We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justin Heartman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justin below.

Hi Justin , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The idea for GearGuard really started during my time as a manager at the Columbus Civic Center. Working in venue management for almost four years, I saw firsthand how frustrated guests became once clear-bag policies rolled out after COVID. People just weren’t used to being told they couldn’t bring a bag into a concert or sports event. Lines got long, tempers got short, and staff had to constantly apologize for a rule we didn’t create.

I realized there was a real gap: everyone complained about the problem, but nobody offered a solution. So I decided to create one. That’s how GearGuard was born a service built to support venues and help guests have a smoother, stress-free experience. We store the items people can’t take inside, help events run more efficiently, and make the entire entry process easier.

GearGuard exists because I wanted to turn a consistent problem into a consistent service. We Guard Your Gear.

Justin , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name carries a few different forms some people call me Tre, some call me Justin, and others call me Heart — but all three represent who I am. Each name has shaped me, pushed my imagination, and influenced the way I create. I’m 29 years old, a proud father to my 9-year-old son, Kygan, who is my purpose and the reason behind everything I build. My mission is simple: create generational wealth and a legacy he can stand on.

Out of that drive came GearGuard the Southeast’s first event-storage service designed to support venues with no-bag and clear-bag policies. GearGuard solves a problem guests have faced for years: arriving at concerts, games, or festivals with items they can’t bring inside. We provide a secure, convenient storage option that helps venues reduce entry delays, improve guest experience, and eliminate the issues caused by restricted bag policies.

At its core, GearGuard is innovation, service, and vision all wrapped into one solution.
Just like the names I go by, every part of me contributes to this journey.
And together, we Guard Your Gear.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes, a big part of my entrepreneurial mindset has been shaped by the resources I’ve found online, especially through YouTube. I’ve learned that everything you need is really at your fingertips; you just have to be willing to search for the answers. There’s always someone documenting their journey, sharing lessons, and offering guidance for the next person coming up.

One channel that impacted me the most is UpFlip. Their videos feature everyday people, entrepreneurs who look like me, think like me, and started exactly where I am. Seeing regular people turn a dream and a plan into a real business made entrepreneurship feel achievable. It taught me that success isn’t reserved for the elite it’s for the ones who take action.

The biggest lesson I’ve taken from those resources is simple:
You only fail if you don’t try.

That philosophy drives me as both a manager and an entrepreneur.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Last year, I reached a point where I was completely jobless and unsure of what direction my life was heading in. It was one of those moments where you know you have the talent and experience to be great, but you just haven’t found the right path yet. Instead of letting it break me, I used it as a chance to reset.

In April 2025, I finally got an opportunity that changed everything. I was hired for a position that sent me traveling all over the United States. For two straight months, I lived on the road, learning hands-on about hospitality, festivals, event management, operations, and bar management. That experience opened my eyes to how the entire industry work not just in one city, but nationwide.

During that time, I noticed something everywhere I went: thousands of guests being turned away at the gates because of bag policies. The same thing even happened when I took my mother to a Beyoncé concert people frustrated, confused, and stuck with items they couldn’t bring inside.

That was my pivot moment.

Instead of watching the problem and moving on, I realized it could be a business opportunity I was meant to create. That’s when the idea for GearGuard was born a solution to a problem I kept seeing over and over again across the entire country.

Losing my job forced me to pivot, but that pivot helped me find my purpose. It pushed me to create something meaningful, something that could grow, scale, and build the foundation for generational wealth for my family.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Justinheartman and @Gearguardstorage
• Facebook: Justin Heartman

Image Credits

– Justin Heartman
-MediaFlexStudios