How a Teen Entrepreneur Skyrocketed His Tech Startup to $300K with Andy Rong

February 24, 2025•5 min read

How a Teen Entrepreneur Skyrocketed His Tech Startup to $300K with Andy Rong

In this episode of the REI Hacker Podcast, host Benson Juarez dives into the inspiring story of Andy Rong, an 18-year-old entrepreneur and co-founder of Astro Blaster, a marketing platform designed for real estate investors. Andy’s journey from working in his family’s restaurant to scaling his SaaS company to $300,000 in sales during its first launch is nothing short of extraordinary.

From Family Hustle to Entrepreneurial Drive

Lessons from the Family Business

Growing up in his family’s Chinese restaurant in Houston, Texas, Andy started working at 13. Reflecting on those early experiences, Andy shares:
"When I was like paid pennies, it was just, I, at the time I didn't understand like why they're making me do it. I thought they were just like, just trying to get free labor out of me."

Over time, he realized the lessons he gained were invaluable:
"The lesson I missed probably when I was working there was just the self-discipline part and learning how to talk to people."

These early experiences shaped his resilience, work ethic, and ability to communicate—skills that would later prove essential in building his startup.

Early Ventures and Entrepreneurial Spirit

Andy’s entrepreneurial journey began in high school, where he spotted an opportunity in an unconventional market:

"I sold vapes in freshman high school... I want to be friends with them. I want to be part of something."

He sourced vapes from China for $1.50 each and resold them for $10–$15, delivering them on his bike:
"I bought vapes from China... I sold them for 10 a pop and delivered them on my bike."

While unconventional, this early venture taught him about supply chains, customer service, and turning a profit—lessons that fueled his drive to succeed.

Discovering Real Estate

The First Step

Andy’s real estate journey began at 15 when he discovered influencers like King Kong and Jamil Damji. Inspired by their stories, he invested $7,800 in Jamil’s Astro Flipping program, diving headfirst into the world of real estate wholesaling.

The First Deal

Andy’s first deal was personal—wholesaling his grandfather’s property. It earned him $4,000 and proved that wholesaling was a viable path forward:
"The conversations you have with your leads and then offers you make. That's pretty, that's very simply."

This initial success laid the foundation for his future ventures.

The Birth of Astro Blaster

As Andy gained experience in real estate, he realized the importance of systems for scaling success:
"There's only two really the biggest things that matter in this wholesale business is the conversations you have with your leads and then offers you make."

He developed a streamlined outreach system to track and manage leads—a solution that resonated with other investors. When demand for his system grew, Andy saw an opportunity to turn his process into a scalable product: Astro Blaster.

From Idea to Business Success

Scaling a SaaS Company

Astro Blaster started small, with Andy selling his outreach template for $500. The turning point came when Jamil Damji recognized its potential and partnered with Andy to scale the business.

Their first product launch was a massive success, generating $290,000 in sales. The key? Tracking and accountability:
"The good wholesalers apart is the good wholesalers they actually track because we can't scale, we can't track."

Building a Community

Andy’s philosophy centers on solving real problems and building trust with his customers:
"If it works for me, then I'm going to be confident talking about it. If it doesn't work for me, why the hell would I give it to anyone else?"

Astro Blaster has quickly become a go-to platform for real estate investors, helping them streamline their lead generation and outreach processes.

Building for the Future

Lessons Learned

Andy credits his success to three main pillars:

Resilience: The lessons from his family’s restaurant taught him grit and determination.
Education: Investing in himself through mentorship programs accelerated his learning curve.
Vision: Solving real problems in the industry gave his product staying power.

As Andy puts it:
"Problem solution, problem solutions, [is an] never ending cycle."

Facing Challenges

Andy acknowledges the obstacles he’s faced and the persistence required to overcome them:
"If it was that easy, everyone would do it."
"You have to keep walking until you reach the end of the hill or at least see the light."

Key Takeaways from Andy Rong’s Journey

Start Early: Andy’s journey proves that entrepreneurial experience—even in unconventional forms—can spark big ideas.
Invest in Yourself: Education and mentorship are key to accelerating your success.
Solve Real Problems: Create solutions that address tangible challenges in your industry.
Track and Test: Metrics and feedback are essential for improving and scaling a business.
Be Part of Something: Community and belief are powerful drivers of success:
"I want to be part of something. I want to be part of something."

Andy Rong’s story is a testament to the power of hard work, creativity, and a willingness to learn. From hustling on a bike in high school to scaling a $300K SaaS startup, he shows that age is no barrier to success.

For more insights and strategies, check out the full REI Hacker Podcast episode featuring Andy Rong and host Benson Juarez.