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Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.
Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.
With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.
Two Years of Catholic Founders: Reflections, Rebranding, and the Future of Co-Creation
Today marks a milestone that is deeply personal to me. It is May 1st — the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
As the son of a carpenter, this day has always held a special place in my heart. But today, it carries a double significance: it is the two-year anniversary of the public launch of my recruitment business and the birth of Catholic Founders.
At the start, the key goal was to understand how to be a Catholic Founder. How to imitate the way Jesus would run a company today.
The beginning was rough — my AI-generated logo and the sporadic blog posts. But it’s been two years, and things are a lot more refined. Not perfect, but it’s a good time for updates.
I want to cover why I started this, what we’ve accomplished so far, and where we are going (what we’re evolving into).
Why We Started: The Theology of Entrepreneurship
In 2019, I was struck by a question that I couldn’t find a substantial answer to: If Jesus were the CEO of a company today, how would He lead?
We have Theology of the Body and a lot of writing on the Theology of Money, but I saw a void where a Theology of Entrepreneurship should be. I knew there was more to the hustle culture of Gary V and Tai Lopez. Jesus wouldn’t be telling you about how to make money with a Lambo in the background.
My hope in starting Catholic Founders was that I’d find others who were also curious about this question. Thankfully, I did.
What We’ve Achieved So Far
What was at first sporadic blog posts and a simple WhatsApp group chat has thankfully become a lot more than that.
The Podcast: In January 2025, we launched the podcast. We are now 64 episodes deep. We’ve been blessed to have heavy hitters like Alessandro DiSanto (Hallow), Andreas Widmer (CUA), Matthew Harvey Sanders (Magesterium AI), Tim Connors (Investor), John Johnson (Patmos), and many others.
The Saintly CEO & Faithful Steward: We launched a tactical Monday newsletter and a free private deal-flow newsletter to connect Catholic investors with Catholic builders.
The Community: We now have over 800 total subscribers, 109 paid members, and have hosted ~20 meetups, coffee hangs, and dinners. And the group chat is now a thriving WhatsApp community. (Join today)
The Next Chapter: The Launch Pad For Catholic Entrepreneurs
As we move into our third year, I have gained immense clarity on who we are here to serve. We are going all in on helping Catholics start and grow their businesses. The launchpad, so to speak.
We’ll continue to provide value and create resources that serve those early needs.
The four core types of people who would be a good fit for Catholic Founders are as follows.
The Aspiring Founder: You want to start a business but have no idea where to begin. Maybe it’s a side hustle to support a growing family; we are here to help you get off the ground.
The Struggling Entrepreneur: You have a business (likely under $1M in revenue), and you’ve hit a ceiling. You need mentors and peers to help you break through bottlenecks.
Seeking Friends Founder: You’re likely hitting your stride and winning, but you don’t want to go it alone. You want a community that cares about the same things you do.
The Mentor: You’ve achieved significant success and want to turn around and lend a hand to the next generation.
This IS the Missing Layer: While great organizations like Legatus or SENT Ventures exist for established leaders, there is almost nothing for the beginner. We are filling that gap.
Invest in Other Catholic-Run Businesses
Sign up today (for free) for the Faithful Steward. Our free, private, deal-flow newsletter for Catholic investors to discover Catholic-run business ventures to invest in. —> CatholicDealFlow.com
We gotta help each other out! Doing our part to connect the ecosystem.
(Raising? Submit your deck here)
Why This Matters Now: The Post-AI Civilization
We are at a crossroads. AI disruption is changing the nature of work, and many people are going to lose their jobs. But we know that work is good for man. God told us to dominate the earth before the fall of Adam. It’s part of our divine mandate.
I believe, metaphorically speaking, society is about to experience a series of gargantuan earthquakes that will level the structures we take for granted. But when the dust settles, the Church and her faithful will still be standing — visible in the distance. Gleaming like a city on a hill.
When people hit rock bottom, they become open to the Truth. This is a massive opportunity for evangelization. Think of the energy St. Paul would have today — he’d be on every podcast, in every forum, bringing the truth to a world in ruins.
On top of this, we have a chance to shape the new civilization. Will it be vapid and utilitarian, or will it be beautiful, founded on truth, and full of the laughter of children?
The future will be built by someone. Let’s make sure that someone is a group of Catholic entrepreneurs who love God.
Join the Guild
If this resonates with you, I invite you to join the Catholic Founders Guild.
We’ve priced it at $100 a year (or $10 a month) because I want it to be accessible to the person just starting. While there are many perks, I wouldn’t suggest joining for that reason. It’s about surrounding yourself with like-minded Catholics striving for both saintly greatness and professional excellence.
You were created to create. Don’t forget that.
Join us at: catholicfounders.com/subscribe
Thank you for two incredible years. Here is to many more.
God Bless & Happy Building!
~Silas Mähner
Hire Catholic Overseas Talent
In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.
Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.
So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).
With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.
How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.
To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.
