10/14/2026
I'm very proud to share that Torch Ignited Academy has officially launched!
About a year ago, when I first had the idea to start Torch Ignited, I saw a problem that I really wanted to help solve. AI was coming at businesses like a freight train, and most companies, regardless of their size, had little idea what to do with it.
I knew there was an opportunity to help businesses navigate this change, but I also believed we needed to approach it differently.
I've always believed that small businesses are the backbone of this country. They're good people building businesses, creating jobs, and employing other good people. I wanted to find a way to help them embrace AI without losing the human element that makes their businesses successful.
That idea eventually grew into something much bigger than I originally envisioned.
Today, Torch Ignited Academy is a reality. Our goal is to help thousands of business owners and their employees learn how to use AI ethically and responsibly. We want to help businesses become more efficient, grow, and remain competitive, while empowering their employees with skills that will be increasingly important throughout their careers.
I firmly believe AI should empower people, not simply replace them. That's been central to our mission from the beginning.
But I also want to take a moment to talk about the people who made this possible.
I've been in software development and technology for nearly 30 years, and I can say without hesitation that this is the most impressive team I've ever had the privilege of working with.
We've spent years carefully bringing together an extraordinary group of people. They're brilliant, dedicated, hardworking, and genuinely fun to be around. They love what they do, they care about the company and each other, and they consistently go above and beyond.
Over the past year, they've poured an incredible amount of work into building this platform. The attention to detail, creativity, and sheer determination they've demonstrated has been remarkable.
I sometimes describe them as a team full of unicorns. I really don't know how else to describe them.
I've launched a lot of software projects over the course of my career, but this is easily one of the most impressive things I've ever been involved in building.
And what makes it even more meaningful is knowing that we've built something that has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of business owners and the people who work for them.
I'm incredibly proud of this team, thankful for the opportunity to work alongside them, and blessed to have the chance to do something I believe can genuinely help people.
To my team, thank you. You guys have absolutely knocked it out of the park.
If you'd like to see what we've been working on, take a look at Torch Ignited Academy (https://asktorch.ai).
We’re celebrating the launch with a free first week and 50% off with code FOUNDER. The first 100 people to sign up keep that 50% off forever, and everyone who signs up after that gets it for their first 90 days.
It's been quite a year, and I'm excited to see where we go from here.
