Building a Billion-Dollar Business with Suneera Madhani

In this inspiring episode of The Sidekick Life, hosts Ryan and Tyler sit down with Suneera Madhani, founder of Stax Payments and Worth AI, and creator of CEO School. Suneera shares her remarkable journey from a determined 25-year-old corporate employee to a trailblazing entrepreneur who built and exited a billion-dollar company. Her story is one of relentless perseverance, overcoming rejection, and seizing opportunities others couldn't envision.

Suneera recounts how she first pitched her revolutionary idea of subscription-based payment processing to her leadership team, only to be laughed out of the room. This pivotal moment pushed her to pursue the vision herself, ultimately leading to the founding of Stax, which grew to process $40 billion in payments. She emphasizes the importance of trusting her instincts, even in the face of doubt, and making bold moves—like turning down a $17 million acquisition offer—to stay true to her mission.

Family and resilience are central themes in Suneera's journey. Working closely with her brother as her co-founder, she underscores the value of deep trust and shared goals in business partnerships. She also highlights the challenges of raising capital as a female entrepreneur and navigating bias, using her experiences to fuel her drive for success.

Now, with her latest venture Worth AI, Suneera is focused on empowering small businesses by creating a standardized business credit score, the Worth Score, to simplify access to capital and resources. She aims to eliminate bias and create a level playing field for all entrepreneurs.

Beyond her business achievements, Suneera discusses finding balance post-exit, exploring new passions, and focusing on personal health and mindfulness. Her story exemplifies that true entrepreneurial impact is not just about building a business but fostering a legacy of support, innovation, and inspiration.

Tune in to hear Suneera’s candid insights and advice for entrepreneurs who aspire to push boundaries and live life on their own terms.