What is visionaryPass?
visionaryPass is a creator development platform inspired by Duolingo, Intro, and MasterClass that helps aspiring video creators build consistent uploading habits and earn their first dollar online.
Each creator works with a dedicated visionaryPass Creator Expert who combines AI tools with weekly check-ins to ensure accountability and track progress.
visionaryPass Creators can earn rewards and unlock additional services to strengthen their creator business. See Membership for full details.
How?
Through a combination of structured learning, community support, and consistent accountability, we empower creators to reach their full potential:
- Structured Learning
- Weekly Studio Hours instead of traditional lectures
- Shared Notion board for collaboration and progress tracking
- Creative learning labs from industry professionals
- Personalized mentorship and feedback from a visionaryPass Creator Expert
- Community & Validation
- Authentic visionaryPass Identification Cards for Creators
- Official visionaryPass badges, certifications, and validation
- visionaryPass Rewards - Exclusive deals, perks and incentives for active creators
- Learn from and connect with other creators to share insights and experiences
- Accountability & Growth
- Regular progress tracking and motivation
- Weekly check-ins with Creator Experts
- Focus on consistent content creation schedules
Why?
The creator economy offers abundant opportunities, but remains challenging to enter because there's no institutionalized set of rules to follow. Many aspiring creators, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, face significant barriers to entry. They lack access to industry connections, professional equipment, and the financial safety net needed to take creative risks. Traditional education systems rarely provide valuable industry experience, leaving ambitious individuals without clear pathways to success.
Every person deserves access to creator economy knowledge about starting a creator business, uploading content consistently, and earning their first dollar online - regardless of their background, resources, or circumstances. When underrepresented voices overcome these barriers and thrive in digital media, the entire ecosystem benefits from richer, more diverse perspectives and stories.
Incorporation
Hey, Justin here. I'm not your typical Founder, and visionaryPass isn't your typical company. I'm still figuring out this whole "business" thing. While visionaryPass, Inc. is a Delaware C Corp that I incorporated in March 2024 to raise venture capital, I've since realized that a non-profit organization or Public Benefit Corporation (B-Corp) might have better aligned with our mission.
This playbook is a reference guide for how we operate at visionaryPass. Follow our journey as we document the evolution of building an unconventional enterprise. We openly share insights about our creator-first culture, transparent financial decisions, and the strategic choices that shape our mission. This is a living document. It changes as we grow and learn.
If visionaryPass sounds like the kind of thing you want to be a part of, consider joining us:
Mission
Empower and support the next generation of creators.
Vision
1 billion visionaryPass Cardholders
Today
Help creators maintain consistent publishing through accountability and AI tools
Help creators secure their first Paid Brand Partnership
Routines
- Review Most Important Task at 7:45 am daily
- Upload new YouTube video every Monday
- Publish new writings every Monday and Friday
Values
- Underdog Champions - I serve creators just starting out because I've been in their shoes. I know what it's like to build from scratch and start without prior experience.
- True Flexibility - I have complete autonomy over my time. I work when I feel best and deliver great results. No surveillance, no micromanagement. Remote-first, with potential for future hybrid options in Oakland if the team grows.
- Futuristic Creation - We don't just follow trends. We anticipate and create them. Building tools for tomorrow's creators means staying ahead of the curve.
- Disciplined Creativity - We encourage visionaryPass Creators to publish consistently. Structure enables creativity. My best work happens within clear boundaries and reasonable hours. Avoid burnout every time.
- Balanced Boundaries - No late-night texts or crazy work expectations. Time off is sacred. I have a life outside work, whether that's family, health needs, or personal pursuits.
These values guide me as a solo founder. If the team expands, these values will apply to everyone.
Family Business
It's a common refrain: "HR is not your friend." and "We treat our employees like family." But the reality is that most businesses prioritize their bottom line over their people. visionaryPass is different—we wouldn't exist without our family, friends, and fools. We genuinely care about family and put those values into practice.
Freedom
“Earn with your mind, not your time.”— Naval Ravikant
Meetings are optional at visionaryPass. Embrace the white space in your calendar. Create something extraordinary.
Most meetings waste time and could be replaced with a simple email or asynchronous video message.
Culture
We nurture a thriving, cohesive, and inspiring environment for all.
We have a freelance Executive Assistant who helps keep operations on track. As a startup, we haven't hired full-time employees or had to part ways with anyone, and we don't plan to.
We face challenges head-on by seeking support when needed.
We deliver feedback with respect, honesty, and transparency.
We connect with our community across multiple platforms—visionaryPass Circle, Instagram Stories, LinkedIn, X, and other social networks.
When obstacles arise, we collaborate to find solutions.
As early-stage creators, we accept that our initial work won't be perfect. This imperfection is what makes us human—the key is to start creating now, since improvement only comes through practice.
We empower visionaryPass Creators through consistent check-ins and ongoing motivation.
We're currently growing through word-of-mouth, with plans to expand our sales strategies in 2025.
Though we've operated at a loss, we're committed to achieving profitability in 2025.
We celebrate key milestones, including achieving our first sale milestone and establishing consistent monthly recurring revenue.
We address any conflicts with our values swiftly and directly.
Above all, we value honesty.
Zero Required Meetings, Zero Deadlines, Zero Full-Time Employees.
- Zero Required Meetings (Loom > Zoom)
- Zero Deadlines (Complete projects when you feel best)
- Zero Full-Time Employees (Only Freelancers & Part-Time Employees for now)
Human Fingerprints in an AI World
In an era where AI tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing work, we maintain a delicate balance. While we embrace AI's efficiency, human creativity remains irreplaceable. We prioritize paying humans for their creative fingerprints instead of relying solely on AI. Our network of freelancers provides the essential human element that transforms basic AI output into extraordinary work with a distinct human signature.
Inspired by Sahil Lavingia's No Meeting, No Deadlines, No Full-Time Employees, we're crafting something beyond a 9 to 5 startup. At visionaryPass, we're nurturing a community where human creativity thrives in the AI era. We're building a space where freelancers and creators can flourish, making work a genuine outlet for human expression.
We’re a flexible remote startup inspired by Gumroad. visionaryPass Circle was built by former Gumroad employees. While we're still growing and building a strong financial foundation, we focus on making smart choices with our resources. AI is powerful, but we must always remember to include a human fingerprint. Human creativity breathes life into everything we do.
As Sahil, the founder of Gumroad, says: "The future of work is not working." With the rise of AI, we may soon have more freedom to focus on creative passion projects, spend quality time with family, and embrace our humanity.
One day, we envision a world where:
- Creative passion drives professional fulfillment
- Work flexes around life, not life around work
- People can balance meaningful work with personal wellbeing
- Technology enhances rather than replaces human creativity
We envision AI handling mundane tasks like laundry and dishes, freeing us to focus on creative pursuits. While this vision is compelling, our current capitalist system must be fundamentally restructured to support these creative freedoms. As we work toward this future, we remain optimistic about finding new ways to balance automation with human creativity and fulfillment.
Our Foundation: Freedom Through Flexibility
While traditional companies like Mr. Beast's empire rely heavily on consultants, visionaryPass embraces the power of freelance talent. We're a remote-first startup built by creators, for creators.
Building Excellence Through DEIB & Merit
Our Freelancer and Independent Contractor Recruitment Process:
- Clear project briefs focused on measurable skills and deliverables
- Portfolio-based evaluation that focuses on quality of work
- Fair, transparent rates based on skill level and project scope
- Active outreach to talented professionals from all backgrounds
- Recognition based on work quality and impact
- Commitment to both excellence and inclusive practices
DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) represents our commitment to fostering a community where every freelancer can thrive. Diversity brings different perspectives and experiences, Equity ensures fair access to opportunities, Inclusion creates an environment where everyone can contribute fully, and Belonging means every freelancer feels valued as part of our community.
We evaluate excellence through tangible results. We're particularly interested in reviewing creator portfolios, published work, shipped projects, and real-world impact. This could include launched products, published articles, client testimonials, or any demonstrable outcomes that showcase both technical skill and problem-solving ability. Through this approach, we ensure our evaluation process is both objective and comprehensive.
We believe that labeling opportunities as "diversity hires" or questioning someone's merit based on their background undermines both excellence and inclusion. Our success comes from evaluating talent purely on demonstrated capabilities while ensuring our opportunities are accessible to all qualified professionals.
At visionaryPass, we believe great talent exists everywhere. When working with freelancers, we focus on both demonstrated skills and creating inclusive opportunities. We evaluate talent based on their portfolio, capabilities, and innovative solutions, while actively building a diverse network that brings unique perspectives to each project. DEIB and merit aren't opposing forces – they're complementary strengths that make our freelancer community stronger. We prioritize finding exceptional talent by removing barriers and expanding our network while maintaining high standards through clear, objective evaluation of work quality and impact. Together, these principles ensure we build a thriving freelancer community that delivers exceptional work while reflecting the diverse perspectives that drive innovation.
$6.2 million dollars
That's how much a banana and a role of duct tape sold for at an art auction in 2024 - a testament to how the art market continues to surprise and challenge our understanding of value. I dream that one day, a visionaryPass with its abstract futuristic scribble art will command even greater recognition, perhaps selling for ten times that amount in the next three decades. The very notion of a "starving artist" should be relegated to history - after all, creativity and artistic expression know no monetary bounds. Art is art.
Pursuing passion over profit
"Art is not a business. Art is something else entirely." — David Lynch
Vincent van Gogh sold just one painting, The Red Vineyard, in his lifetime for 400 francs (about $2,000 today). His unwavering dedication to artistic vision has touched millions, with his works now considered priceless masterpieces that have shaped art history.
Jimmy Wales made Wikipedia non-profit despite many chances to monetize, believing knowledge should be free for everyone. Today, Wikipedia's 15 billion monthly pageviews prove that some creations matter more than money.
At visionaryPass, we put creator empowerment before profits. Our platform isn't just a business—it's a canvas where creators build their careers and pursue their artistic and entrepreneurial dreams. Like the visionaries before us, we believe focusing on genuine value and creative freedom creates ripples far beyond the bottom line. Though visionaryPass won't be profitable in our first year, we plan to generate revenue through sponsorships, deals, and memberships in 2025.
"If you're so rich, why are you selling a course?" — @safwaankay
Here's the truth: I'm not rich. I make under six figures annually while living in one of the most expensive regions in the world. By local standards, I'm considered low-income.
I don't aspire to be rich or famous—at least not during my lifetime. I value my privacy. I simply want enough to keep a roof over my head, teach people about the latest technology, put food on the table, and support my family.
What I truly value is time. While I may not make much money right now, I have complete control over my schedule—when I work and what I work on. And I absolutely love it. At visionaryPass, we offer our courses for free. However, purchasing courses remains a wonderful way to support your favorite creator. If you find the syllabus valuable and can commit to completing the videos and assignments, consider supporting your favorite creator by purchasing their course.
Curriculum
Not all early stage creators can afford our monthly membership costs. visionaryPass offers its curriculum for free. No paid courses here.
Can a broke person be a philanthropist?
True philanthropy isn't measured by the size of one's bank account - it's measured by the impact of one's actions and the genuine desire to help others.
I'm an artist and creator first, entrepreneur second. While building visionaryPass, I've achieved significant milestones despite failing to raise a $250,000 pre-seed round. I developed a comprehensive pitch deck, built valuable relationships with advisors, launched our MVP, grew an engaged waitlist, and celebrated getting our first paid customer. Though we didn't secure traditional funding, these achievements laid a strong foundation for where we are today.
I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.— Michael Jordan
Take a look at our pitch deck:
visionaryPass is my baby and a work of art. I have no exit plan. I envision myself designing visionaryPass Identification Cards and supporting early-stage creators for the rest of my life. I started visionaryPass because I believe in creators, the underdogs, who are just getting started.
By day, I'm a Lead Video Creator for a faceless tech YouTube channel with over 600,000 subscribers. By night (and weekends), I juggle social media management gigs, design educational curriculum, craft Notion Sites Templates, and sometimes even drive for Uber. This isn't a failure story. It's a story about building something meaningful even if it doesn't fit the traditional startup narrative.
Our Truth
"Just as people cannot live without eating, so a business cannot live without profits. But most people don't live to eat, and neither must businesses live just to make profits." — John Mackey
- visionaryPass is not profitable (yet)
- We’re funded by my salary, not customers or VCs
- I’m a solo-founder
- We measure success in impact, not just revenue
- We're building a lifestyle business, not a unicorn
visionaryPass exists to support the next generation of creators. Not because it's profitable (it isn't at the moment), but because it matters. While others are chasing exponential growth, we're focused on exponential impact.
Sam Altman predicts that AI will enable the first one-person billion-dollar company. Perhaps visionaryPass could pioneer this path. As a solo-founded venture fueled by creativity and passion, we continuously embrace cutting-edge AI tools to push boundaries.
Programs we look up to:
- Adobe Creative Residency - Adobe previously offered creatives a full-time position with a salary, healthcare, and support for one year to build their creative business. We dream of offering a similar Creator in Residence program at visionaryPass—while tech startups have Hackers in Residence, we believe creators deserve the same opportunity.
- 1517 Medici Project - visionaryPass launched with a $1,000 cash grant from 1517
- Kothari Fellowship - Created by Notion's Co-Founder and built with Notion Sites, just like visionaryPass
The Badge That Started It All: From WeWork to visionaryPass
I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2015 and landed my first internship at a small education technology startup. Our office was located at the WeWork near the Tenderloin. This was my first tech job and introduction to WeWork. The WeWork badge that granted me access to the office space meant everything to me.
At major tech companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla, the company badge becomes more than just an access card—it becomes a symbol of identity and achievement. Employees proudly share photos of their badges on social media when joining or leaving these companies, often accompanied by heartfelt posts about their journey. Each badge is uniquely personal, featuring their name and professional headshot, making it a tangible representation of their professional identity.
These badges represent more than just employment—they symbolize belonging to something bigger. They offer validation, open doors to incredible perks and rewards, and inspire people to do their best work. Some companies even extend these benefits to include transit passes like the Clipper card in the Bay Area. The company becomes an integral part of who they are, not just where they work.
It's common to see employees displaying their badges during their commutes to and from work after a long day. Whenever I saw these badges, I'd think: "I wish I could have that kind of access, privilege, and perks." I always wanted this level of access and exclusivity—and I believe everyone should have it. Why shouldn't creators receive the same recognition and benefits as tech employees? I wear my visionaryPass with pride. You don't need to work for a major tech company to get rewards. There should be equal access to opportunity and I believe the visionaryPass Identification Card will unlock numerous perks and rewards for early stage creators. Now, back to working on making this happen.
Our Tech Stack
As a non-technical founder, I embraced the creative potential of no-code tools to bring visionaryPass to life. These powerful platforms have become my digital canvas, allowing me to focus on design and innovation. Here's the comprehensive suite of tools that powers our operations:
- Notion AI
- Agree
- Circle
- Stripe
- Glide
- Sukha
- Dropbox
- ChatGPT
- Claude
- Perplexity
- Gamma
- AirTable
- YouTube Studio
- 1Password
- Google Workspace
- LegalZoom Mail
- Superhuman
- Limitless
- Slack
- ScreenFlow
- mmhmm
- Loom
- Keynote
- Final Cut Pro 11
- Figma
- Canva
- Upwork
- Dot
- BuildBetter
- Voicenotes
Numbers
Revenue
- Active Subscribers: 1
- Monthly Recurring Revenue: $30
Last updated: Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Subscriptions
- Flywheel: $100/mo
- Notion: Trial
- 1Password:
- Circle: $100/mo
- Google Workspace: $22/mo
- Dropbox: $12/mo
- Dot: $12/mo
- Claude: $20/mo
- Philz Coffee (Essential): $50/mo
Creating opportunities for everyone
At visionaryPass, we believe in building a more equitable world. Just as we work to break down barriers in the creator economy, we must also address broader systemic inequalities in our society. One area that particularly needs attention is our criminal justice system. With over 2 million people currently incarcerated in the United States, we urgently need to rethink our approach to criminal justice. Our focus should be on second chances and rehabilitation, not perpetual punishment. Despite even the 47th President of the United States being a felon, many formerly incarcerated individuals face severe employment discrimination and stigma. The current prison system is deeply dehumanizing—incarcerated individuals are forced to work for pennies. It's modern-day slavery. America's prison industrial complex is in need of complete reform. Instead of perpetuating this cycle of stigma and inhumane conditions, we must create clear pathways for success and reintegration. That's why visionaryPass proudly donates a percentage of our revenue each year to Impact Justice, an organization fighting for meaningful change.
Playbooks we’re inspired by
Our playbook reflects who we are - a creative passion project learning to navigate the business world. While we haven't reached profitability yet, we're driven by purpose. And sometimes, that's all you need to keep building.
Good artists copy; great artists steal. — Pablo Picasso
The 
Feel free to adapt this living document and its ideals to suit your own creator business. By sharing our operating procedures publicly, we hope to help other creators and social entrepreneurs on their journeys.