Rising Stars: Meet Arthur Bernier Jr of Atlanta, GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arthur Bernier Jr.

Hi Arthur, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started out like many others—hungry for more, but without a degree, a network, or a roadmap. My first break came as a teenager doing web work for a nonprofit, and later freelancing in the evenings after the military while barely making ends meet. That grind turned into mastery. By outworking and outlearning everyone around me, I went from building MySpace pages to becoming a senior software engineer and technical leader .

From there, I co-founded a venture-backed startup, raised millions in capital, and built teams of engineers from the ground up. I’ve been a Tech Lead at a billion-dollar space scale-up, a Senior Director in national tech education, and a Coding Bootcamp Instructor teaching over 600 students. Along the way, I earned over $1 million in salary, $500k in freelance contracts, and helped secure $3.5 million in venture funding .

But my story isn’t just about tech titles or numbers. It’s about seeing the patterns in history and recognizing the unfinished business of economic empowerment. That became the foundation of my 2032 Thesis: the convergence of AI, blockchain, demographics, and culture is the biggest wealth shift of our lifetimes. My mission now is to prepare people—not just to survive that shift, but to thrive in it .

Through my books, content, and programs, I’ve built frameworks like the Success Formula and the Picks & Shovels Thesis that simplify the complex and make success repeatable. Today, I’m focused on helping creators, entrepreneurs, and everyday people build wealth, future-proof their skills, and leave a legacy for generations to come.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. My journey has been marked by both breakthroughs and battles that tested my resilience.

Early on, I was making very little money—even after joining the military for stability, I found myself earning less than before. That financial pressure forced me into freelancing at night while working full-time by day. Those years were tough: balancing survival with ambition, learning new skills in the cracks of time, and battling self-doubt .

I also faced imposter syndrome. Even though I was solving problems that others couldn’t, I was often kept in the shadows or had my contributions downplayed. It wasn’t until a respected CTO (Jeff Nelson) publicly recognized my talent—introducing me like an all-star being added to a championship team—that I began to fully embrace my worth .

On the entrepreneurial side, raising venture capital was another uphill climb. I had no prior experience, no playbook, and plenty of rejections. But persistence paid off—I helped secure millions in funding. Still, not every venture succeeded. Failing to raise a Series A at one point forced me to rebuild and rethink my strategy, and that season became what I now call my “multi-million dollar MBA” .

Personal life had its struggles too—juggling family responsibilities while pushing forward in tech and business meant sacrifice and hard lessons about balance.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I wear a few hats—technologist, educator, entrepreneur, and thought leader. My core work revolves around helping people and businesses prepare for the world that’s coming, not just the one we’re in now. I specialize in AI, blockchain, and emerging technologies, but I focus less on the hype and more on frameworks, systems, and plays that make success repeatable for anyone, no matter their starting point.

I’m best known for teaching and mentoring—helping hundreds of students break into tech and land six-figure careers, leading teams in venture-backed startups, and creating content that demystifies technology. What I’m most proud of is not just raising millions in venture capital or building companies, but building people. When someone who thought tech was “out of reach” lands their first job, launches a business, or creates generational wealth using strategies I’ve taught, that’s the real win .

What sets me apart is the 2032 Thesis, which is my lens on the decade ahead. I believe 2032 is a convergence point where demographics, technology, economics, and culture collide. Baby Boomers are phasing out of power, Millennials and Gen Z are stepping into leadership, and exponential technologies—AI, blockchain, robotics—are reshaping every industry . Add in decentralized finance, climate challenges, and shifting global systems, and you’ve got the biggest transfer of wealth and power we’ve ever seen.

The 2032 Thesis isn’t about fear—it’s about opportunity. Those who learn future-proof skills, build revenue streams, and position themselves in AI, blockchain, and the Creator Economy will not just survive—they’ll thrive. My mission is to give people the playbook so they’re not just spectators in this shift, but leaders in it .

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve learned to see risk not as something to avoid, but as something to understand, price, and manage. To me, risk isn’t rolling the dice—it’s taking a calculated leap where the upside justifies the downside. My military background, my years freelancing while barely scraping by, and my time raising capital taught me that the biggest risk is standing still.

One of the biggest risks I ever took was co-founding a venture-backed startup without any prior fundraising experience. We had no playbook, no pedigree, and no safety net. But we did the work, secured millions in funding, and built something real. Even though we eventually failed to raise a Series A, that “failure” became what I call my multi-million dollar MBA—the experience was worth far more than a traditional degree .

Another huge risk was stepping out of a stable path into teaching and mentoring full-time. On paper, it looked like a step down—less predictable income, more responsibility. But I believed that equipping people with future-proof skills would have an impact far beyond me, and that bet has paid off in ways that go beyond money.

Today, my perspective on risk is shaped by my 2032 Thesis: in a world moving this fast—AI, blockchain, decentralization—the real risk is not preparing. Playing it safe in an outdated system is riskier than learning new skills, starting a side hustle, or investing in emerging technologies. Risk is unavoidable, but you can choose whether to be on offense or defense.

Pricing:

• Fractional CTO Retainer – $7,500/month • Full-stack executive leadership for startups and growing companies. • Covers technical strategy, AI adoption roadmaps, hiring and managing developer teams, and investor/board-level reporting. • Direct access for urgent technical decisions and long-term system architecture. • Ideal for founders who need CTO-level expertise without committing to a full-time hire.
• • AI-Powered Business Launch Accelerator – $15,000 • Build a full AI-enabled business in 90 days. • Done-with-you consulting, weekly sessions, and full implementation. • Guarantee: At least one monetizable AI system running by launch.
• • Executive AI Consulting Retainer – $7,000/month • Tailored AI integrations to save 100+ hours per month across business functions. • Direct Slack/WhatsApp access + 4 strategy calls monthly. • Guarantee: Identify and implement at least one automation that returns 5–10x within 90 days.
• • Elite AI Coaching & Mentorship – $5,000 (12 Weeks) • 1-on-1 coaching to future-proof your skills and create a monetizable AI-driven system. • Includes weekly calls, assignments, and direct feedback. • Bonus: Access to playbooks, AI tool stack, and private community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bigpoppacode.io
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/bigpoppacode
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bigpoppacode
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bigpoppacode