Raising A Billion Dollars with Ellis Hammond

Raising $1–10M a year and ready to scale? Aspen Funds just raised $140M, hit the Inc. 5000 (#221), and was named a top fundraiser by Juniper Square. In this episode, Ellis Hammond breaks down the systems and shifts that helped drive that growth. We cover:-Why urgency is your responsibility-How we sped up our subscription process (same-day closes)-Why multiple offerings increase investor dollars-Ho...

I'm thrilled to announce we've surpassed $300 million in retail capital! In this episode, I dive into our fundraising progress this year, break down the numbers, and discuss our Q3 marketing strategies. I'll share what's working and what's not, including our success with newsletter sponsorships and the emergence of ChatGPT as a new source of leads. Plus, I'll talk about the...

I'm excited to introduce a new format designed to resonate with capital raisers and fund managers alike. In this week's update as of August 15th, 2025, I share our fundraising progress—currently at $73.3 million for the year, with a goal to exceed $100 million by year’s end. I'll also provide insights into the challenges and successes we've experienced with our multifamily deals, along with strate...

In this episode, I’m breaking down what you really need to know before making your next hire. After building and scaling teams across sales, marketing, and investor relations in a capital-raising business, I’ve learned that success with hiring comes down to clarity, structure, and focus. I’ll share the exact framework I use to identify when you’re ready to hire, how to create clear KPIs, and why s...

In this episode, I’m sharing a private session I led for a mastermind of top fund managers from around the country—recorded live in Austin. Over the past several years, I’ve built and scaled multiple investment platforms, and in this talk, I break down the exact framework I use to grow and scale the acquisition of new investors. This isn’t about vague marketing advice—it’s a clear, actionable syst...

In this episode, I dive into one of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a capital raiser: prioritizing cash flow early on is critical to building a sustainable business. Early in my career, I focused too much on long-term equity upside—and nearly paid the price when the market turned. I share how that experience shaped my approach and why strong, consistent cash flow is the backbone that al...

Raising capital online isn't about flashy tricks—it's about understanding what actually moves the needle. In this episode, I unpack exactly what I learned after spending $136,000 on Facebook ads to grow our investor base. You'll discover: The key marketing metrics every capital raiser should be tracking How to adapt these paid ad strategies even if you're not running Facebook ads W...

In this episode, I walk through the exact strategy we're using at Aspen Funds to grow from $250 million to $1 billion in capital raised—including the key hires we’re making, how we’re scaling our marketing efforts, and what’s changing in our approach as we hit new growth breakpoints. The truth is, the levers that work at $50M are different from those at $250M—and I’m sharing how we’re adapting...

If you’re trying to raise your first million dollars, I want to simplify the process for you. In this episode, I’m breaking down the three levers that actually matter—your investor list, one-on-one calls, and time watched. I’ve learned the hard way that most things don’t move the needle. So let’s cut through the noise and focus on what really drives results. This is the playbook I wish I had when...

Welcome to Raising a Billion Dollars —a capital raising podcast built for real businesses and serious operators. Formerly known as the Kingdom REI Podcast , we’ve evolved. This show is no longer just about real estate or faith-driven entrepreneurship—though those roots still matter. We’re stepping into the next phase: helping entrepreneurs, fund managers, and business leaders master the art of rai...

In this episode, I’m sharing a part of my journey most people don’t expect—how college ministry became the foundation for everything I know about raising capital. Before I ever built a business or raised a dollar, I was learning how to get attention, lead movements, and think outside the box. I’ll take you behind the scenes with some wild stories, real lessons, and how all of it translates into ra...

00:00 - Introduction 03:00 - Jean's Boat Accident 09:00 - KlinkLoans Fund 17:00 - Vetting Process and Red Flags 22:00 - Investing in KlinkLoans  26:00 - Conclusion Make sure to follow Jean via his website at https://klinkloans.com/ Are you ready to break into commercial real estate investing? Are you looking for a christian community of peers and mentors to help you move quickly while avoiding exp...

0:00 - Introduction 03:00  - The Importance of Time with Family 10:00 - The Three Principles of Board Meetings 18:00 - Q&A with Jim Shields 28:00 - Conclusion Make sure to grab Jim's best-selling book, "The Family Board Meeting" and to visit his website at 18 Summers.com Are you ready to break into commercial real estate investing? Are you looking for a christian community of peers and mentors to...

00:00 - Creating Financial Freedom: An Interview with Justin Donaldson 04:56 - Living a Life of Freedom: Becoming a Lifestyle Investor  10:06 - Investing in Mobile Home Parks: A Journey from Midwest to Freedom  14:32 - The Secret to Working Smarter Not Harder: A Guide from Someone Who Found the Way Out  19:35 - Finding Success in Real Estate Investing: Finding Deals and Due Diligence Strategies  2...

00:00 - The Benefits of Investing with Brandon Poulin and a Prayer for Blessing  04:25 - Brandon's Journey to Becoming a Professional Investor 09:27 - Hedging Risk in Your Business: Scraping, Allocating, and Growing Investible Cash 14:38 - Measuring Investment Returns: Cashflow vs. IRR  19:38 - Analyzing Return on Investment for Real Estate and Other Investments 24:40 - A Billionaire's Asset Alloc...

Kerry worked in the IT industry for over 24 years before retiringto join Bonnie full time in their multifamily business. His primary focus is acquisitions & dispositions.  Bonnie, on the other hand, worked in the financial investment industry for 30+ years with Merrill Lynch in Private Wealth Management. They began investing in multifamily in 2014, shortly after, Bonnie resigned from Corporate Ame...

00:00 - Achieving Your Goals: A Blueprint to Get What You Want Out of Life 04:19 - Finding Success in the Pool: How I Overcame My Swimming Struggles 08:19 - The Magic of Finding Your Rhythm for Achieving Your Goals  12:34 - Improving your Goals and Habits through Tracking and Accountability  16:49 - Hacking Life: Learning How to Achieve Improvement Through Identity and Accountability    Learn more...

Learn more about the KREI Mastermind event in San Diego, CA!!! For the first time, we are opening up our annual Kingdom REI mastermind retreat to our podcast community! Join 50+ kingdom minded investors from all across the country for 3 days of live worship, teaching, networking, and lots of fun in San Diego, CA!  Learn more about the KREI Mastermind event in San Diego, CA!!! 00:00 - Lifetime Acce...

00:00 - Vesta's Story: Unlocking the Secret to Becoming Rich 04:31 - From 9-5 Mentality to Entrepreneurship: Vesta Stout's Story of Moving Beyond Failure 09:38 - Failing is Necessary for Success: How to Become Okay with No 14:34 - Fear as an Indicator to Make Greater Change   Learn more about the KREI Mastermind event in San Diego, CA Are you ready to break into commercial real estate investing? A...

00:00 - How Lazy People can Achieve Massive Success with Brandon Turner  04:43 - Hacking Your Lack of Willpower to Move Forward Progress Automatically  09:02 - Identifying Your Dr. Oz Cut to Max Out Efficiency in Your Business  13:46 - Assessing Your Time for Maximum Impact - Join the 2023 Mastermind in San Diego!  Learn more about the KREI Mastermind event in San Diego, CA Are you ready to break...

00:00 - How to Get Wealthy - Invest in Yourself With Accountability and Measurement  04:29 - Living Intentionally: A Guide to Achieving Wealth and Happiness  09:02 - Harnessing Cash Flow to Finance an Intentional Life  13:28 - Understanding the Cash Flow Equation: Creating Value, Spending and Saving Money  18:14 - Maximizing Your Personal Value Before Diversifying Your Investments  23:09 - Investi...

Total Quality Lending Chris' Instagram Account Total Quality Lending Instagram Account   00:00  FHA Loans and Real Estate: How Chris Paliska's Life Was Changed  04:16  The Journey to Success: From Valeting Cars to VP of Southern California  08:39  Creating Balance: How Real Estate Saved Me From Debt and Stress  13:12  Real Estate Saved My Life: A Journey From Seven Figure Salary to Business Owner ...

00:00 - Taking Advantage of Your Unfair Advantage in Real Estate Investing: An Interview with Ryan Corcoran  03:54 - Finding Real Estate Deals: A Core Competency for Real Estate Investors  08:11 - Mastering the Art of Finding Real Estate Deals for the Beginner  12:01 - The Power of Direct Mail Marketing in Multi-Family Investing 15:53 - Building Your Network For Real Estate Investing  19:32 - Maki...

00:00 - Real Estate Wealth Con: A Virtual Real Estate Super Conference with Industry Leaders  04:36 - Launching a Successful Virtual Event: Real Estate Wealth Con  09:33 - Making an Irresistible Offer: Building an Audience to Expand Your Brand  14:19 - The Journey to Financial Freedom: Chris' Story  18:53 - The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster: How One Real Estate Investor Followed His Grandfather's...

00:00 - Investing in Physical Health: A Look at Spartan Races  03:57 - How To Achieve Six-Figure Income From Capital Raising  08:02 - Unlocking the Skill of Capital Raising: How to Grow Your Business and Create Time Freedom  12:06 - The Blueprint for Raising 35 Million: Believe and Commit to your Goals  15:52 - Building Your Power Base to Attain Successful Investment Strategies  20:02 - Positionin...