Business funding, entrepreneurship, working capital, and building a brand all come down to one thing: knowing how to turn your platform into real value.

I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite, and in this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with DJ Irie — global entertainer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Irie Foundation.

This conversation is about more than music. It’s about business, branding, sponsorships, fundraising, leadership, building the right team, and creating something that makes money while making a difference. 💥

DJ Irie shares how he went from performing as a DJ to building Irie Weekend, working with major names, creating long-term sponsor relationships, and using his platform to support underserved youth in South Florida.

We talk about:

• how to turn passion into a real business
• why closing the deal is only the beginning
• how to build sponsorships that last
• why entrepreneurs need to measure their reach
• how to monetize your platform without losing your mission
• why team, execution, and overdelivering matter
• what business owners can learn from event production
• how purpose-driven businesses can stay sustainable
• why giving back can become part of a powerful brand

If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, creator, event professional, or anyone trying to build a brand that creates real impact — this episode is for you.

👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business funding, working capital, cash flow, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, and building something that lasts.

Question: are you building a business only to make money — or to make an impact too? 👀

One lawsuit, one bad contract, or one business partner dispute can destroy everything you worked for 🚨

I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. At FundKite, we help business owners access business funding when banks say no — but funding is only one part of building a real business. You also need protection, structure, contracts, and the right legal strategy.

In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Chris Robert Tinton, managing partner of Tinton Law Firm, also known as “The Legal Bodyguard,” to talk about the legal mistakes that business owners cannot afford to ignore.

We talk about:

• why every business owner needs the right contracts
• how business divorce can destroy a company
• what to do in the first 48 hours after a lawsuit
• why you should never delete texts or WhatsApp messages
• why cheap legal advice can become very expensive
• how to choose the right lawyer for your business
• when to fire your attorney
• why funding, legal structure, and business planning work together

Chris also explains why many businesses are not truly “unbankable” — they may just be presenting their business the wrong way to lenders.

If you need capital to grow, expand, manage cash flow, or take advantage of a business opportunity, FundKite may be able to help.

Visit FundKite.com or contact our team to explore your business funding options.

👉 Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, sales, legal protection, and building something that lasts.

🎧 Listen to the Unbankable with Alex Shvarts Podcast on all major audio platforms - https://unbankable.transistor.fm/subscribe

Drop a comment: what’s the biggest legal mistake you’ve seen a business owner make? 👀

TIMECODES
00:00 One Lawsuit Can End It
00:56 Legal Protection for Business Owners
02:44 The Legal Bodyguard
03:45 The Biggest Contract Mistake
05:16 Business Divorce Is Real
06:00 First 48 Hours After Lawsuit
07:15 Save Your Text Messages
08:52 Are Businesses Really Unbankable?
10:57 Doctors, Business, and Structure
12:48 Contract Disputes Explained
13:01 Gas Station Deal Saved
14:29 LLC, Corp, or Partnership?
15:18 When Lawyers Fire Clients
16:43 Cheap Legal Advice Costs More
18:14 Legal Budget for Business
19:32 Bilingual Business Law in Miami
21:32 Arbitration vs Court
23:24 How to Choose a Lawyer
24:12 When to Fire Your Lawyer
26:09 Funding Is Business Energy
27:49 Lawyers as Business Psychologists
29:15 Never Lie to Your Lawyer
30:22 How to Contact Chris
31:06 Lawyer Life and Balance
32:52 What Makes a Good Client
34:16 Growing With Your Lawyer

Business funding, entrepreneurship, investing, and building wealth after a successful career all come down to one thing: having the right team and making smart decisions before the money stops coming.

I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. Every year, thousands of business owners apply for business funding, working capital, and growth capital because they need help scaling their companies, managing cash flow, and creating long-term success.

In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with two-time NBA Champion Mario Chalmers to talk about life after professional sports, business ownership, investing, leadership, and why many athletes struggle financially after retirement.

Mario shares what it was like playing alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and one of the greatest teams in NBA history. More importantly, he shares the lessons he learned transitioning from basketball to business.

We discuss:

🏆 life after the NBA
💰 why many professional athletes go broke
📈 investing, business ownership, and wealth building
🚀 how to transition from sports into entrepreneurship
🤝 why building the right team matters
📊 business funding and growth opportunities
🧠 leadership lessons from championship teams
💵 managing money after million-dollar paychecks stop
🎯 how successful entrepreneurs make decisions
🔥 why confidence in sports doesn’t automatically translate to business

At FundKite, we work with business owners every day who need business funding, working capital, and growth capital to keep growing. One lesson that applies to both athletes and entrepreneurs is simple: you don’t have to know everything, but you do need the right people around you.

If you’re building a business, investing for the future, or trying to create long-term wealth, this conversation is full of lessons that go far beyond basketball.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations about business funding, entrepreneurship, investing, leadership, cash flow, and building successful companies.

What’s more difficult: becoming a champion — or staying successful after you’ve already won? 👇