In this episode, we dive into my entrepreneurial journey—how I launched my business to help university housing teams streamline move-in and move-out for students, my experience pitching on Shark Tank, and what it’s really like working with Mark Cuban.
We also talk about the lessons I’ve learned through the grind of building a business, the value of relationships, and what it means to stay resilient in the face of challenges.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or someone navigating your own path of growth, my story is packed with insight, energy, and real talk.
Table of Contents
Key Topics
- The Origin of Storage Scholars: It all started at Wake Forest University when I was 18. My business partner and I wanted to pay our way through school without debt. We saw a need: international students were paying a fortune to ship their belongings home for the summer. We decided to solve that problem.
- The Early Hustle: Our first year was built on pure grit. We collected $50 deposits from 64 students, which we used to rent our first storage unit. It was just us, a pickup truck, and a drive to make it work.
- Pitching on Shark Tank: After growing the business to over $2 million in revenue, we applied to Shark Tank with a raw, unedited video. Six months later, we were pitching to the Sharks, which led to a bidding war.
- Working with Mark Cuban: We made a deal with Mark for $250,000 for 10% of the company. He’s been an incredible partner—responsive, supportive, and instrumental in our growth to 200 schools and $7 million in revenue.
Video Gallery
Watch the full conversation below, or click here to watch it on YouTube.
Conclusion
A lot of people think entrepreneurship is this glamorous thing where you get to be your own boss and take vacations whenever you want. The reality is, it’s the opposite. When you own the business, you don’t have one boss—you have thousands of them: your customers.
I think a lot of success comes down to a mix of hard work and luck. You have to be prepared to capitalize on an opportunity when it comes. My dad taught me valuable lessons from a young age—making me cold call for charity fundraisers and start a car wash business to earn my own money. Those experiences burned the importance of sales, detail, and work ethic into my brain.
My ultimate goal isn’t just about the business. It’s about being a good role model, creating jobs, and eventually being a great dad. It’s about doing what you have to do, so that later in life, you get to do what you want to do.
To hear the full story and all the details Mike and I discussed, be sure to watch the full episode!