Business

Izabela Hamilton, CEO & Founder of Rankbell, proves that with hard work and focus, dreams do come true

Published

6 years ago

September 22, 2020

Commitment to Helping Others Makes This Rags to Riches Story Even Better

San Diego, CA: Standing in long lines in the freezing cold weather to get a ration of food seemed normal as a child growing up in Romania. But, Izabela Hamilton knew she wanted more. From a young age, Izabela Hamilton was told that America is a place where people go to make something of themselves. Izabela believed in this image of America and worked hard to make this ‘land of opportunity’ her reality. When she received her visa to go to America, it was one of the happiest of her life! She knew her life would never be the same, and wanted to make things better for her family as well.

“I made the decision that I will live in America and nothing could stop me,” said Hamilton. “Funny thing is about wishes when you make them, they come true. I was able to get into a program, go to the embassy, and be granted a visa for America. What a win that was! I felt like my life would completely change and it did. Was it easy? Far from it!”

Success was anything but easy. Hamilton worked hard – sometimes in excess of 60 hours per week – to earn enough money to support herself and send some home to support her family. Of this experience, she says, “All I thought of every day was that I wanted them to never have to worry about money again. I didn’t care how much I had to work as long as they were happy.

Oftentimes I fell asleep crying due to exhaustion, and loneliness, but I knew that I couldn’t give up at the first sign of hardship. I was set up to succeed and that’s all I saw.”

Failure was not an option. She dreamed of helping one million people achieve financial freedom by working at a business that they own. So, with a laptop and the dream – she founded Rankbell

– an Amazon ranking company that helps sellers grow their business. Like most entrepreneurs, she didn’t start out making much. But, Rankbell has since helped thousands of sellers – some of whom started with profits as low as $100 per month – grow their businesses into 7, 8, and sometimes even 9 figures. The company is also on track to achieve Hamilton’s original goal of helping one million Amazon sellers grow their businesses by the year 2030. Rankbell was also recently voted as the leading expert in their industry.

Established in 2015, the ranking service provides sellers with a variety of services to help increase Amazon rankings, boost sales, and maximize profits. Though more services are added as the need arises, they currently specialize in assisting with product launches, content marketing, PPC management, listing and optimization, video and image services, and social media.

For more information on Rankbell services and how they intend to reach their ‘one million served’ goal, reach out to [email protected]

About Rankbell: Rankbell is an Amazon concierge focused on helping small businesses reach financial freedom – no matter how big the goal! Our services include listing optimization, images, and video, PPC management, social media, content marketing, and press releases, and ranking services. Founded in 2015, we are on a mission to help 1 million customers achieve success by the year 2030. Will you be one of them? www.rankbell.com

Business

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

Published

5 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.