The Long Version of a 25-Year Career
I ran experiential campaigns for entertainment brands, sold Hadley Media in 2017, taught myself to ship software, and started again. The through-line is building — not one industry forever.
This chapter is products under Momentum Growth Partners, including CommercialLending.ai, SalesLeadAgent, and PayoffAgent. The earlier chapters are the agency, the exit, and the rebuild. Read From Comic-Con to Commercial Lending.
At a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Patrick Hadley |
| What he is | Operator, founder, and builder — not a bank, lender, or loan broker |
| Career length | 25+ years building businesses |
| Exit | Hadley Media, experiential marketing agency, sold in 2017 (acquired by Grandesign Media) |
| Earlier work | Entertainment activations: Comic-Con, FOX, Netflix, Marvel, NBC, HBO |
| Second act | Taught himself to ship software after the exit |
| Company | Momentum Growth Partners, LLC |
| Current products | CommercialLending.ai, SalesLeadAgent, PayoffAgent, plus calculator and broker properties |
By the Numbers
The Journey
I've been building businesses for over 25 years. Some succeeded spectacularly. Others failed expensively. All taught me something valuable.
The through-line has always been: identify a real problem, build a solution that actually works, and execute relentlessly. That approach has stayed consistent even as the tools and technologies have evolved dramatically.
What's different now is that I can build the solutions myself. I'm not the "business guy" who needs to hire developers. I'm the founder who writes the code, ships the features, and iterates based on customer feedback — without a 10-person engineering team.
Hadley Media: The Agency Years
From 2008–2017, I built Hadley Media into a national experiential marketing agency specializing in Comic-Con, SXSW, CES, Cannes, and Coachella. We produced events for FOX, Netflix, Marvel, HBO, NBC, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, and dozens of other major entertainment brands.
We grew to 30 employees at peak and established ourselves as the go-to agency for high-profile entertainment activations at major conventions and festivals.
In 2017, Grandesign Media acquired Hadley Media. The entire team was absorbed into Grandesign with no layoffs, and I joined as Executive VP of Sales and Strategy to help scale their entertainment division.
That exit validated years of execution. But it also clarified what I wanted next: software, not services. Leverage, not linear growth.
The Expensive Developer Lesson
Before pivoting to SaaS, I tried to build software the traditional way: hire developers, spec out features, write checks, and hope.
I spent a lot of money. Got a buggy, incomplete app that didn't solve the core problem. The developers tried their best, but I couldn't evaluate progress because I didn't understand what was being built.
That failure taught me something critical: there's no better way to build than understanding development from the ground up.
So I Learned to Code
At 54, I taught myself to code. Started with Python and JavaScript basics. Built terrible projects. Gradually improved.
Then AI coding tools changed everything. Cursor, Claude, and the modern AI development stack compressed the learning curve from years to months. I'm now a top 1% Cursor user globally, having processed over 10 billion tokens and generated 220,000+ lines of production code.
The AI-Native Advantage
Today, I build production SaaS applications that rival the output of entire engineering teams — using AI development tools and modern cloud infrastructure.
What used to require $300K+ per year in engineering salaries, I accomplish at a fraction of that cost. But it's not just cost — it's speed and ownership.
I go from idea to production in days. No coordination overhead. No sprint planning. No waiting. Just build, test, ship.
Modern AI tools + deep domain expertise = unfair advantage.
Current Focus: Automating Commercial Lending — For Lenders and Brokers
Through Momentum Growth Partners LLC, I'm building an ecosystem of AI-powered automation platforms for the commercial lending industry. My focus is both sides of the market: the brokers who originate deals and the lenders who fund them.
Short-term revenue comes from broker-facing tools. Long-term, the primary business is lender automation — document processing, loan operations, and deal workflow automation. Lenders have the biggest pain, the biggest budgets, and the most to gain from AI-driven efficiency.
My R&D partner and first reference customer is one of the largest equipment financing lenders in the country. Building with an active lender gives me direct access to real operational pain points — and a validation path most SaaS founders don't have.
The Platforms
SalesLeadAgent.com — AI Lead Generation for Brokers
My flagship broker tool. A multi-agent AI system that monitors news sources 24/7 for businesses showing financing signals, enriches prospects with verified decision-maker contacts, and delivers ready-to-contact leads with personalized outreach strategies.
Brokers spend less time prospecting and more time closing. Priced at $399–$999/month.
CommercialLending.ai — The Intelligence Layer for Commercial Finance
The flagship platform and the biggest swing in the ecosystem. CommercialLending.ai is being built as the central intelligence layer for the entire commercial lending industry — connecting borrowers, brokers, and lenders through AI-powered data, deal intelligence, and market insights.
Four core capabilities at launch:
- Deal Intelligence — Real-time lender activity, sector trends, and capital flow data across the ABL market
- Lender Tools — Deal flow management, credit analysis, and portfolio analytics
- Broker Tools — Lead generation, lender matching, and deal management in one platform
- Market Insights — Who's lending, where, at what size, and in what structures — updated daily
Lead Generation Network
I operate a network of calculator sites that generate qualified inbound leads from business owners actively seeking financing:
- SBACalculators.com — 15,000+ monthly impressions
- EquipmentCalculators.com — Equipment financing calculators
- FranchiseLoanHelp.com — Franchise financing tools
- BuyingABuilding.com — Commercial real estate financing education
- TruckFinancingGuide.com — Truck and fleet financing resources
- CommercialLendingBroker.com — Commercial lending broker insights and lead capture
Where This Is Headed
The commercial lending industry is still operating on legacy processes — manual document review, phone-based payoff requests, spreadsheet deal tracking. The opportunity to bring AI-native automation to lenders is significant and largely untapped.
My path is clear: use broker tools to build distribution and revenue now, while building the lender automation stack that becomes the primary business at scale. That lender partnership is the beachhead. The broader equipment finance and commercial lending market is the target.
Recognition
I'm a member of the Forbes Agency Council and a former Chamber of Commerce board member. I was selected for the U.S. Navy's Leaders To Sea program — including a carrier landing and catapult launch.
Let's Connect
Lenders
If you're an equipment finance company, commercial bank, or alternative lender looking to automate document intake, loan operations, or broker workflow — let's talk. I'm actively building this infrastructure with a major equipment finance lender and looking for additional lender partners.
Get in TouchBrokers
If you're a commercial lending broker looking for better leads, a professional web presence, or smarter deal matching tools — my platforms are built specifically for you.
Explore the ToolsInvestors & Strategic Partners
Through Momentum Growth Partners, I'm open to strategic partnerships in AI-driven automation for financial services.
Reach OutFAQ
Who is Patrick Hadley?
Patrick Hadley is an operator and founder with 25+ years building businesses. He ran Hadley Media, an experiential marketing agency for entertainment brands, sold it in 2017, taught himself to code, and now ships software through Momentum Growth Partners. He is not a lender.
What did Patrick Hadley sell?
He sold Hadley Media in 2017. It was an experiential marketing agency that built activations for studios and networks, including Comic-Con work for brands such as Marvel, Netflix, FOX, NBC, and HBO. Grandesign Media acquired the company.
What does Patrick Hadley speak about?
Building, selling, and starting over; learning to ship software as a non-career engineer; and applying AI to messy operations. Commercial lending is the current industry, not the whole story. He is available for podcasts, keynotes, and workshops.
Is Patrick Hadley a commercial lender?
No. He builds software used by commercial lenders, equipment finance companies, and brokers. Momentum Growth Partners is a product company, not a bank or a loan shop.
How do I book Patrick Hadley for a podcast or talk?
Email contact@patrickhadley.com or use the contact form. Include date, audience, format (podcast, keynote, or workshop), and the topic you want. Four to six weeks of lead time is comfortable; shorter notice is sometimes possible.
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