Curtis, born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, was influenced by his parents' strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. Inspired by his father's media business and his mother's rise to executive, Curtis fostered a deep curiosity for how things function, a quality that would propel him into his own entrepreneurial endeavors.

Curtis most recently served as Director of Finance at RiverVest Venture Partners, a healthcare-focused venture capital firm. In this role, he led multimillion-dollar financings and managed the firm's financial and operations team. Curtis successfully structured and closed complex deals, demonstrating his ability to solve intricate financial challenges and align diverse party’s interests.

Curtis also owned and managed multi-family real estate, where he took on everything from financial planning and tenant management to maintenance and renovations. This experience gave him a deep understanding of the operational challenges small business owners face and how to address them effectively.