From Private Equity to Sweat Equity, Building From the Ground Up (Episode 11 ft. Frank Fiume)

Welcome back to 21 Minutes With… (this time with playbooks, passion, and a few reality checks for every founder).This week, Brittany and Shea sat down with Frank Fiume, founder of i9 Sports and Emerging Franchise Brands, the man who didn’t just build a franchise but pioneered an entire category. From bootstrapping local youth leagues into one of the largest sports franchises in America to mentoring the next wave of founders, Frank’s story is a masterclass in what happens when vision meets persistence.We dug into what it really takes to scale something meaningful, why the best franchisors are secretly in the adult education business, and how writing a “love letter” to his company turned into one of the biggest turning points of his career.🔥 Inside this episode:- How Frank built the first and largest youth sports franchise in America- Why franchisors are really in the adult education business- The love letter that became a breakup letter and changed everything- The red flags founders ignore when they fall too in love with their own idea- How passion (not profit) drives lasting success- What comes after a nine-figure exit and why starting over mattersThis episode is for the builders, dreamers, and change-makers who know that growth isn’t just about the bottom line. It’s about becoming the kind of leader who keeps playing the long game.