Ep.65 Building CodeGig: Kellen Francis on Startup Grind, Team, and Vision

1/ Ever wondered what it’s like to build a company from the ground up, fueled by relentless hustle, setbacks, and pure vision? Let’s dive into Kellen Francis’s entrepreneurial journey with CodeGig—a story every founder (and dreamer) should hear. 2/ Kellen’s North Star? Freedom. “I wake up excited, ready to roll. I do not get up and ever feel like I'm not in my purpose.” 3/ Born & raised in Luling, LA, with a family that lived and breathed hard work—his dad worked the plant by day and curb landscaping by night, mom took double shifts. That “go get it” DNA is the foundation. 4/ Athletes & nerds don’t mix? Kellen says otherwise. Shout out to Coach Lumar—the first mentor outside the family showing consistency, drive, and proof that determination can rewrite your story. 5/ After earning a degree in computer information management, sports & tech became his universe. Why start CodeGig? Kellen wanted to “beat the bar” set by his dad—retire better, build bigger, be free. 6/ CodeGig isn’t just a tech company. It’s a mission: “We specialize in sustainability AI…predict, prescribe, and give back money to chemical plants and refineries.” 7/ From side hustle to signed contracts—he didn’t look back after his first direct deposit. “The second the first deposit hit and I didn’t have to split it…okay, that’s what this feels like.” 8/ Entrepreneurship isn’t all highs. Kellen’s faced the “scary pitfalls”—tax stress, missed deadlines, rejections. But these grew his mettle: “You get to rely on you…Every chance I got, I surprised myself.” 9/ His proudest accomplishment? His team. “These people trust you with their lives. They’re truly coming on for the vision, the chaos, and the creativity.” 10/ On leadership: “I need the environment to be comfortable. I need to be creative…I don’t need you afraid, but I do need your respect.” 11/ “My employees would call me random…” Picture a workday with surprise basketballs thrown in the office to shake up the code grind and keep morale high. 12/ The hardest part? Navigating the “muddy waters” of fundraising. His first funding round took 7 months—it felt like walking a dark room searching for a door. Resilience (and a few “no’s”) made the “yes” even sweeter. 13/ What advice does Kellen give every founder? “Stay calm. Yesterday doesn’t represent today. Every day is going to be different.” And, “Leave your feelings at the door.” 14/ Build bulletproof mindset: “You can take as many nos as necessary, you're gonna get a yes… selective memory like a goldfish.” 15/ On legacy: “I want to be what Lucid was. I want to hand my team checks that change their lives. That’s the legacy for me.” 16/ Final wisdom: “Don’t be in a rush. If you skip a step on what we're doing as entrepreneurs, it’ll catch you later. Enjoy the grind, celebrate the wins, and build for the next generation.” 17/ If you’re a founder, creator, or anyone with a dream—you NEED more calm, more random fun, and a touch more patience in your journey. Follow Kellen’s playbook, and chase your own legendary legacy.What’s YOUR biggest lesson in entrepreneurship? #Startups #Leadership #Tech #Louisiana #SaaS #Entrepreneurship #Lessons Learned