Building Communities That Scale
Nikki Estes
Founder & CEO,
Market Me More
Building Communities That Scale
Nikki Estes
Founder & CEO,
Market Me More
Innovation has always thrived where courage meets connection. From payments to technology, the most transformative shifts are often sparked by leaders who see possibilities long before others do. Nikki Estes, Founder & CEO of Market Me More, is one of those visionaries. After nearly 16 years supporting her husband, Jason Estes, shaping the future of fintech with iCG Pay, formally known as iCheckGateway.com, she launched Top Voices Unite, creating a global community of LinkedIn thought leaders dedicated to impact through education, collaboration, and service. She co-founded Market Me More, a fractional marketing partner that helps technology brands scale with credibility and creativity, and later Emerging Voices Unite, giving rising leaders the same platform to grow influence and opportunity. Today, Nikki focuses on amplifying leaders worldwide, building ecosystems where strategy and community fuel measurable growth. During an exclusive conversation with Tradeflock, she reflects on her journey, her milestones, and the movement she is determined to scale.
What was the boldest risk you took early in your entrepreneurial journey that ended up paying off?
After selling our fintech company, iCheckGateway.com, I founded Market Me More and established a LinkedIn Top Voices Unite community. That’s where I met Nick Larson, whose vision for health and wellness inspired me to sponsor the Ageless Evolution Summit After Party. It was a real gamble. The event was nationwide, and I was unfamiliar with California. While I had executed numerous philanthropic events, I had never supported a live event or livestream for business professionals at such a scale. From shipping games and ordering food blindly to flying in my partners from India and building swag bags in a hotel room, everything felt uncertain. I wasn’t sure if it would attract clients or simply showcase my team’s capabilities beyond LinkedIn. In the end, it did both. The risk built credibility for Market Me More and opened the door for Top Voices Unite and Emerging Voices Unite, two communities that now connect thought leaders and rising experts with organizations, providing consulting, speaking, and training that have reached thousands of founders and executives.
What gap did you see that inspired Market Me More?
Many businesses began leaning on AI tools for quick messaging, but the results often felt robotic. I saw a gap for more credibility and authentic visibility. At Market Me More, we amplify leaders’ voices through livestreams and in-person events, creating real human-to-human connections. Of course, we support them through blogs, posts, and newsletters, but everything ultimately ties back to the stage they take, the panels they lead, and the industries they educate. As I like to say, “while content is king, connection is queen.” That focus helps clients stop guessing what to say next and instead grow intentionally by building networks before, during, and after every event we support.
What challenge almost made you rethink your path, and how did you push through?
Moving from one acquisition straight into building Market Me More was tougher than I expected. I was the only team member with corporate-level experience in the US, so I handled every sales call and major decision. My team sought the same significant outcome my husband and I had achieved in our last venture. Still, the burden of their salaries and the operational demands of running the business often felt overwhelming. “There was so much I didn’t know that I didn’t know.” To push through, I leaned heavily on my network of coaches, mentors, and industry leaders. Asking the uncomfortable questions, staying curious, and constantly learning helped me grow as a leader while balancing the needs of my startup and my family.
What strategies have helped Market Me More stand out?
We introduced livestreams as a way to build
brands, foster collaboration, and create real
visibility. At first, many leaders were uneasy
about going live on platforms like YouTube or
LinkedIn, so we held practice sessions, offered
encouragement, and built their confidence
step by step. The goal was community over
competition, progress over perfection, helping
each leader share their unique vision and why
their expertise mattered. This approach not only
eased their anxiety but also strengthened their
influence, generated new collaborations, and
even brought clients to the point where they
could no longer take on additional business.
That proved the strategy truly worked.
What project excites you most right now, and why is community so central to your leadership?
In 2024, I set a goal to help 50 Voices amplify their impact by the end of 2025. Since then, I’ve built deep relationships with more than 170 thought leaders, supporting events in cities from Fort Myers and New York to Amsterdam and Palermo. We’ve helped leaders publish books, produce documentaries, and connect with platforms like Buzzable and VideoFX, sharing stories that might otherwise go unheard. What excites me most is seeing others now take the stage, asking the questions, and leading with intention, proving this movement belongs to many, not just me. These communities remind me daily that we can dream big, face challenges, and still persevere with joy. We are creating intentional change, a movement that draws from the best of each to lift one another.
