Management, shares how his consultancy empowers startups and nonprofits with back-office solutions to drive economic empowerment in minority communities. Inspired by post-9/11 challenges in NYC, Janneh reveals how PRIMUS’s "3 C Model" (Compliance, Culture, Consistency) helps businesses build scalable foundations—from accounting to HR—while avoiding costly pitfalls like $15K Workman’s Comp mistakes. He discusses the shift from being a "business handyman" to a strategic partner, emphasizing how systemic gaps disproportionately impact Black and minority-owned businesses.

Janneh also opens up about scaling PRIMUS’s mission-driven model, balancing client growth with personalized service, and why paid ads failed for his niche. With plans to expand through webinars, trainings, and delegating sales, he envisions a future where small businesses thrive as generational legacies. His rallying cry? "Jump—start now, because life will always get in the way." For Janneh, success isn’t just revenue—it’s transforming communities by helping entrepreneurs turn $50K investments into lasting wealth.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, JJ Englert, founder of No Code Alliance and top 1% Bubble developer, shares his journey from filmmaker to no-code pioneer. After raising $300K for a failed marketplace startup, JJ discovered Bubble in 2019 and rebuilt his vision—generating more revenue in 6 months than his previous venture did in 3 years. Now, through No Code Alliance, he empowers professionals to harness AI and no-code tools with courses like Intro to AI Agents (7+ hours of hands-on training), while running the leading no-code podcast This Weekend: No Code + AI.

JJ reveals why organic growth via LinkedIn/Twitter and value-driven content outperforms paid ads for his $200 courses, and how AI is reshaping SaaS into "personal software." His advice? "Stay curious—AI won’t replace people, but it will replace those who don’t use it." With a passion for democratizing tech, JJ envisions a future where anyone can build custom solutions without code—while teasing his dream venture studio for serial builders like himself.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Mishal Saeed, Talha Siddiqui, founder of Brillionhouse Digital, shares his journey from writing college essays for cash to building a full-service digital marketing agency that transforms brand narratives. What started as a knack for persuasive copywriting evolved into a mission to solve the "messaging bottleneck" businesses face—revealing how authentic storytelling drives revenue growth. Talha breaks down Brillionhouse’s unique "Apple-inspired" model: an in-house team handling everything from branding to lead gen, ensuring cohesive messaging. He highlights a recent nonprofit campaign for Palestine that raised $200K in a single day, proving the power of unified storytelling.

Talha also dives into scaling challenges, from turning down clients due to capacity constraints to his hunt for elite account managers. With a focus on high-ticket industries like real estate and finance, he shares lessons on balancing rapid growth (like his award-winning 3-year revenue surge) with sustainable systems. For aspiring agency owners, Talha’s advice is blunt: *"If you’re leaving a 9-to-5, know you’re trading it for a 9-to-9—only do this if you love it."* His vision? Leveraging Brillionhouse’s success to fuel his other ventures, including an architectural materials business, while staying true to storytelling as the ultimate growth lever.

In this episode of Founders, Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Rochelle OBrien, President and Owner of Venture Opportunities LLC, a business brokerage firm specializing in mergers, acquisitions, and exit strategies. With over 20 years of experience, Rochelle shares her journey of empowering business owners to maximize their company’s value before selling, the challenges of scaling a relationship-driven business, and her vision for expanding education and outreach through courses and targeted advertising.

Rochelle dives into the core offerings of Venture Opportunities, from tailored valuations to buyer connections, and discusses the evolving landscape of business brokerage. She emphasizes the importance of early preparation for business owners, the role of AI in streamlining operations, and her plans to build a stronger team and community to drive future growth.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Ammar Elm, Dr. Elayna Fernández—internationally recognized as The Positive MOM—shares her powerful journey from homelessness and trauma to becoming a certified trauma-informed success coach, award-winning storyteller, and five-time TEDx speaker. She reveals how her darkest moments led to the creation of her platform, ThePositiveMom.com, which empowers mothers worldwide to transform pain into purpose through emotional healing, storytelling, and intentional motherhood. Dr. Fernández also introduces her groundbreaking concept of "trauma-informed positivity," explaining why validation—not motivation—heals deep wounds, and how she helps others break cycles of trauma to find peace and wholeness.

Dr. Fernández dives into her unique business model, from monetizing her blog to building a thriving community of transformational storytellers. She shares profound insights from her near-death experiences, her work with icons like Les Brown and Jack Canfield, and her mission to publish her upcoming book, "Trauma-Informed Positivity." Listeners will leave with actionable wisdom on emotional resilience, the dangers of toxic positivity, and how to embrace vulnerability as a path to true strength.

In this episode of Founders, Future, with host Mishal Saeed, Vivek Pandit—Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and founder of PeduL and the Quarter Life Crisis Club—shares his remarkable journey from being the only Indian kid on his Texas football team to building a mission-driven coaching business. He reveals how his personal quarter-life crisis led him to create a transformative 12-week program that helps young professionals navigate identity, purpose, and career challenges through his unique "Machine of Life" framework.*

*Vivek opens up about his coaching methodology that blends ancient wisdom with modern psychology, how he helps clients move from crisis to clarity, and why he's passionate about making elite personal development accessible to millennials. He also shares powerful client success stories, including professionals who left unfulfilling jobs to build 7-figure businesses, and his vision for scaling the Quarter Life Crisis Club through community-driven transformation.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we dive into the journey of Craig Hewitt, Founder & CEO of Matter Consulting (formerly Castos). Craig shares how he revolutionized podcast hosting by solving key pain points for creators, from dynamic ads to seamless WordPress integration. He discusses the evolving podcasting landscape, the impact of AI on content marketing, and why video (especially YouTube) is the next frontier for podcasters. Craig also reveals his strategies for cracking AI-driven SEO and how Matter Consulting is positioning itself for scalable growth in an AI-dominated future.

From bootstrapping challenges to monetization insights, Craig offers invaluable advice for entrepreneurs navigating the creator economy. He emphasizes that while a great product is essential, sales and marketing are often the real growth drivers. Whether you're a podcaster, SaaS founder, or content creator, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways on adapting to industry shifts and leveraging emerging tech.

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Jae Encarnacion, we meet Joseph Harding, Founder & CEO of Insp1re, a revolutionary AI-powered wellness platform that integrates fitness, nutrition, mindset tools, and community into one holistic app. A military veteran with a background in industrial psychology, Joe shares how his own struggles with purpose and community inspired him to build a solution that helps users achieve self-mastery—especially busy professionals in high-stress environments like Washington, D.C. He reveals how he taught himself to code to bring Insp1re to life, the challenges of bootstrapping while working full-time, and his bold vision to expand into B2B partnerships (including apartment gyms and corporate wellness programs).

Joe also dives into the future of wellness tech, from AI personalization to combating societal disconnection, and drops golden advice for founders: "There are no rules—just don’t quit." Whether you’re building an app, leading a team, or seeking motivation, this episode is packed with raw insights on resilience, purpose-driven entrepreneurship, and why community is the secret sauce to lasting transformation.