Hi. I’m Lawrence, and I guess you could say I’m addicted to start-up life. In 1996, I started my first company, and since then, I have started (and exited) four more. Maybe it’s the “anything is possible” mindset, or maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. 🤷🏻 Want to know more about me and my start-up life? Keep reading.
I sold my last company in January of 2024, but more on that in a moment…
In the fall of that year, I launched my fifth startup, Fanbravo, born from a simple observation: why are the people who create unforgettable moments rarely the ones who profit from them?
Whether it’s a third-string linebacker making a game-saving tackle or a garage band whose TikTok explodes overnight, the viral moments can be the payoff, but the payoff doesn’t always translate to income for the creator.
From that initial idea, I began asking harder questions:
Why do the companies, universities, owners, and social platforms control the lion’s share of value? Why is content creation becoming a grind that burns out even the most passionate creators? And why are fans, the real catalysts of viral culture, passive and don’t actually gain value from watching a creator's video? Those were my problems to solve.
From there, I started to build a new company centered around a different equation. Instead of creators constantly producing and editing content (hoping it goes viral), fans should be the ones who generate and share content that promotes the creators they admire. As a result, fans become micro-influencers, sharing meaningful moments, highlight clips, edits, and personal commentary — while creators earn tips from the fan-driven engagement. It’s not just features; it’s a flywheel:
Fan-generated content → Community validation → Creator earns → Fan feels seen → Repeat.
Instead of rewarding content volume, Fanbravo rewards participation. It’s a low-lift, high-loyalty model that turns appreciation into income for amateur athletes, musicians, indie performers, and emerging creators across every niche from reality TV to Broadway.
I believe that Fanbravo is the answer to a system overdue for change. It's a platform where fans don’t just watch the moment, they shape it, share it, and celebrate it. And the people who create those moments? They get paid for the memorable moments they create by the people they inspire. This (Fanbravo) is a platform that empowers both creators and fans, inspiring a new economy of shared value and appreciation.
The “elevator” pitch: Fanbravo is a peer-to-peer platform where fans become the micro-influencers for the creators they follow and admire, and the creators earn from authentic crowdsourced content.
Fanbravo will be available Q3, 2025. If you want to learn more, please email us at info@fanbravo.com.
Start-up #4 Trivie
From 2011 to January 2024, I was the chief executive officer, chairman, and co-founder of Trivie®, an AI platform for workforce learning, upskilling, and memory retention. Great people and great customers such as Disney, General Motors, and McDonald's contributed to our success — and I am honored to have been a part of it.
In January 2024, Trivie was acquired by Quantum5 Technologies, a leading technology platform for the automotive industry.
In 2021, Trivie was named one of the Best Products of the Year and Best Advance in Learning Management Technology by eLearning Magazine. Trivie also received the Gold Award from The Brandon Hall Group for Best Use of Games for Learning in 2023. In 2022, Trivie won the Innovations in Talent and Workforce award by DCEO Magazine. Trivie’s consumer app, Battle of Wits, was one of the most popular apps in the world, ranking as the No. 1 game on the Apple App Store®.
Start-up #3 - Brainceuticals
In 2007, I had a traumatic brain injury, and during my recovery, I read and listened to everything I could get my hands on regarding the brain — how to heal it, how to strengthen it, how to grow it, and how to nourish it. As I wondered what I could do to heal myself, it occurred to me that, since the body needs nutrition to become healthier and stronger, the brain probably does, too.
So, I compiled and started taking a potent blend of vitamins and herbs that my research indicated would assist in the healing process and make my brain stronger. This turned out to be critical to my recovery — and the start of company #3, Brainceuticals.
In early 2011, Brainceuticals was acquired by Onnit Labs and was repurposed as Alpha Brain® - becoming the #1 brain supplement in the world.
Start-up #2 - Stampede Beer
Well, I used to really like beer (I also worked for Anheuser-Busch Corporate as my first job out of college). So, after start-up #1 was acquired, I started a micro-brewing company, Stampede. Stampede was the first and only alcoholic beverage to receive United States government approval for a vitamin formulation. No, really. Look it up - we even made Forbes Magazine on the subject.
After securing distribution in 17 states and hanging with celebrities and athletes, I decided to sell Stampede and move on to greener pastures. Oh, that's also about the time when the brain thing happened.
In 1996, I started my first company, a door-to-door computer repair company called Fixx My PC (think Geek Squad @Best Buy). I came up with the idea because my computer was constantly breaking, and I had difficulty finding someone to fix it. We quickly became very popular and started raising capital to fuel our growth.
After 18 months or so, we changed our name to Service 911.com and started providing on-site computer repair throughout Texas and telephone and desktop support nationally. Then things started to heat up!
In late 1998, we raised another $14 million and rebranded as Attenza - an enterprise software company for knowledge and service management. Our customer list also grew with companies like Dell, McKesson, American Express, and others. We also acquired a few companies; before you knew it, we had almost 300 employees.
In late 1999, we hired Chase Bank to take us public. We then did the Wall Street road show, completed our audits, and finalized our S-1. Our plan was to do our IPO in the Spring of 2000, but then the dot-com bubble popped.
At about the same time, Chase Bank had financial trouble and was acquired by JP Morgan. Obviously, we were not going to be a public company, and we had to tighten our belts, batten down the hatches, or whatever expression you want to use for a time in history when companies were being sucked into the black hole of insolvency.
Fortunately, after 12 months, we were able to make the appropriate personnel adjustments, get the company profitable, and partner with another company so we could continue as a going concern. Once again, we rebranded, this time as Skywire.
The closing credits read that it all worked out. Skywire was acquired in 2008 for over $200 million by Oracle®, and everyone rode off into the sunset with a smile.
Personally, I am happily married to an amazing woman, have three kick-ass kids, play a little guitar, and love Metallica and KISS.
In 1989, I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma at Norman. I was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and an NCAA powerlifting champion. In 2018, I started powerlifting again and set a few state records. Most recently, in August of 2024.
On the cerebral side, I’ve authored two books: The Professional’s Guide to Fitness (Taylor Trade Publishing) and Fat Daddy/FitDaddy (Rowman Littlefield Publishing).
I have received several awards and all that jazz, but you have probably read enough about me by now…😉
Cheers!
