Business

The Founder of Vakarui Paris Worked his Way Up from Ground Zero to a Net Worth of $2.1M

Published

6 years ago

August 25, 2020

Nike, the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes; Adidas, one of the major sponsors of UEFA Champions League and New York Yankees; Jordan, the shoe brand for top athletes and sportspeople; Reebok, official footwear sponsor of Spartan Race, CrossFit, and Ultimate Fighting Championship. These top brands dominate the footwear industry and there are not many that can compete with the quality they offer. There is one brand that is turning the heads and gaining the attention of many, not only because it brings in a unique footwear fashion trend but because of the exciting success journey of its founder.

Vakarui Paris, a unique limited-edition shoe concept, is a brainchild of Mazayah Legend Andrews. Belonging to a family of footballers, Mazayah was living a successful life as an American sportsman. He started playing football in high school and even ended up in the Eastern Conference Team.

Destiny had something else in store for Mazayah. The Floridian footballer, who was acquiring a prominent identity in the sports industry, gave up on his game. Why? Because it was not his fate. Mazayah Legend Andrews was born to be an entrepreneur, and his $2.1M net worth and the success of his company is proof of it.

He stopped playing football because he wanted to set up his own business, and it was not easy. His journey to becoming a prominent entrepreneur took up a lot of effort and time. Playing football all his life, entrepreneurship was not something he was well-versed in.

From Football to High-end Fashion – A Success Story Worth Narrating

Mazayah Legend Andrews set up Vakarui Paris in 2015. Initially, the brand revolved around a one-of-a-kind limited-edition shoe concept. He was the designer of the shoe, and he chose Italy, one of the hottest destinations for footwear, for the manufacturing of the Vakarui Paris’ shoe collection. The shoes by his brand are handcrafted in Italy using high-quality materials.

The transition from football to the corporate sector was tough. After Mazayah left his football career, he gave his all to set up his brand. During the struggle phase, he had to stay in $20-hotels with his mother. It was an experience that he did not even think of living, but he did, for the sake of his dream.

Things were tough for him until he met the director of Stonecrest Mall. Mazayah shared his designs and the shoe concept with him, and it was the perfect timing. The director expressed deep admiration for this brand and offered him to open his store at the mall. It marked the start of the brand’s success and Mazayah ‘s journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

After the success of the brand, Mazayah opened his brand’s second branch in Atlanta. The brand that started with just two models has been featured in two high-profile fashion shows that took place in Atlanta and Miami. The 35-year-old entrepreneur’s transition into the corporate sector was complete; he purchased a house and a car, something many people can only dream of. He did that after he gave on his football career, where he had established a notable identity. Not to forget, football was one of his passions.

Even though the company started as a shoe brand, today, it has an entire clothing line. It has its headquarters in Hallandale with two other branches; one at Stonecrest Mall and the other at opposite to the Lenox mall in Atlanta. The company operates through its social media business page and has a brand in Paris as well.

Vakarui Paris’ team comprises of Mazayah, who serves as the CEO of the company, Sam is the district manager and a designer. Shann is one of those people who have been standing alongside Mazayah since the beginning of his company. She is the director of the company and the marketing manager. Also, she helped Mazayah with the original Vakarui shoes. It is a power team as together they run the brand’s operations on the internet and across the United States and Italy.

Mazayah Legend Andrews’ journey from the football field to the high-end fashion industry as a top entrepreneur is worthy of bringing into the light. He started from ground zero, gave up on his passion for football, experienced living in cheap hotels, all this for his company. Today, he has a net worth of $2.1 million, which is proof of his success as an entrepreneur.

Business

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

Published

3 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.