David Brim on business, marketing & life.

About David Brim

Hello, thanks for stopping by. My name is David Brim and I am a marketing strategist and entrepreneur turned investor.

I’ve founded numerous businesses spanning industries such as software, marketing, e-commerce, finance, and real estate. Throughout my entrepreneurial journey:

  • I became the only two-time winner of the UCF business plan competition (earning roughly $20k in college to fund my ventures).
  • Launched multiple software as a service ventures that both reached 10,000+ users
  • Had experience launching, growing and exiting online ventures (such as a portfolio of niche college apartment directory sites generating passive monthly income).
  • I’ve worked with over 1,000 growth companies across the country and helped them advance by leveraging strategic digital marketing.
  • Authored a book that reached Amazon’s Best Seller List (Digital Marketing Category)
  • Have been featured in a top selling entrepreneur textbook “Successfully Launching New Ventures”.
  • Recognized as a top business blogger in Florida through the Sunshine Blogger Awards.
  • Guest blogged for many online publications including Copyblogger, a top 5 digital marketing blog.
  • Was invited and admitted into the Forbes Finance Council, and became a Forbes contributor.
  • Launched OrlandoEntrepreneurs.org to connect, cultivate and celebrate Central Florida entrepreneurs.
  • Gained expertise in investment real estate analysis, and management and acquired multiple investments producing higher than average returns. (Learn about how I started)
  • Actively give back to my community through volunteering, donations as well as various advisory and board roles.

I currently live in Orlando with my beautiful wife Lindsay and our two children (read our startup lessons you can learn from parenthood).

Current Professional Focus

I am currently focused on helping to fund early stage companies and real estate projects through Orlando Opportunity Fund, Founder Funders and Bright Impact.

Orlando Opportunity Fund

I am the founding partner and Chief Strategy Officer of Orlando Opportunity Fund.

Orlando Opportunity Fund is focused on advancing Central Florida communities through investments in early stage companies and commercial real estate.

Bright Impact

I am the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Bright Impact.

Bright Impact is a consulting, software and fund administration company focused on Opportunity Zones. The Opportunity Zones program offers attractive tax incentives to investors with capital gains that invest in qualified opportunity funds with the purpose of both generating returns and creating a positive impact in communities across America. We are also founding members of the Opportunity Zone Alliance, which connects and educates the Opportunity Zone community through a number of online media properties such as Opportunity Zone Hub and OpportunityZonesMap.com.

Founder Funders

I am the managing director of Founder Funders, a business unit of my marketing company Brand Advance that has been in existence since 2009.

Founder Funders leverages a vast network of direct funders to find the most appropriate financing solution to fit your unique circumstance.We source debt capital for numerous funding needs including business expansion, working capital, inventory, bridge loans, real estate acquisition, new construction, and more. Funding amounts across our various funding options range from $5,000 to over $1B+.

My Backstory

I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa and was very active in sports. My biggest sport by far was basketball. I was known for being the first in the gym and the last one to leave. I ended up starting varsity three out of the four years I was in high school, each year we won our section. My senior year I ended up being “Fab 5” in my area and went on to play for California University of Pa.

After a year of playing college basketball I came to the conclusion that a large amount of college athletes graduate with no work experience and no real professional skills. The real world often hits them even harder, because athletes are usually looked at as “The big-men on campus”, and have had that role usually from their youth and have trouble adapting. I didn’t want to be that guy that held on to his sports dreams too long only to miss out on other opportunities that may prove much more fruitful. With that in mind I decided to re-direct my energy  and take the lessons I learned from basketball and apply them to business. I wanted to be in an environment that would nurture my entrepreneurial spirit and decided to move from Pittsburgh, Pa to the land of dreams…Orlando, Fl. (Not having to scrape off snow  and ice in the morning from my car…was a plus too 😉 )

I settled on The University of Central Florida to finish my education and start my journey on becoming an entrepreneur. It was definitely a life changing decision for me for a number of reasons:

  1. I knew nobody in Florida (My friends, family and girlfriend were all up north)
  2. I went from a school of 7,000 students to 48,000
  3. I changed majors from education to marketing
  4. I let go of my childhood aspirations to play in the NBA
  5. I had no real support system or stream of income lined up

David BrimEveryone told me that the move was too risky and that I shouldn’t go, but something deep-down inside told me kept drawing me to Orlando.  I also knew that the higher the risk, usually the higher reward. Needless to say that decision was one of the best decisions of my life. I’m thankful to have accomplished some great things in a very short amount of time and am excited to work hard to create an even more abundant future.

Learn more on Filled to the Brim

To learn more about my professional experience consider reading my professional bio, or view my work experience page. You can also learn more about my community involvement, speaking engagements or consider reading my blog.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me. You can also get connected with me by catching me on various social media site. Some of the ones I participate regularly on can be found below. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy my blog!

 

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