You never forget your first sale. For Jake Fackrell, it was five bucks to mow a lawn in the Vegas heat with his older brother and a rickety lawnmower. That little side hustle turned into a spark—and that spark turned into a lifetime of building, failing, pivoting, and succeeding in the world of entrepreneurship.

I had the chance to sit down with Jake on the Redefine Business Podcast, and let me just say—this conversation was packed with so much gold, I couldn’t stop smiling. Jake is currently the co-founder and COO of Savvos Health, but his story is about way more than where he is now. It’s about grit, reinvention, and a deep commitment to solving real-world problems.

Let’s rewind and start at the beginning.

A Hustler from the Start

Jake grew up in a home where hard work wasn’t optional—it was expected. He and his three brothers learned early on that if they wanted something, they’d have to earn it. By age eight, Jake and his brother were already in business, mowing lawns around their Las Vegas neighborhood and collecting cash the old-school way: door-to-door.

That scrappy spirit never left him. And even though he didn’t realize it then, he was already learning one of the core principles that would define his career: find a need, fill it, and deliver value.

Moving Constantly, Connecting Instantly

Here’s a fun fact: Jake moved more than 30 times before he was 16 years old. He thought it was normal. But what that constant change taught him was how to quickly build relationships. His dad used to tell him, “When you come home from school, I want to hear the names of two kids you met today.”

That ability to connect with people, to build trust quickly, has followed Jake throughout his career. Whether pitching a startup, networking at events, or building client relationships—he brings genuine connection to everything he does.

From Pre-Med to Passion

Jake originally set out to become a doctor. He studied pre-med at UVU, worked as an athletic trainer for the University of Utah football team, and had every intention of going to medical school. But the long hours, lack of flexibility, and his growing love for business pulled him in a new direction.

While still in school, he started a coupon card business that grew fast—really fast. Before long, it was being sold in over 60 schools from Las Vegas to Ogden. That success led him to a big realization: he didn’t want to be a doctor. He wanted to be an entrepreneur.

And his wife? 100% supportive, even when he pivoted away from a stable medical path to pursue building businesses full-time.

Wins, Losses, and That Dot-Com Crash

After selling his coupon card business, Jake jumped into a new venture: an online real estate platform called Home Sales Connection. Think of it as the early 2000s version of Homey. It was a solid idea, they had investors lined up, and things were looking promising—until the dot-com bubble burst.

They lost everything. Jake had taken out a second mortgage to help fund the business, and the failure was devastating. But he and his wife made the decision not to declare bankruptcy. They worked hard, paid off the debt, and learned some of their most valuable business lessons in the process.

Rebuilding and Scaling with Data-Driven Companies

Out of that tough season came some of Jake’s most successful ventures. He joined a startup in the real estate space, which sparked the idea for RedX (Real Estate Data X-Change), followed by Domega and the acquisition of Landvoice.

These companies specialized in real estate data—gathering, filtering, and delivering valuable information to agents and investors. Under Jake’s leadership, they served thousands of clients across the country and gained recognition from Silicon Slopes, Inc. 5000, and UV50, to name a few.

Jake’s strength has always been turning vision into action—and these companies are proof of that.

The Birth of Savvos Health

The idea for Savvos Health was born out of frustration. Health insurance premiums were rising every year, and Jake, like many business owners, felt powerless. A casual conversation with his benefits broker turned into a brainstorm. What if healthcare pricing were transparent? What if people knew what they were paying before they got the bill?

They tested a B2C model first (shoutout to “GlassFrog,” their original name), but quickly realized they could scale faster by working with health share organizations and self-funded employers.

Today, Savvos Health is revolutionizing the way patients, payers, and providers connect—offering real-time, cash-pay rates and a smoother, more affordable healthcare experience. On average, they save payers over $20,000 per procedure.

Not bad for a guy who used to sell coupon cards door-to-door.

Meet Jake Fackrell: The Entrepreneur, Adventurer, and Mentor

Jake is more than just a founder or CEO. He’s a husband, dad to six, and grandpa to eight. He earned his Business Management degree from UVU and an MBA from BYU in 2004. Over the years, he’s built a reputation for creating multi-million-dollar ventures—and mentoring others to do the same.

He’s an Ironman competitor, an endurance cycling enthusiast (yes, he really biked from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas), and someone who lives by the motto: Work hard, coach and be coachable, and help people achieve abundance.

You can connect with Jake professionally on LinkedIn.

Giving Back: The Change the World Foundation

Jake and his wife Tamara also run a nonprofit called Change the World Foundation, which helps families in developing countries with housing, education, marriage support, and life skills.

What started with a simple gesture—helping a couple in the Dominican Republic afford a marriage license—has grown into a movement. The foundation has now helped nearly 400 couples get married, and they host regular service trips, women’s retreats, and youth adventures in the Dominican.

For Jake, giving back isn’t just something he does. It’s part of who he is.

Build, Pivot, and Repeat

Jake’s story is a reminder that entrepreneurship is not a straight line. It’s a winding road with unexpected turns, failed ideas, and new opportunities waiting around the corner.

He’s faced setbacks, made bold decisions, and stayed rooted in his values along the way. And whether it’s in business or nonprofit work, Jake’s impact speaks for itself.

His advice? Build relationships. Stay optimistic. And never be afraid to pivot when something’s not working.