In this episode of The Pete Podcast, I sit down with Ari Page, CEO of Fund & Grow, to talk about how real estate investors and business owners can tap into unsecured business credit—without the usual headaches of traditional funding. Ari pulls back the curtain on his personal journey from working shipyards to helping over 30,000 entrepreneurs secure nearly $2 billion in business credit lines.

We break down how Fund & Grow's credit card stacking model works, how they help clients optimize their credit profiles, and why business credit cards can be one of the most flexible and underutilized tools for funding deals, payroll, marketing, and more. If you're an investor or small business owner looking for fast, reusable, and unsecured capital, this episode is packed with gems.

[0:00] - Introduction

[1:26] - Ari's transformation from Navy shipyard work to credit entrepreneur

[4:59] - The shift from mortgage brokering to leveraging credit cards post-2008 crash

[7:28] - Why Fund & Grow transitioned from hourly services to a scalable membership model

[8:50] - The difference between credit repair and credit optimization (a.k.a. "credit massaging")

[11:03] - What credit card stacking actually is and how it works

[14:43] - Using payment processors like Plastiq to convert credit cards into real-world transactions

[17:39] - Why business credit cards complement—not replace—mortgages and hard money

[21:05] - The overlooked asset protection feature of using credit cards for contractor payments

[25:34] - Fund & Grow's recent surge in funding approvals and why 2025 is looking optimistic

[27:42] - The power of negotiation in securing larger credit lines (vs. just applying)

[29:35] - How building internal systems and software transformed Fund & Grow's scalability

[32:50] - Final thoughts on using tech and data to grow smart, not just fast

1. Credit card stacking is powerful – You can build $250K+ in business credit through strategic applications and merging of cards, all at 0% interest.

2. Most funding comes from negotiation – Two-thirds of credit obtained for clients is due to Fund & Grow's negotiation process, not the initial application.

3. You don't need perfect credit – Many clients just need optimization, not repair, and Fund & Grow helps fine-tune profiles before applying.

4. Credit cards offer protection – Unlike cash, they offer recourse in the form of chargebacks if vendors or contractors fail to deliver.

5. Data-driven systems scale businesses – Building scalable infrastructure and leveraging client data has been key to Fund & Grow's growth and success.

• Fund & Grow – Learn more about Ari's company and how to get started with business credit

• Plastiq – A payment platform for converting credit card payments into checks, ACH, or wire transfers

• Zelle, Bill.com, and Melio – Other tools for routing payments via business credit cards

If this episode gave you new insights on how to fund your business more creatively and flexibly, be sure to rate, follow, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to share this with a fellow entrepreneur or investor who could use smarter funding options!