- Underestimated
- Posts
- Built on grit, not funding.
Built on grit, not funding.
No shortcuts, just real work.
Eric Harrison
April 29, 2025
Real founders don’t talk about "changing the world."
They just build something people actually need—and do it better than anyone else.
This edition of Underestimated features stories of founders who bet on persistence instead of buzz.
 | Aidan Brannigan didn't set out to build a marketing agency. He just started posting videos online—funny, scrappy, and brutally honest takes on B2B marketing. When one of those videos hit a million views, he realized there was a real business there. Now, he runs No Boring Brands, helping companies ditch the corporate jargon and actually connect with people. “I think every founder needs the right amount of desperation. Not so much that you make stupid decisions out of fear, but enough that you wake up with urgency every day.” This one’s for the scrappy founders just sending it, and figuring the details out later. Read Aidan’s full story here! |
Being an elite tech salesperson and making Presidents Club every year wasn’t enough for Eric Topchik. That’s why he founded Galaxy Golf Cars, DFW’s Premier Golf Cart Dealership. Now he’s building something real. Something that he and his family can be proud of. “I knew—I don’t want to retire and look back on a resume full of enterprise account executive titles. That can’t be the story I tell about my life.” This one’s for anyone refusing to settle for the status quo. More about Eric here! |  |
If these stories hit a little too close to home, good.
You’re not the only one figuring it out as you go. There’s a whole group of us doing the same—comparing notes, trading wins, and building real businesses without pretending to have it all together.
Some of those people are already in Thrive.
Some aren’t yet.
You’ll know which one you are.
— Eric 👋
 | Thrive is where founders find their people. |