Business

The Art of Making Way Through Hurdles: David Imonitie

Published

5 years ago

October 9, 2020

Owning multiple successful businesses at the same time is not something that can be learned from reading mere books. It took David Imonitie years to master this art. He surely would not have gone on to achieve such success, if he did not truly believe that one day, he would create a huge business empire.

From network marketing to selling insurance and becoming a travel agent, young David Imonitie tried his hand in every industry. Although these first few ventures did not get David the success he craved, the connections and skills he was developing daily, formed the way he is today. And it was because of the determination and adroitness David possessed and had been constantly working on, that he finally got into his first successful business, selling coffee. This is where he made his first million dollars, at the age of only 27. Although at the time of hardship and grief, David was still putting himself out there for new opportunities and paving his path to success every single day.

Once David was past his dark days, he never looked back at them again. Despite some personal struggles David has faced throughout his years, he has only ever kept moving forward, developing as a person every single day. “If you are struggling now, it means you are on the verge of a breakthrough to something new” David told us. Nowadays when millennials have any bad luck with a new business, they immediately discard the idea of scaling it further and instead go back to their ordinary lives.

Earning big bucks often requires choosing uncommon paths. David’s story teaches us that the avenues which are already explored do not have as much potential as those that are newly opened or even not opened yet. David had his mindset from the start to be a coach and inspirational speaker, but he waited for the right time to do so. The time when he would have the experience and knowledge necessary to coach people to become financially and intellectually stable. People believe in David, his ideas, and his vision, especially when they look at his life story, the hardships he has faced and the lessons he has learned.

David learned a fundamental lesson early in his career – not every day is going to be your best day. As an entrepreneur, you must have faith that if things do not work out today, they will work out tomorrow. This is perhaps the core takeaway from his story. When he first started up, regardless of what happened during his day, every night David visualized the 5-dollar bill he had taped to his bathroom mirror, would one day become 5 million dollars. He had already dictated and believed in his future way before it even happened. And it happened! Real proof to all those reading this article, that hard work and belief in yourself does pay off in the end.

Business

Derik Fay and the Quiet Rise of a Fintech Dynasty: How a Relentless Visionary is Redefining the Future of Payments

Published

2 days ago

October 17, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Long before the headlines, before the Forbes features, and well before he became a respected fixture in boardrooms across the country, Derik Fay was a kid from Westerly, Rhode Island with little more than grit and audacity. Now, with a strategic footprint spanning more than 40 companies—including holdings in media, construction, real estate, pharma, fitness, and fintech—Fay’s influence is as diversified as it is deliberate. And his most recent move may be his boldest yet: the acquisition and co-ownership of Tycoon Payments, a fintech venture poised to disrupt an industry built on middlemen and outdated rules.

Where many entrepreneurs chase headlines, Fay chases legacy.

Rebuilding the Foundation of Fintech

In the saturated space of payment processors, Fay didn’t just want another transactional brand. He saw a broken system—one that labeled too many businesses as “high-risk,” denied them access, and overcharged them into silence. Tycoon Payments, under his stewardship, is rewriting that narrative from the ground up.

Instead of the all-too-common “fake processor” model, where companies act as brokers rather than actual underwriters, Tycoon Payments is being engineered to own the rails—integrating direct banking partnerships, custom risk modeling, and flexible support for underserved industries.

“Disruption isn’t about being loud,” Fay said in a private strategy session with advisors. “It’s about fixing what’s been ignored for too long. I don’t chase waves—I build the coastline.”

Quiet Power, Strategic Depth

Now 46 years old, Fay has evolved from scrappy gym owner to an empire builder, founding 3F Management as a private equity and venture vehicle to scale fast-growth businesses with staying power. His portfolio includes names like Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, BIGG Pharma, Results Roofing, FayMs Films, and SalonPlex—but also dozens of companies that never make headlines. That’s by design.

Where others seek followers, Fay builds founders. Where most celebrate their exits, Fay reinvests in people.

While he often deflects conversations around his personal wealth, analysts estimate his net worth to exceed $100 million, with some placing it comfortably over $250 million, based on exits, real estate holdings, and the trajectory of his current ventures.

Yet unlike others in his tax bracket, Fay still answers cold DMs. He mentors rising entrepreneurs without cameras rolling. And he shows up—not just with capital, but with conviction.

A Mogul Grounded in Real Life

Outside of business, Fay remains committed to his role as a father and partner. He shares two daughters, Sophia Elena Fay and Isabella Roslyn Fay, and has been in a relationship with Shandra Phillips since 2021. He’s known for keeping his personal life private, but those close to him speak of a man who brings the same intention to parenting as he does to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures—focused, present, and consistent.

His physical stature—standing at 6′1″—matches his professional gravitas, but what’s more striking is his ability to operate with both discipline and empathy. Fay’s reputation among founders and CEOs is not just one of capital deployment, but emotional intelligence. As one partner noted, “He’s the kind of guy who will break down your pitch—and rebuild your belief in yourself in the same breath.”

The Tycoon Blueprint

The playbook Fay is writing at Tycoon Payments doesn’t just threaten incumbents—it reinvents the infrastructure. This isn’t another “fintech startup” with a flashy brand and no backend. It’s a strategically positioned venture with real underwriting power, cross-border ambitions, and a founder who understands how to scale quietly until the entire industry has to take notice.

In an age where so many entrepreneurs rely on noise and virality to build influence, Fay remains a master of what can only be called elite stealth. He doesn’t need the spotlight. But his impact casts a long shadow.

Conclusion: The Empire Expands

From Rhode Island beginnings to venture boardrooms, from gym owner to fintech force, Derik Fay continues to build not just businesses—but a blueprint. One rooted in resilience, innovation, and long-term infrastructure.

Tycoon Payments may be the latest chess piece. But the game he’s playing is bigger than one move. It’s a long game of strategic leverage, intentional legacy, and generational wealth.

And Fay is not just playing it. He’s redefining the rules.