Faith Driven Entrepreneur

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Sadiq Edu, co-founder of Pika, in Lagos, Nigeria, for an extraordinary conversation about faith transformation, entrepreneurial courage, and the power of data to lift nations. Sadiq shares his remarkable journey from being the grandson of a Sultan to encountering Christ through a series of miraculous events, including being baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury.This episode explores how God works through business to address both spiritual and financial poverty, the challenges of building a fintech startup in Africa's informal economy, and the importance of staying true to your calling even when it costs everything.Key Topics:The miraculous conversion story: From Islamic royalty to follower of ChristBeing baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury after a divine appointmentBuilding Pika: Transforming Africa's $1 trillion informal retail sector through dataWhy you can't address spiritual poverty without addressing financial povertyThe cost of faith: Navigating family rejection while honoring God and spouseFrom Techstars rejection to acceptance: Trusting God's timing in businessHow bookkeeping apps can unlock credit, insurance, and economic development for 40 million tradersNotable Quotes:"You don't have the license to speak on someone's spiritual poverty until you've addressed their financial poverty." - Sadiq Edu"Entrepreneurship is pulling back all the noise to see what's true - whether in faith or business." - Justin Forman"If we lost everything tomorrow, doesn't matter. We know that the most important thing we have is Jesus." - Sadiq Edu

Join hosts Justin Forman and Dana Roefer as they go behind the scenes with Coby Cotton, one of the founders of Dude Perfect, to explore his journey from college basketball tricks to building one of the world's most trusted family entertainment brands reaching millions globally.This episode dives deep into recognizing and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in children, even when it shows up in unexpected ways. Through Coby's story and practical parenting insights, discover how to identify creative seeds in your kids and foster their God-given talents.Key Topics:The Dude Perfect origin story: From backyard trick shots to global phenomenonRecognizing entrepreneurial traits in "imaginative" (sometimes rule-breaking) kidsHow to affirm creativity in frustrating parenting momentsThe balance between faith and business in building a companyWhy the creator economy is pulling entrepreneurship conversations earlierPractical ways to nurture your child's unique wiring and giftsThe importance of early affirmation and creating safe spaces for failureNotable Quotes:"Entrepreneurship is a funny word. What was the word that was upstream of that? It's really just creativity." - Justin Forman"They start to show themselves really early on. And so as a parent, the hat that we're wearing is how do I see the ways that God has wired my kid? And then how do pull that out?" - Dana Roefer"I feel strongly that God has used Dude Perfect, which is a business for His glory in a way that if I had gone and done vocational Ministry, I don't think would have happened." - Coby Cotton

In this powerful episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, hosts Justin Forman and Kevin Kim sit down with Chi-Ming and Juliette Chien to explore their radical decision to relocate their successful tech company from San Francisco's financial district to Bayview - a neighborhood where 25-30% of children live below the federal poverty line.Chi-Ming shares how Dayspring Technologies embodies "bearing witness to God's redeeming of the workplace, marketplace, and community" through unconventional business practices like refusing to use leverage in negotiations, maintaining only three months of cash reserves, and implementing a pay structure where CEO compensation is capped at 3x the lowest paid employee.Juliette reveals how their partnership with Redeemer Community Church led to the founding of RISE, a Christian high school where 80% of seats are reserved for first-generation college students from low-income families, with a mission of 100% four-year university admission.Key Highlights:Why Dayspring moved from downtown San Francisco to Bayview, defying conventional business wisdomThe theological imagination that shapes radical business practicesHow "prophetic emptiness" - leaving space for God to fill - birthed a transformative schoolThe power of church-business partnerships in community transformationPractical examples of living out gospel economics in the marketplaceWhy achievement and control can be more dangerous idols than moneyQuotable Moments:"I think a lot of times we call something impractical when it's largely left untried." - Juliette Chien"In order to love a place, you need to know it. In order to know it, you need to learn it, so you gotta spend time." - Chi-Ming Chien"If somebody takes your coat then give them your tunic also... That actually has implications for how we think about relating to our marketplace neighbors." - Chi-Ming ChienWatch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

In this profound episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, host Justin Forman sits down with Raymond Harris, a distinguished architect, executive producer, and venture capitalist who founded one of the largest architectural firms specializing in corporate architecture. Raymond shares his remarkable journey from questioning whether he missed his calling to building an 8,000-project portfolio with Walmart while revolutionizing his understanding of wealth, stewardship, and Kingdom impact.From giving away his entire wedding gift with only $600 in the bank to developing the concept of "Kingdom currency," Raymond's story challenges conventional thinking about success, generosity, and the true purpose of business.Key Highlights:Raymond's journey from pre-med to architecture and his bold request to become a partner at age 27Building a firm that completed 8,000 projects for Walmart over 37 yearsThe transformative realization: "I was really created not to be an architect, but to be a steward of his kingdom. Architecture was just the economic engine to do that."Why practicing generosity early matters: "If you're not generous when you don't have anything, you're certainly not gonna be generous when you have a lot"The concept of "Kingdom currency" - converting earthly assets into eternal impactInnovative approaches to inheritance: giving to children when they need it most, not when they're in their 60sThe danger of achievement as an addiction and the importance of authentic brokennessWhy donor-advised funds can become "storage warehouses" if not deployed strategicallyQuotable Moments:"Did I miss the turn by not going into ministry? And I didn't want to. I wanted to be an architect... about 25 years after running a firm, the Lord said, no, you never missed the turn. You've always been on the right road. You've been trying to drive the car by looking in the mirror, look through the windshield.""Why does he entrust wealth to people? But he gave it to us. So that we could steward it into his kingdom to take care of those that can't take care of himself.""If we think that we can keep hold of earthly money and make more money on earth and then give away more money and that's really pleasing to God, I think he's more interested in us giving early so that he can compound what is really his money anyway.""I call it kingdom currency. What is kingdom currency? Kingdom currency in my thinking is wealth and assets on this earth that will transfer into the next kingdom, which is eternity."Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

In this powerful episode recorded at SXSW, host Justin Forman sits down with Renji Bijoy, founder and CEO of Immersed, the most-used application in the AR/VR space. Renji shares his journey from PhD student to tech entrepreneur, his mission to build faith-driven technology that brings people together rather than isolates them, and why he believes believers should be at the forefront of building the next generation of computing platforms.Key Highlights:How separating identity from company outcomes leads to better decision-making and freedom from emotional choicesWhy Renji builds Immersed because he "hates remote work" - creating connection in a disconnected worldThe transition from software to hardware and launching Visor - a revolutionary AR headset that's 70% lighter than competitorsCompeting with tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta while being guided by faithThe importance of believers influencing culture through technology rather than being mere consumersBalancing 80-hour work weeks with faithful stewardship and avoiding willfulnessHow Immersed is positioned to impact humanoid robotics through human pose estimation dataQuotable Moments:"If we do what I think the Lord calls us to do, which is to separate our identity from what our work is... actually it's a lot more freeing.""I'm building Immersed because I hate remote work... I think that there is a more God-glorifying version of that that makes us all feel very connected.""I believe that if you have a world that the most common devices that we use, built by believers, I think that's going to be a lot more of a optimistic, bright future."Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

Clint Phillips, a healthcare entrepreneur and CEO of Medici, shares his incredible journey from rugby in South Africa to revolutionizing medicine with AI. He discusses the creation of Dr. Gabby, an AI doctor that provides medical advice through a quick facial scan. Clint highlights the U.S. healthcare crisis, fueled by overmedication, and how technology can offer solutions. He also touches on his mission work in Zambia, aiming to make healthcare accessible and affordable globally, and the challenges posed by lobby groups in the healthcare industry.

Key Topics DiscussedThe Current Challenges Facing Teens:60% of today's students will work in jobs that don't exist yetSocial media pressure and public identity formationCollege costs forcing earlier career decisionsRecord levels of anxiety and depression among young peopleThe Three-Part Framework:Identity Discovery - Using tools like Working Genius to help teens understand their God-given strengthsRedemptive Imagination - Exposing kids to diverse entrepreneurial stories and possibilitiesConversation Starters - Creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue about faith, work, and purposeAI and the Future of Work:How machine learning is automating predictable tasksWhy creativity, curiosity, and question-asking will be essential skillsThe shift from needing specific degrees to developing entrepreneurial mindsetsFeatured Stories and ExamplesLecrae's journey as both artist and business creatorPhil Vischer's VeggieTales story of failure and redemptionDude Perfect's entrepreneurial successPersonal stories of kids engaging with entrepreneurial contentPractical ApplicationsHow families can use the course for summer activitiesWays schools and churches can implement the curriculumThe importance of adults calling out gifts in young peopleCreating environments that foster entrepreneurial thinkingKey Quotes"Curiosity is a superpower""The only time you have to be good at everything is at this point in their life""Change starts with us and change starts at home"

In this special episode recorded at SXSW in Austin, Texas, hosts Justin Forman and Richard Cunningham sit down with Brent Beshore, founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, to discuss what it means to take a long-term, cathedral-like perspective in business and investing.Brent shares his transformation from an achievement-driven atheist to a faith-focused entrepreneur, highlighting how his approach to private equity challenges industry norms with long-term capital, zero debt, and transparent fee structures. Throughout the conversation, Brent reveals how vulnerability and authentic relationships have been crucial both in his personal faith journey and in building a successful investment firm.Key Highlights:Brent's journey from atheism to faith and how it transformed his perspective on business, family, and achievementThe dangers of "acceptable sin" that starts small but eventually leads to devastating consequencesWhy living in the light through authentic relationships is essential for both personal healing and business successHow Permanent Equity's unique model of 30-year capital and no debt creates true alignment with business ownersThe concept of "cathedral thinking" - building something that may take generations to completeThe importance of community and authentic relationships in combating isolation, especially for successful entrepreneursWhy achievement, control, and self-reliance can be more dangerous addictions than substances

In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, host Justin Forman sits down with Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries, to discuss his remarkable journey from Wall Street executive to nonprofit leader. Unlike the typical path of chasing wealth and status, Steve shares how he made intentional decisions to prioritize purpose over prestige throughout his career.After starting at Lehman Brothers, Steve felt a tug that his faith was calling him toward a different path. He made a deal with God that he would "never make a decision for money, for prestige, or for power," which ultimately led him to leave banking on the cusp of making partner. His journey continued through corporate America, government service (including running the Small Business Administration during Hurricane Katrina recovery), and eventually to Goodwill, where he now leads one of America's most recognized nonprofit organizations.Key Highlights:Steve's countercultural decision to leave Wall Street's wealth and prestige to follow God's callingThe rich history of Goodwill beginning as a church-based ministry to help Boston's poorest residentsHow Goodwill provides holistic support to help people overcome barriers to employmentThe innovative prison education programs helping reduce recidivism rates to just 5%The power of corporate partnerships in scaling social impactHow writing a personal mission statement helped Steve identify his callingThe importance of seeing potential in people that they don't yet see in themselvesQuotable Moments:"I felt like God said, I've taken you thus far. Will you really go where I'm taking you? And worse, most of the people in my close-in circle said, you're crazy... And I had this moment where I thought to myself, I have been like every other American watching these horrific stories on television and wondering what I could do.""Our founder's story and our founder's vision 125 years later is still very much a part of who we are... It was all deeply based in the conviction that every human being has embedded potential.""I often say, when somebody comes through our door, we often see more in them than they see in themselves."

Mark McClain, founder and CEO of SailPoint Technologies, shares his non-traditional path to entrepreneurship after 10 years in corporate America. He discusses building a successful tech company with faith-based values, navigating multiple funding rounds (VC, PE, IPO, and back again), and balancing business ambition with family priorities.[Chapters]0:00 - Introduction2:10 - Mark on South by Southwest and Austin's tech scene6:08 - The evolution of faith in the workplace10:26 - Mark's journey from corporate career to entrepreneurship15:32 - Understanding SailPoint's identity management technology18:47 - AI as both threat and opportunity in cybersecurity20:34 - Navigating different funding methods as an entrepreneur24:15 - The value of community vs. coaching for entrepreneurs29:01 - The importance of staying connected to church community31:40 - Building a successful business without sacrificing family35:29 - Four S's of Christian leadership: Son, Sheep, Stock, and Stewardship39:02 - A biblical perspective on retirement and stewardship44:23 - Closing thoughts on community and faithIn this authentic conversation, Mark reveals:Why success rates increase for entrepreneurs who start after age 35The value of both peer community and expert coachingHow to stay connected to your faith while scaling a businessA biblical perspective on stewarding resources and opportunityPractical advice for staying present with family while building a company#FaithDrivenEntrepreneur #EntrepreneurialJourney #BusinessLeadership #FaithAndWork #ServantLeadership