In this episode of Entrepreneurship Unlocked, I’m joined by Rebel SMG, the founder of Rebels Raiders, a US based tactical gear brand with a loyal following and a reputation for building high quality gear without the inflated price tag.

Rebel walks through how his path started at Kenai Pro Gear, how he ended up doing everything from warehouse work to customer service to marketing, and why memes became the unexpected growth engine that helped the brand break through. We also get into how Rebels Raiders was born, including the early move that changed everything, buying a leftover container of unshipped inventory with his life savings, flipping it, then meeting the Vietnamese manufacturer he still uses today.

We talk product design and what it looks like to build gear for real people, not just hardcore gear nerds. Rebel breaks down why most tactical gear feels like an overwhelming a la carte mess, and how he designed an all in one plate carrier and a modern backpack by pulling inspiration from what already existed and improving it. He also shares the pricing philosophy behind the brand, aiming for that sweet spot where the gear performs at the “Gucci” level, but stays accessible.

Later in the episode, we get into how he built a large social media presence and his philosophy of “controlled authenticity,” basically being real but intentional, and tailoring content to the platform without turning into a try hard growth hacker.

If you’re into brand building, product development, direct to consumer entrepreneurship, or you just want to hear what it actually looks like to build something from scratch without a perfect setup, you’ll like this one.

https://rebels-raiders.com/

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In this episode of Entrepreneurship Unlocked, I sit down with Adam Turmakhan, the founder of TurmaFinTech, a company focused on helping community banks and credit unions finally make better use of the data they already have.

Adam’s story is a great example of how most entrepreneurs actually get started. He didn’t grow up dreaming of being a founder. He began his career in banking, working as a financial analyst, first in Kazakhstan and later in the United States. Over time, he started noticing a big problem in the industry. Smaller financial institutions are sitting on massive amounts of valuable data, but they often lack the tools, resources, and internal capabilities to turn that data into real business growth.

We talk about how big banks are already far ahead when it comes to using data and AI, and why community banks and credit unions tend to fall behind. Adam explains the real reasons this happens, including bureaucracy, limited resources, and how hard it can be for large institutions to adopt new technology, even when they know they should.

Adam also shares what it has been like building a fintech company as a young founder while selling to decision makers who are often decades older than him. We get into how he thinks about trust, why he avoids overselling, and why being honest about what you can and cannot do is one of the biggest advantages in business, especially in traditional industries like banking.

We also spend time talking about AI, where it actually makes sense to use it, and where most companies get it wrong. Adam explains why AI should be used to solve very specific business problems, not just because it is trendy, and how it can help banks better understand their customers, reduce churn, and grow in smarter ways.

On the personal side, Adam opens up about his journey coming to the U.S. from Kazakhstan, overcoming his fear of public speaking, and how entrepreneurship has pushed him to grow far outside of his comfort zone. He shares what excites him most about what he is building right now and why helping struggling banks is a big part of what motivates him.

If you are building a company in a traditional industry, selling to enterprise or institutional clients, or navigating entrepreneurship as a young founder, this episode will definitely resonate.

You can learn more about TurmaFinTech at https://www.turmafintech.com/

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In this episode of Entrepreneurship Unlocked, Nate sits down with Sophia Akrami, owner of Anova Care, a Colorado based home care and home health company helping families keep their loved ones supported at home with dignity, comfort, and consistency.

Sophia shares the personal story that led her into this work, including her mom’s stroke and what it taught her about what families actually need when home care becomes real life. We talk about why home can be such a powerful place for healing, how fragmented the healthcare system can feel when you are navigating it, and why “continuum of care” matters so families are not forced to restart the same conversation with multiple providers.

We also get into the business side of building a service company in a highly regulated industry, what it takes to hire and retain great caregivers, and the questions families should ask when evaluating home care providers.

If you have aging parents, you are supporting a loved one with a health condition, or you want to understand the reality of home care before you are in a crisis moment, this episode will hit home.

Learn more about Anova Care: https://anovacare.com/

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