Chris Hunter

I'll find unique ways to make money that excite me. Helped me into what I ended up doing. I could not have mapped out my career path, though. What was the first business venture for you? Yeah, I mean, you can go way, way back and say the first business venture was, you know, being a first grader coloring pictures out of a coloring book and selling them door to door. I did that, right?

I'll find unique ways to make money that excite me. Helped me into what I ended up doing. I could not have mapped out my career path, though. What was the first business venture for you? Yeah, I mean, you can go way, way back and say the first business venture was, you know, being a first grader coloring pictures out of a coloring book and selling them door to door. I did that, right?

But really more, and there's many of those examples along the way, but maybe more officially was in college, there were three businesses that I started. One was never really structured as a business, but it was actually the largest and it was called Fusion Projects, which ended up being my business. the parent company of Four Loko. And it was a promotions business.

But really more, and there's many of those examples along the way, but maybe more officially was in college, there were three businesses that I started. One was never really structured as a business, but it was actually the largest and it was called Fusion Projects, which ended up being my business. the parent company of Four Loko. And it was a promotions business.

So I would do nightlife promotions, mainly in Columbus, but in other cities across the country. It paid really well. It was a heck of a job for a college student, bringing people together, especially out at a bar or a nightclub. And I met a lot of people. The other business I started, which was actually with one of my Fusion Projects partners was called Wild Havens.

So I would do nightlife promotions, mainly in Columbus, but in other cities across the country. It paid really well. It was a heck of a job for a college student, bringing people together, especially out at a bar or a nightclub. And I met a lot of people. The other business I started, which was actually with one of my Fusion Projects partners was called Wild Havens.

And the idea was that we were going to give people access to unique and exclusive events in different cities or locations around the world. And we put a little effort into that probably lasted about a year and then we shut that down. And then the third was a magazine. We started in Columbus with some different partners. It was centered around four main aspects of the city. It was entertainment.

And the idea was that we were going to give people access to unique and exclusive events in different cities or locations around the world. And we put a little effort into that probably lasted about a year and then we shut that down. And then the third was a magazine. We started in Columbus with some different partners. It was centered around four main aspects of the city. It was entertainment.

It was personality. I forget the other two, but you get the idea. It was a free publication. That's really where I started learning a little more about business. And then I moved to Chicago and was just trying to figure out how to pay my bills and ultimately took a job and then started Fusion Projects. What did you learn in the events business about what you liked and didn't like?

It was personality. I forget the other two, but you get the idea. It was a free publication. That's really where I started learning a little more about business. And then I moved to Chicago and was just trying to figure out how to pay my bills and ultimately took a job and then started Fusion Projects. What did you learn in the events business about what you liked and didn't like?

Look, I loved working with people, right? I loved interacting with people. I'm a social guy by nature. I felt like it was really eye-opening the impact of relationships, right? How much they matter and how many doors they can open. One of the things I didn't like was for the future, you know, I was obviously young and single at that time, but that's a very grueling career path, nights and weekends.

Look, I loved working with people, right? I loved interacting with people. I'm a social guy by nature. I felt like it was really eye-opening the impact of relationships, right? How much they matter and how many doors they can open. One of the things I didn't like was for the future, you know, I was obviously young and single at that time, but that's a very grueling career path, nights and weekends.

And And so I wasn't sure that that was the right path for me. At the time, I probably wouldn't have said that, but looking back, that was a good pivot. This is the best thing ever. It was amazing. Yeah. So I go to Chicago and I refuse to get a nine to five type gig. I ignorantly felt like my experience was more than that, right? I wasn't going to take some entry level corporate job.

And And so I wasn't sure that that was the right path for me. At the time, I probably wouldn't have said that, but looking back, that was a good pivot. This is the best thing ever. It was amazing. Yeah. So I go to Chicago and I refuse to get a nine to five type gig. I ignorantly felt like my experience was more than that, right? I wasn't going to take some entry level corporate job.

And that was fine in theory until a couple of months in, I had credit card debt racked up and And it's like, I got to figure out a way to pay bills. And you know what really tipped the scale was there was one day where I could not pay rent. And my now wife, girlfriend at the time, cut me a check to cover rent. And I was like, man, I really got to do something now. Wow.

And that was fine in theory until a couple of months in, I had credit card debt racked up and And it's like, I got to figure out a way to pay bills. And you know what really tipped the scale was there was one day where I could not pay rent. And my now wife, girlfriend at the time, cut me a check to cover rent. And I was like, man, I really got to do something now. Wow.

I had met these guys who were doing this hail damage gig, basically like storm chasing. They'd go to neighborhoods that were impacted and they would facilitate it. the roof repairs, they're all making a ton of money. It's like, I'm going to take this job. And you didn't need any qualifications. The funny thing, the ironic thing of that is I'm afraid of heights. So I'm climbing on roofs.

I had met these guys who were doing this hail damage gig, basically like storm chasing. They'd go to neighborhoods that were impacted and they would facilitate it. the roof repairs, they're all making a ton of money. It's like, I'm going to take this job. And you didn't need any qualifications. The funny thing, the ironic thing of that is I'm afraid of heights. So I'm climbing on roofs.

But necessity or desperation, whatever you want to call it, will make you do some interesting things. And that was one of them. And I never lost a contest. I never lost a contract because I needed the money. But I didn't want to do that for long. From my promotions career, I had collected a lot of contacts and business cards. One of them was a guy that was involved in a startup vodka company.

But necessity or desperation, whatever you want to call it, will make you do some interesting things. And that was one of them. And I never lost a contest. I never lost a contract because I needed the money. But I didn't want to do that for long. From my promotions career, I had collected a lot of contacts and business cards. One of them was a guy that was involved in a startup vodka company.