How Javon Frazier Built a $6.7 Million Startup on Card Games

For Javon Frazier, entrepreneurship wasn’t just about building a career—it was about pursuing his childhood passion and being present for his family.

Growing up in a single-parent home in Los Angeles, Frazier found comfort in comic books and video games. These early interests shaped his future.

After business school, Frazier landed a job at Marvel Entertainment, then moved on to Studio71, where he became chief product officer. 

But the long hours and frequent travel took a toll. “I was away from home too much,” he admits.

In 2021, Frazier launched Maestro Media, a company dedicated to creating games. His first major project was The Binding of Isaac: Four Souls Requiem, a card game that he wanted to fund through Kickstarter. The challenge was simple: he didn’t have enough capital to start.

“I need to pull some money out of the house,” Frazier told his wife. “All of it.” It was a huge risk, but his wife, though shocked, supported the decision. “At that point, we knew we were all in.”

By the spring of 2021, the company was running low on cash. Frazier had hired a team and spent heavily on the project.

His CFO told him, “We’re out of cash.” Frazier was determined to make it work. “Get me to the starting gate,” he said.

When the Kickstarter campaign launched on June 1, 2021, it hit $1 million in the first 90 minutes. By the end of the 30-day campaign, it raised $6.7 million—one of the largest campaigns in Kickstarter history.

“If this thing hadn’t worked, I would have lost my house,” Frazier says.

The campaign’s success wasn’t just financial—it helped build a community. Frazier’s team launched The Unboxing of Isaac, a subscription service to keep fans engaged as they waited for their orders. The game was shipped in 12 languages, growing the business further.

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From one game, Maestro Media expanded rapidly. By 2026, Frazier plans to release up to 30 games. What started as a one-person operation is now a team of 12, all working remotely.

Looking back on his corporate days at Studio71, where he traveled 150,000 miles a year, Frazier reflects, “I didn’t know what my kids ate for breakfast, for god’s sake.”

Realizing he needed to spend more time with his family, he decided to leave the corporate world behind. Now, his daughters are involved in the business.

“They’re the most underpaid playtesters in the world,” Frazier jokes.

For Frazier, leaving his job wasn’t just about business—it was about being there for his family. “I’m so blessed to be here, to be at home, to be with my family,” he says.