Business

Daniel Stafford and Robby Switzer: Meet the Entrepreneurs Who Help Small Ecommerce Businesses Make Big Money

Published

3 years ago

October 26, 2021

Daniel Stafford and Robby Switzer aren’t your typical e-commerce entrepreneurs. Before 2015, they were fishermen who worked off the coast of their Alaskan home. Since fishing is a seasonal enterprise, both men spent the off-seasons working construction to make ends meet. But life was about to change for the two men, who met on a fishing vessel in 2010.

In 2014, Stafford was the proud new owner of a $300,000 fishing vessel, bought with the dream of entrepreneurship.

“This active, adventurous lifestyle suited us for a long time because we were able to thrive by outworking the competition, which, looking back, was a sign of things to come,” Stafford said. “We’d sometimes skip sleep so we could squeeze in a few more hours of work – even up to 20 hours a day.”

Unfortunately, about three months later, his boat capsized. With the boat being underinsured and losing upwards of $100 thousand dollars, Stafford needed a new plan, and combined forces with Switzer.

Together, two men spent time evaluating their work lives and came up with the same answer: They were unwilling to leave their families for months at a time to continue to pursue a fishing enterprise. With their decisions made, the men decided to work together to create what would eventually become Shopanova.

Building a Successful Enterprise

It took a few missteps for Stafford and Switzer to find their footing as entrepreneurs. They started their business venture by making marketing videos and marketing assets for clients. Still, cold-calling only got them so far, and they were working too hard to be barely breaking even.

Joined by Patrick Schilling, a former member of Stafford’s crew, the men regrouped to form Shopanova. Their new venture was built on the discoveries they made about the power of Facebook advertising. Once they learned the platform’s nuances, they were ready to help others harness the power of advertising for their e-commerce businesses.

“Now, we’ve created our own processes and effective sales funnels to fully leverage the power of advertising online for our clients,” Switzer said. “We are helping everyone make more money than ever, including our growing Shopanova family.”

Prioritizing the Client

Stafford and Switzer built Shopanova around the idea that the client’s vision is of the utmost importance.

“We are always going to prioritize the client’s unique niche and their needs, above all else,” Switzer said, “The customizable plan we put together is specifically tailored to all of these things. That’s what sets us apart.”

With those values, Shopanova has helped over 100 e-commerce stores scale their businesses to new heights of success. How? The duo’s Brand Velocity Framework leverages all of the latest social media platforms, email and SMS marketing, and micro-influencers to help curate a fully customized plan to scale their client’s businesses and increase their ROI on their marketing initiatives. They also offer creative services such as video production and product photography to further enhance their client’s online presence.

The team at Shopanova focuses on a select list of vetted clients. In fact, they vet every client with a three-stage process, making sure they are ready to undertake Shopanova’s 100 percent turnkey operation. Although they receive over 500 applications a month, they only accept 3-5 percent as clients.

“We are pretty selective about our client base because we want to make sure every single client gets the revenue they deserve,” added Switzer.

When a client signs up for Shopanova’s services, Stafford and Switzer’s team goes through an in-depth audit of their online presence and eCommerce systems. Once their evaluation is complete, they can recommend a plan for business growth that is based on the client’s specific needs within their niche areas.

In the end, Stafford and Switzer care about the success of their clients, as much as the realization of their own dreams.

“Every time we hear an amazing success story from a client, we’re thrilled,” Switzer said. “We’ve seen our clients expand by leaps and bounds, and we’re thrilled by those results. That makes all of this worth it.”

“We want to be the kind of brand that creates an impact,” Stafford added. “We don’t want to be recognized just to be recognized. We want to be recognized because of the kind of value we create.”

About Shopanova

Shopanova is a modern growth media buying agency for eCommerce shops. They have been able to grow their clients’ monthly revenues from 5-figures all the way to 7-figures and beyond. Shopanova has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, Bloomberg Business, NBC and more. For more information on how to build a generational online brand and scale your business to millions, please visit https://shopanova.com.

Business

How Black Banx Has Sped Digital Payments Into Its Global Phase

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2025

Matthew Wiles

The payments industry has grown substantially in the last decade, with digital transactions now practically a given in most parts of the world. A key contributor to this globalization of payments has been Black Banx, a Toronto-based global digital bank founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer.

Through innovative fintech solutions, a commitment to financial inclusion, and strategic investments in blockchain and artificial intelligence, the company continues to make transactions quicker and easier no matter where the sender or receiver is in the world.

The Cross-Border Payment Boom

Global transactions have never been more essential to the world economy. From businesses engaging in international trade to individuals sending remittances back home, the demand for fast and cost-effective cross-border payments has skyrocketed. In fact, FXCintelligence projects that the cross-border payments market will hit an astonishing US$290 trillion by 2030, driven by the rise of e-commerce and digital trade.

Historically, moving money across borders wasn’t simple. Traditional banking relied on a complex web of intermediaries, leading to slow processing times, high fees, and inefficiencies. But fintech has changed the game. Companies like Black Banx have introduced digital-first solutions that eliminate unnecessary middlemen, enabling instant, affordable transactions.

Black Banx’s Rapid Growth: A Testament to Demand

Black Banx has experienced explosive growth, reflecting the increasing demand for seamless global payments. By the end of 2024, the company’s customer base had expanded to 69 million users across 180+ countries—a staggering 76% growth from 39 million in 2023.

This growth wasn’t accidental. Black Banx’s success stems from its ability to offer frictionless cross-border banking, catering to individuals and businesses worldwide. It’s offerings include:

Instant Multi-Currency Accounts – Customers can open accounts online within minutes, eliminating the need for physical bank visits.
Cryptocurrency Integration – Black Banx has accepted Bitcoin and Ethereum since 2016 and expanded its crypto services in 2024 by integrating Solana and the Lightning Network, allowing for ultra-fast, low-cost cross-border transfers.
Zero-Intermediary Transfers – By leveraging blockchain technology, the company bypasses traditional banking infrastructure, significantly reducing fees and processing times.

AI-Powered Payments: Enhancing Speed and Security

If there’s one technology that has reshaped digital payments in 2024, it’s artificial intelligence. AI is now at the heart of fraud detection, customer service, and transaction optimization, making global payments more secure and efficient.

Black Banx has fully embraced AI, using predictive analytics and automated systems to streamline operations. AI-driven chatbots handle customer inquiries, reducing response times and improving service efficiency. Meanwhile, real-time fraud detection algorithms flag suspicious transactions, preventing financial losses and building customer trust.

The results? Black Banx achieved a cost/income ratio of just 68% in 2024—one of the best in the industry—demonstrating how AI-powered automation can drive profitability while maintaining top-tier service.

Financial Inclusion: Breaking Down Barriers

Despite living in a digital age, over 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked, according to the World Bank. Traditional banks have long failed to serve these individuals due to bureaucratic hurdles, geographic limitations, and high fees. Black Banx has made financial inclusion one of its core missions, particularly in underbanked regions like Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia-Pacific.

In 2024, the company’s impact on financial inclusion was profound:

32% year-over-year increase in SME clients in Africa and the Middle East – Black Banx empowered businesses in these regions with seamless digital banking services, reducing reliance on inefficient traditional banking channels.
Instant digital accounts with minimal documentation – Unlike traditional banks, which require extensive paperwork, Black Banx allows users to open accounts quickly, enabling greater access to financial services.
Affordable cross-border transactions – By eliminating intermediaries, the company ensures that even those in remote regions can send and receive payments without excessive fees.

The Future of Cross-Border Payments: Crypto and Blockchain

Cryptocurrency is no longer a niche asset—it’s gradually become a key cog in the global payments machine. Recognizing this early on, Black Banx became one of the first digital banks to integrate Bitcoin and Ethereum into its platform back in 2016.

In 2024, the company doubled down on its crypto-first strategy, incorporating Solana and the Lightning Network. These technologies allow users to complete cross-border transactions in seconds while avoiding the high fees and delays associated with traditional banking infrastructure.

Black Banx is also exploring crypto-based lending services, a move that could disrupt traditional financial models even further. If successful, decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions could provide businesses and individuals with access to capital without the constraints of conventional banking regulations.

A Year of Record-Breaking Financial Success

While many tech companies faced financial turbulence in 2024, Black Banx defied expectations, posting record-breaking numbers:

Annual revenue: US$11.1 billion (exceeding the forecasted US$10.8 billion)
Pre-tax profit: US$3.6 billion (far surpassing the original US$2.4 billion projection)
Customer base: 69 million users worldwide
Cost/income ratio: 68% – demonstrating operational efficiency
Capital distributions: US$2.90 per share

Black Banx’s financial success highlights the immense demand for efficient digital banking services, proving that fintech is not just a disruptor but the future of global finance.

What’s Next for Black Banx in 2025?

Given its past success, Black Banx is setting ambitious goals to build on its 2024 momentum. The company aims to:

Expand its customer base to 100 million users – By reaching more individuals in emerging markets, Black Banx hopes to further its mission of financial inclusion.
Strengthen its presence in digital asset banking – With growing demand for cryptocurrency-based financial services, the company will continue integrating blockchain solutions.
Enhance global payments infrastructure – By entering new markets and refining its AI-driven systems, Black Banx plans to make transactions even faster and more accessible.
Lower its cost/income ratio – Through further automation and AI optimization, the company aims to improve operational efficiency.

By embracing AI, blockchain, and a relentless commitment to financial inclusion, Black Banx has clearly been key in accelerating the transition of the world to a truly global payments system.