Tamara Laine is an Emmy Award-winning journalist turned entrepreneur and the founder of MPWR (mpwr.money), an AI-powered fintech platform built to transform access to credit and capital for gig workers, freelancers, solopreneurs, and business owners outside the traditional W-2 economy. Combining her expertise in brand storytelling, AI innovation, and financial inclusion, Tamara makes it her mission to redesign financial systems so more people—especially those previously left out—can build real wealth. She brings fresh perspective from years in journalism, startup marketing, and scaling positive-revenue tech ventures.

On this episode we talk about:

Tamara’s journey from teen dance choreographer to Emmy-winning journalist, and her transition into startup tech entrepreneurship.

How curiosity, resilience against rejection, and relentless networking set the foundation for entrepreneurial success—regardless of industry or background.

Lessons learned launching media and tech startups: staying revenue-positive, finding the intersection of passion, opportunity, and value creation, and building healthy companies before chasing outside investment.

The unique challenges gig workers and side hustlers face in accessing credit—and how traditional financial systems fail millions living the “multi-income” reality.

The vision behind MPWR: next-generation AI and alternative credit risk modeling, holistic financial coaching through real-time dashboards, and dynamic predictions to help users thrive financially—no matter how nontraditional their work or income.

Practical advice for entrepreneurs: prioritize passion only where it meets real market opportunities and your proven skills, and design businesses for positive cash flow (not dependency on investors).

Top 3 Takeaways

1.  Build resilience to rejection—success in startups (and wealth building) is about persistence and adaptability, not just having a great idea.
2.  In a changing economy dominated by gig work, new fintech platforms like Empower are making real financial inclusion possible for people who’ve historically been left out.
3.  Revenue-first entrepreneurship beats chasing unicorn status; healthy businesses attract investment by solving problems and becoming sustainable early.

Notable Quotes

*  “Your network is your gold—every real opportunity comes through talking to people, learning, and never stopping at the first ‘no.’”
*  “Passion alone isn’t enough. Find the place where your skills, your interests, and the real world’s market gaps meet—and build from there.”
*  “Empower’s mission is simple: give every solopreneur a real shot at wealth by helping them tell their financial story and access better capital.”

Connect with Tamara Laine & Empower:

Platform waitlist and launch: mpwr.money

Instagram: @tamaralaine_

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