E8: How We Built a Multi-Million Dollar AI Business from a Facebook Group with Francis Ablola & Brian Hanson

In this behind-the-scenes episode, I sit down with my long-time business partner Brian Hansen to share the real, raw story of how AI for Business came to life. We take you back to our early days—hosting free meetups at local libraries and jamming 90 people into a hotel room to becoming founders of one of the fastest-growing AI education platforms in the world.

 

We open up about the wins, the losses, and the pivotal moments that shaped our journey—from selling used car parts online to building multi-seven-figure businesses in real estate and digital education. You’ll hear how we used nothing but credit cards, a Facebook group, and obsession to launch AI for Business, and how we continue to pivot, build, and stay ahead in this fast-moving space.

 

Episode Timeline & Highlights

 

[0:00] - How a casual happy hour turned into a deep dive into our origin story

[2:01] - From library meetups to selling out our first seminar—before we even had a product

[4:45] - Leveraging partnerships to build an audience fast

[5:34] - Brian’s nervous but unforgettable first time on stage

[8:17] - Launching our first mastermind and building a loyal community

[9:34] - Why imperfect action trumps perfection every time

[12:06] - Creating a lifestyle business that generated hundreds of thousands in profit

[14:33] - How a massive company shutdown forced us to rebuild from scratch

[17:21] - Real lessons from losing seven figures during the pandemic

[20:01] - Why AI presented the ultimate shortcut—and how we seized it

[23:53] - Building AI for Business with no external funding or borrowed resources

[29:04] - The unique opportunity to become an AI expert in your niche

[34:44] - Why events and real-world relationships matter more than ever

[41:09] - How the right people and partnerships built the foundation for everything

 

5 Key Takeaways

 

1. Start Before You’re Ready – We launched AI for Business without a logo, team, or clear roadmap—just a Facebook group and a commitment to help.

2. Imperfect Action Wins – Our first event wasn’t polished, but it sold out. Taking action before everything feels perfect is key to momentum.

3. Relationships are Everything – From our first business partnerships to speaking opportunities 15 years later, relationships have fueled every major leap.

4. You Don’t Need Expertise—Yet – AI is a wide-open field. If you combine it with your niche, you can become the go-to expert faster than you think.

5. Resilience is Built in the Struggles – Whether it was losing revenue during COVID or getting burned by partners, each setback made us stronger and more focused.

 

If you got value from this episode, I’d love for you to follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend or teammate who’s ready to build something big. Your support means everything.