🟢 1% Equity Stake for $125K

Presented by:

By Ted Williams

Hello Thursday. For each grandchild’s 5th birthday, my 73-year-old parents take them to Disney World.

So on Tuesday morning, my soon-to-be 5-year-old daughter took the flight down to Orlando with my dad.

They stayed at the Grand Floridian and did one day at Magic Kingdom and one day at Epcot.

I was shocked to learn that she didn’t close her eyes on The Haunted Mansion ride and now loves rollercoasters. I might have to buy the $125 Carowinds Summer Gold Pass. Anyways.

💼 Hot Job: Content Marketing & Community Manager at Fastbreak AI ($65K – $80K). High growth sports scheduling startup. 3+ years experience.

📈 Number: $300K. Income it takes to be a top 5% millennial earner. This subset took a striking similar path — elite private schools, city living, and career in tech or finance.

👨 Shout-out: Bill DAlessandro for selling his Natural Dog Company to FoodScience. “One guy in a rented office turned into $200M+ of sales.” Financial advisors sliding into his LinkedIn DMs.

MARKETS: YEAR-TO-DATE

S&P 500

5,631

-4.04%

Nasdaq

17,738

-8.00%

NOW OPEN

Leluia Hall books 3,200 covers within 24 hours of opening up reservations

Fish Sticks with tasty house tartar sauce

$3M Leluia Hall opened on Tuesday night in Dilworth. It’s gorgeous. It’s delicious. It’s pricey. It lives up to the hype.

Reservations: They just released a few more weekend 8:30pm spots, but don’t forget that bar and bar tables are walk-in only (I love the cozy 6 seat surf bar).

Prediction: Fish sticks ($19) will be their No. 1 best seller. Chef Chris created a “super high-end fish stick that feels nostalgic but also contains quality seafood.”

Must order dishes: I’ve already been twice.

Poached Oysters ($24)
Yuzu Yellowtail Crudo ($16)
Fish Sticks ($19)
Wagyu Ribeye Tiny Taco ($14)
18 oz. Prime Ribeye ($73)

Group idea: Located downstairs, their 10-seat private wine room has a $1,200 food-and-beverage minimum and $150 reservation fee. Invite me!

PRESENTED BY MOOD HOUSE

Yelp selects Mood House as a “Top 100 Business of 2025” across the United States

Mood House Oakhurst giving off Palm Springs vibes

Awards: Congrats to Mood House for making it on Yelp’s 2025 Top Local Businesses List 🏆!! Only 3 North Carolina businesses made the list.

Voted “No. 1 Best Massage” in Charlotte in back-to-back years.
Featured in Allure Magazine as a “must-visit” concept.
Recently hit 1,800 massage members across their Dilworth and Oakhurst locations — but you don’t need to be a member to book.

Mother’s Day gift: Use code “TINY20” at checkout for 20% off gift cards or services (valid only for 24 hours). Go buy or book Charlotte’s best massage.

DEAL ROOM

Group raising $5M for “world-class” pickleball facility — $125K for a 1% equity stake

Architectural sketches of Ultimate Pickleball Carolinas

Three businessmen — Jon Gore, Robert Bennett, and Derek Monsour — are raising $5M to build a 20-court pickleball facility in Fort Mill, SC.

Plans: 20 outdoor courts (including a grandstand court), 4 restaurants, an indoor/outdoor bar, Pilates studio, wellness center, event space, and VIP lounge.

Minimum investment: $125K gets you a 1% stake in the business.

Total raise is $5M, so a $7.5M pre-money valuation.
Year 1 projected revenue is $7.1M. Revenue streams include membership fees, booze, private parties, and league fees.
Investors committing $1 million or more receive an additional 1% bonus equity.
“We will return investor capital through a waterfall structure based on profit sharing, with a preferred return of 1.5% per month to investors until 50% of their initial investment has been recouped,” explained Jon.
Targeting a grand opening within the next 12 months.

Investors: Email Jon at jon(at)ultimatepickleballcarolinas.com for the pitch deck.

“Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America (51.8% annual growth) and the Charlotte, NC area lacks a premier pickleball and wellness destination.”

TINY MONEY JOB BOARD

Who’s hiring in Charlotte? 5 Trending jobs

VP of Communications at Charlotte Business Alliance ($115K – $125K). Strategic leader of brand, public relations, and media.
Financial Analyst at Berkley Capital Advisors. One of the top producing retail investment sales groups in the country.
Special Agent, Finance at FBI ($99K – $128K). Investigate financial crimes. Accounting background preferred.
VP of Marketing & Membership Growth at Switchyards. Remote. 10+ years’ experience. 24 work clubs and growing. Stock options.
Oral Surgeon at Steele Creek Modern Dentistry ($450K – $900K). Expect steady referral flow.

Hiring? Post a job

Hunting? View all 83 open jobs on the Tiny Money Job Board

MONEY TALKS

51 year old attorney making $139K rebuilds personal finances after husband passes away

Blumenthal’s Belk Theater in Uptown

Money Talks is a weekly series showcasing how real people in Charlotte approach money. Participate.

Job: “I’m an attorney. I make $139,000 a year working thirty-two hours per week. PTO of 4 weeks. High deductible health insurance plan.”

Salary journey: “I stayed at home with my kids for 6 years. It really hurt my career progression and salary advancement. Other attorneys with over 20 years of experience make over $200K.”

Resilience: “My first husband passed away at 45 years old. He left me with a 401(k) worth around $250,000, plus a modest insurance policy.”

Worst money decision: “Not decreasing my lifestyle in the first couple of years after my husband passed away. My household income decreased from $350K per year to $70K per year.”

Charlotte money hack: “We love the Blumenthal’s Digital Lottery for theater tickets. We won the lottery for Hamilton and only paid around $10 for each ticket!”

On your mind: “I’ve got two college-age children. You want to be able to pay for tuition and expenses and help them with things like study abroad — but your personal economics may prevent you.”

Rich in Charlotte: “Combined income of over $500K, or $3M-plus in savings/investments (excluding 401(k) and home equity).”

Full money story: 51 year old attorney shares her 3 financial goals

MONEY SNACKS

5 other financial headlines I’m snacking on

SORA quietly opens reservations with $199 tasting menu. The 24-seat French Asian restaurant is located in Myers Park.
Luxury hospitality startup led by Zack Lutrell is offering $10K private jet experience with former players for Panthers away games.
Venture capitalist Don Rainey says most overlooked yet most powerful pitch deck slide is the “Use of Funds” slide. Don is the go-to local VC guy.
Renovated Elizabeth duplex asking $1.1M. Craftsmen brick house on a corner lot. Rare income producing opportunity.
AvidXchange to be acquired for $2.2B. PE firm paying $10 per share, a 20% premium. CEO Michael Praeger owns 15,723,000 shares. Drinks on Mike!!

HOUSEKEEPING

Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy gives Bird Pizzeria a 7.8 out of 10 pizza rating

Portnoy with cheese pizza outside Bird Pizzeria

“My favorite pizza I’ve had in Charlotte,” says Portnoy whose Bird pizza review hit 1.4M views within 24 hours.

Already popular: Bird commonly sells out of takeout pizzas before 6pm and has 0 available reservations over the next 2 months 🤯 — and now it’s going to be even more slammed.

Background: Dave Portnoy (13.5M social followers) went fishing on Lake Norman, then came into Charlotte to rate pizza. Final Charlotte pizza review scores…