From Rock Climbing to Building a Digital Agency — A Conversation with Cause of a Kind

In this episode of COMPELling Conversations, host Steve Ramerini, Founder & CEO of COMPEL CEOs, sits down with Justin Abrams and Michael Rispoli, longtime friends turned business partners and co-founders of Cause of a Kind, a mission-driven digital agency specializing in web and software development. Justin and Mike share their entrepreneurial journey — from meeting as teenagers at a Long Island rock-climbing gym to navigating multiple pivots before finding success in the agency world. They discuss the lessons learned from early failures, the challenges of scaling, managing money, hiring and firing, and staying true to their shared values. The conversation dives deep into what it really takes to build a sustainable business partnership, how wisdom and mentorship through COMPEL CEOs helped shape their path, and their insights on the future of AI, technology, and human connection. If you’re an entrepreneur—or aspire to be one—this candid discussion offers an honest look at resilience, evolution, and purpose-driven growth. 🎙️ Listen now to learn how two friends turned shared curiosity and grit into a thriving company with a cause.