Business

Ascend Ecom Guarantees ROI With Its Hybrid Distribution Model for Amazon FBA and Walmart WFS Automation

Published

3 years ago

December 11, 2022

Since the rise in popularity of e-commerce across several industries, customer behavior has rapidly changed. Everyone is accustomed to the ease of buying whatever and whenever they want, which sometimes even comes at a lower price. They can book flights, purchase Christmas presents for relatives, secure concert tickets, and sell an old car with only a few clicks on a website or an app. Everything comes down to the theory of least effort, which states that people would naturally select the path requiring the least amount of resistance or action.

Will Basta noticed the digital marketplaces and their ever-expanding growth possibilities and dabbled into investments in the e-commerce scene himself. Through several wins and failures over the years, he has learned a lot from these experiences, which inspired him to build Ascend Ecom along with Jeremy Leung, who had a similar background. Together, they were set on creating a company that helps people invest in e-commerce and have their own passive income-driving business.

Ascend Ecom has two primary services: Amazon FBA Automation and Walmart WFS Automation. The business model for both is essentially the same at its core. The company provides data to the customers using their proprietary software and AI-driven research to identify which products have a high demand and the least competition. Through exclusive wholesale relationships, Ascend Ecom will also procure products from carefully selected North American brands and manufacturers to sell to either Amazon or Walmart.

One of the ways to achieve stability and sustainability is to ride the coattails of a big platform like Amazon. Spending less money on marketing allows for a lower capital infusion and reduced risk for customers because there is existing foot traffic, with Amazon having around 310 million customers worldwide. “They can literally buy everything, which leads to convenience, which leads to saving time. At the end of the day, that’s just the way humans are. We want to do things quickly. So if you want to sell on a platform, it’s always better to start with a platform where there’s already gonna be people on it,” shared Will.

Will explained that their clients spanned from school teachers to people working in the financial sector. All have different backgrounds, but the commonality is no one has the time. Ascend Ecom manages all the nitty-gritty of the business, providing a passive income stream to its clients.

“My main focus is our clients and making them successful. Being successful in e-commerce most of the time is not gonna be something that replaces your entire income stream. But that being said, it is a supplement to what you’re currently getting. That extra few thousand dollars, it’s a big difference for a lot of people, and that covers a lot of different things,” explained Will.

Passive income sometimes goes unnoticed, especially if it’s not much, but in the grand scheme of things, it can add up, which can also be used to invest in producing more streams of income. In the end, getting one’s money to work for them is a sensible method to make more. Moreover, it frees up time to pursue active income and achieve financial freedom. Through Ascend Ecom, Will encourages people to take control of their lives by controlling their finances.

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

7 days ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.