Camden Francis

Camden Francis is an American serial entrepreneur, activist, public speaker, and philanthropist known for his contributions to the non-profit and technology industry. He is the founder of Beyond the Crisis, a non-profit organization alleviating food insecurity in underserved communities. He is also the founder and CEO of Univerze LLC, a technology company operating a networking platform for Gen Z.
Francis is also the co-founder of UpgradeAI, an ad-tech company; Hey Mentor, an ed-tech platform; CipherSafe, a cybersecurity firm; Growth Rocket LLC, a marketing agency; Commerce Fox, an Amazon FBA business; and Commerce Hive LLC, an e-commerce software platform.
Francis is a sought-after speaker who has appeared on platforms such as CBS and NPR. He is also recognized as one of Boston's brightest young innovators in the BostInno 25 Under 25 list.
==Early life and education==
Francis was born and raised in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated high school in 2022 from Concord Academy and is currently pursuing a degree in finance and business management.
==Career==
===Beyond the Crisis===
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis and his younger brother Colton witnessed long lines of people seeking food assistance and conceived the idea for Beyond the Crisis to address the growing issue of food insecurity around them.
Beyond the Crisis is a nonprofit organization that alleviates food insecurity by distributing food and essential resources to housing communities and homeless shelters. Since its founding, it has partnered with over 35 food suppliers and distributed more than $100,000 worth of food, positively impacting more than 100,000 individuals annually in Greater Boston. The organization addresses both immediate hunger and systemic issues related to food access and waste.
Francis has collaborated with several organizations to combat hunger and enhance nutritional health. He has also advocated for hunger, health, and nutrition at the White House Conference on Hunger, Health, and Nutrition.
===Entrepreneurial Ventures===
In January 2023, Francis founded Univerze LLC, a tech company focused on creating a networking platform designed for Gen Z users. This innovative platform leverages QR profile scanning, profile bookmarking, introductions, and AI-lead generation to facilitate easier networking for students seeking jobs and internships.
In addition to his role at Univerze, Francis has co-founded several other ventures. In May 2023, Francis co-founded Commerce Fox LLC, an e-commerce company specializing in business-to-consumer (B2C) sales primarily on online marketplaces, like Amazon FBA. The company sources in-demand products from wholesalers overseas and sells them at a markup on Amazon, handling distribution and fulfilment through Amazon's network.
In February 2024, Francis co-founded Upgrade AI LLC, an ad-tech platform offering advertising technology solutions that utilize machine learning algorithms to enhance ad targeting, bidding strategies, and creativity. 
In the same year, Francis also established Growth Rocket LLC and Commerce Hive LLC. Growth Rocket LLC is a results-driven marketing agency that focuses on data-backed strategies and creative solutions to drive business growth, providing services ranging from digital marketing to branding.
Commerce Hive LLC is an AI-powered software platform that optimizes product sourcing and sales across various e-commerce channels, employing web scraping technology to identify profitable products and analyze market trends for optimal sales timing.
In addition to these, Francis co-founded CipherSafe, a decentralized identity verification platform offering identity management solutions by empowering users with control over their personal data. He is also the co-founder of Hey Mentor, an ed-tech platform enabling influencers and content creators to produce, share, and monetize short video courses. 
===Public Speaker and Author===
Francis is a public speaker and author recognized for his insights into entrepreneurship and leadership. He has appeared on numerous platforms, including the Drew Barrymore Talk Show, CBS, PBS, Bloomberg, and NPR, sharing his perspectives on innovation and philanthropy.
He is the author of Minds of Mastery. The book explores the parallels between the strategies of contemporary business leaders and historical figures, delving into the psychology of success and entrepreneurial principles. The book covers essential topics such as goal clarity, mindset shifts, self-discipline, calculated risk-taking, emotional control, and the art of influence through storytelling.
In addition to his penmanship, Francis has contributed to various podcasts, disseminating his knowledge and insights to a broader audience.
==Awards and recognitions==
* Francis was named a 2024 Who’s Who in America Honoree.
* The Boston Business Journal 25 Under 25 list recognized Francis as one of the most ambitious young innovators in the Boston area in October 2023.
* In December 2022, he received the Daily Point of Light Award for his contributions to community change.
* In November 2021, Francis was nominated for the Nickelodeon Kid of the Year Award. 
==Personal life==
Francis resides in Greater Boston. In his free time, he enjoys sports and spending time with family and friends. He is an avid pet lover and owns a Goldendoodle, Brooks. 
==References==
==External links==
* Personal website
* Beyond the Crisis
* Univerze LLC
* Camden Francis on IMDb
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* Camden Francis on YouTube
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Category:American entrepreneurs
Category:American activists
Category:American public speakers
Category:American philanthropists