Unbankable with Alex Shvarts

Alex Shvarts

Most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they run out of capital. Unbankable is a business podcast for entrepreneurs who don’t wait for permission - especially from banks. I’m Alex Shvarts, Founder & CEO of FundKite. For over a decade, I’ve worked directly with thousands of small and mid-sized business owners across the United States, providing working capital when traditional banks said no. On this podcast, I sit down with CEOs, founders, operators, and leaders in alternative finance, fintech, private capital, and business growth to talk about what actually builds durable companies. No hype. No guru talk. Just real conversations about: • Scaling a small business • Working capital strategy • Alternative financing • Risk management • Hiring and firing decisions • Cash flow discipline • Profitable growth • Leadership under pressure • Building partnerships that last If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, startup founder, operator, or executive looking to grow smarter - this show is for you. We talk about what happens when banks say no. We talk about execution. We talk about capital. And we talk about building something real. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another entrepreneur who needs it. When banks say no - there is FundKite. Learn more about alternative business funding at 👉 https://fundkite.com Build smarter. Scale responsibly. Stay unbankable. – Alex Shvarts

  1. 5d ago

    From Doctor to CEO | How To Build a Medical Business

    How do you turn medical expertise into a successful business? On this episode of Unbankable, Alex Shvarts, CEO and founder of FundKite, sits down with Dr. Bernard Ashby, cardiologist, physician entrepreneur, and CEO of Comprehensive Vascular Care in Miami, to discuss business funding, small business growth, healthcare entrepreneurship, and building a medical practice from the ground up. Dr. Ashby shares his journey from academic medicine at Columbia University to becoming the owner of his own medical practice. He explains why being a great doctor does not automatically make you a great business owner, and why physicians need to understand revenue, operations, technology, and leadership. In this episode: • Why doctors struggle when transitioning into entrepreneurship• The hidden business challenges of running a medical practice• Understanding billing, revenue cycle management, and cash flow• How AI and technology are transforming healthcare businesses• Why keeping overhead low is critical for growth• Building trust while staying focused on ethical medicine• Lessons every entrepreneur can apply from healthcare This conversation is about more than medicine. It’s about building systems, making smart business decisions, and creating a company around your expertise. 💬 What skill is more important for entrepreneurs: being great at your craft or learning how to run a business? 📞 Need business funding to grow your company?877-502-5003🌐 FundKite.com

    From Doctor to CEO | How To Build a Medical Business
  2. Sep 4

    The Music Industry Lie Every Artist Needs to Hear | Third World Don

    What does it really cost to bet on yourself? I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Third World Don—a Billboard-recognized, platinum-certified artist, producer, director, and entrepreneur—to talk about ownership, independence, entrepreneurship, money, creativity, and building a business beyond the music. Instead of relying on record labels, Third World Don chose to build ownership at every level of his career. After experiencing both success and devastating setbacks—including losing millions and becoming homeless—he rebuilt his life by focusing on discipline, resilience, and long-term thinking. In this episode• Why ownership matters more than fame• Walking away from the traditional record label model• Lessons learned from Nipsey Hussle• Losing millions and rebuilding from nothing• The hidden struggles of entrepreneurship• Mental health, burnout, and resilience• How independent artists really make money• Why streams alone won’t make you wealthy• Building multiple income streams• Fame vs ownership• Why creators must monetize attention• Financial discipline and long-term wealth• The importance of leaving a legacy• Why comparing yourself to others is dangerous• How to rebuild if everything disappeared tomorrow Need fast, fair, and flexible business funding to grow your business? 📞 877-502-5003🌐 FundKite.com Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who build businesses on their own terms.

    The Music Industry Lie Every Artist Needs to Hear | Third World Don
  3. Aug 21

    From Bankruptcy to a $350M Hospitality Project | Emi Guerra’s Unbelievable Comeback

    Can losing millions become the best thing that ever happened to your business? I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Emi Guerra, co-founder of Breakwater Hospitality Group, to talk about entrepreneurship, bankruptcy, hospitality, business funding, leadership, risk, and building one of Miami’s most recognizable hospitality brands. Whether you’re starting your first business, recovering from setbacks, or looking for business funding to grow, this episode is packed with real lessons from someone who’s lived through both failure and extraordinary success. In this episode • Losing over $3 million and rebuilding from bankruptcy• The real story behind The Wharf Miami• Turning a temporary pop-up into a hospitality brand• Why reputation creates opportunities• Raising capital after financial failure• Personal guarantees and business risk• Leadership lessons from hospitality• Hiring, firing, and building company culture• Why customer experience wins• How entrepreneurs should think about risk• What money means after success• Why integrity compounds over time• Advice for entrepreneurs facing difficult times Need fast, fair and flexible business funding? 📞 877-502-5003🌐 https://fundkite.com Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who built success on their own terms. #fundkite #unbankable #Entrepreneurship #Hospitality

    From Bankruptcy to a $350M Hospitality Project | Emi Guerra’s Unbelievable Comeback
  4. Aug 7

    From Pitbull to House of Mac | How to Build an $8M Business After Music Industry

    What does it take to walk away from a dream career and bet everything on yourself? I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Chef Teach (Derrick Turton), founder of House of Mac, to talk about entrepreneurship, business funding, cash flow, legacy, and why building your own business is completely different from building someone else’s success. Before launching House of Mac, Derrick spent nearly two decades in the music industry working alongside global artists, including Pitbull, A$AP Rocky, and Yo Gotti. Then he walked away from it all to start a food truck. If you’re building a business, growing a brand, or looking for business funding to expand, this conversation is for you. In this episode: * Leaving the music industry to build House of Mac* Working with Pitbull, A$AP Rocky and major artists* Why legacy matters more than money* Losing nearly $100K on the first food truck* Turning one truck into millions in revenue* Surviving COVID as a restaurant owner* Why banks fail many entrepreneurs* Business funding vs traditional bank loans* Cash flow lessons every business owner should know* Scaling without losing your brand* Why relationships outperform advertising* Entrepreneurship, resilience and betting on yourself Need fast, flexible business funding to grow your business? 📞 877-502-5003🌐 FundKite.com Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs who refuse to take no for an answer.

    From Pitbull to House of Mac | How to Build an $8M Business After Music Industry
  5. Aug 4

    Building Hype Miami | The Truth About Retail, Cash Flow & Business Growth

    Can you turn a sneaker hustle into a real business? I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with Yuriy Kolesnyk, co-founder of Hype Miami, to discuss entrepreneurship, retail, inventory management, cash flow, business funding, and what it really takes to build a premium brand in one of the world’s most competitive markets. Yuriy shares how he started with a $400 student credit card, built a sneaker resale business, lost six figures during his first year in retail, and transformed Hype Miami into one of South Florida’s most recognized luxury sneaker and streetwear destinations. If you’re building a retail business, growing an e-commerce brand, or looking for smarter ways to finance growth, this episode is packed with practical lessons. In this episode: * How Hype Miami was built from scratch* Starting with a $400 credit card* Sneaker resale and building a wholesale business* Why retail is completely different from wholesale* Losing six figures during the first year* Inventory management and cash flow* Pricing strategy and profit margins* Customer experience as a competitive advantage* AI tools for running a business* Business funding mistakes entrepreneurs make* Shopify Capital vs other funding options* Why relationships create long-term success Need fast, flexible business funding to grow your business? 📞 877-502-5003🌐 FundKite.com Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs building businesses without waiting for permission.

    Building Hype Miami | The Truth About Retail, Cash Flow & Business Growth
  6. Jul 28

    How Relationships Build Million-Dollar Businesses | Bebe Lewis on Branding, Trust & Success

    Is business success really about money… or is it about the relationships you build? I’m Alex Shvarts, founder and CEO of FundKite. In this episode of the Unbankable Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur, media executive, and Circle House Studios CEO BB Lewis to talk about building influence, creating valuable relationships, and why trust will always outperform attention. BB shares how he built multiple businesses without relying on traditional paths, why media is one of the most valuable assets you can own, and how entrepreneurs can create opportunities by becoming indispensable instead of chasing followers. If you’re building a business, growing your brand, or looking for business funding to scale your next opportunity, this conversation is for you. In this episode: • Why relationships are more valuable than followers• Building influence before chasing attention• The power of trust in business• Why media creates leverage• How networking opens real opportunities• Lessons from the music industry• Creative business funding strategies• Why entrepreneurs should own their audience If your business needs business funding, working capital, or revenue-based financing, FundKite helps businesses access capital quickly with a simple application process. 📞 877-502-5003🌐 FundKite.com Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders who refuse to take no for an answer.

    How Relationships Build Million-Dollar Businesses | Bebe Lewis on Branding, Trust & Success

Ratings & Reviews

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About

Most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they run out of capital. Unbankable is a business podcast for entrepreneurs who don’t wait for permission - especially from banks. I’m Alex Shvarts, Founder & CEO of FundKite. For over a decade, I’ve worked directly with thousands of small and mid-sized business owners across the United States, providing working capital when traditional banks said no. On this podcast, I sit down with CEOs, founders, operators, and leaders in alternative finance, fintech, private capital, and business growth to talk about what actually builds durable companies. No hype. No guru talk. Just real conversations about: • Scaling a small business • Working capital strategy • Alternative financing • Risk management • Hiring and firing decisions • Cash flow discipline • Profitable growth • Leadership under pressure • Building partnerships that last If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, startup founder, operator, or executive looking to grow smarter - this show is for you. We talk about what happens when banks say no. We talk about execution. We talk about capital. And we talk about building something real. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another entrepreneur who needs it. When banks say no - there is FundKite. Learn more about alternative business funding at 👉 https://fundkite.com Build smarter. Scale responsibly. Stay unbankable. – Alex Shvarts