In this episode of Overnight Success, Cristy sits down with Zac Brown, CEO of Nonprofits HQ, to unpack his journey from recovering software engineer to startup founder helping nonprofits amplify their impact through technology.

Zac shares what it’s really like to build a company from the ground up — the long nights, early mistakes, bad partnerships, and slow sales cycles — and how those challenges became the foundation for real traction and purpose. From bootstrapping and niching down to defining success and choosing the right co-founder, this is an honest look at what it takes to go from “I think this might work” to “we’re making a difference.”

🪜 Key Topics & Takeaways

• How Zac transitioned from FinTech to founding Nonprofits HQ

• Why niching down was the turning point for growth

• Lessons from failed partnerships and early mistakes

• The hidden power of bootstrapping vs raising capital

• How adaptability and data-driven decisions drive success

• Redefining success beyond revenue

• Finding the right co-founder and separating friendship from business