Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My half-brother Steve, who I lost when I was 15. He showed me what it meant to make people feel like they belong somewhere. After he passed, I stopped waiting for permission to build things. I started Nightly because I wanted to create spaces where people connect in ways they wouldn't have otherwise. Beyond that, I'm inspired by founders who built culture, not just companies. Daymond's story specifically resonates because he started with nothing but conviction and turned it into something

How do you stay motivated?

I think about the 4,000 people who showed up to our last event and the kid whose wish got granted because they did. That's not abstract motivation, that's real. I also surround myself with people who are better than me at the things I'm worst at, so I never feel like I'm carrying it alone. When things get hard, I go back to the moment I turned down a college scholarship the week before move-in to build this full time. I already bet on myself. Quitting isn't an option after that.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Put it directly toward Grad Concert 2026 on May 9, where we're raising $100K for Make-A-Wish North Texas with 3,000+ attendees at Gilley's in Dallas. The $25K would cover production costs so that every dollar from ticket sales flows straight to granting wishes. Last year we raised $62K. This year we want to double it and prove that a 19 year old with no investors can build something that changes lives at scale.