So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Mouhamet Seye. I'm originally from Senegal and am now based in Atlanta, which I've called home on and off for nearly 30 years.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

One of the things I love most about living in Atlanta is the Southern hospitality. Georgia is a great state with genuinely kind people, and I also appreciate all the greenery and natural beauty. Overall, it's a wonderful place to live.

Tell us a little bit more about what 1099Workers and how it started? How does it help your customers?

1099Workers is a platform that provides access to benefits for the gig economy. We serve self-employed individuals, independent contractors—there are so many different names for what we do—but at the end of the day, we all receive a 1099.

We wanted to create an ecosystem where independent workers can access quality benefits that have traditionally been available only to W-2 employees. That includes healthcare, retirement solutions, and eventually a broader community with even more resources and support. Our goal is to make it easier for 1099 workers to access the tools they need to build healthier, more secure, and more successful lives.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?

My biggest piece of advice is to find a niche and figure out how you can truly serve others. I think that's the most important place to start.

For me, building a business that genuinely helps people and adds real value has always been the foundation. When you're solving a real problem and making a meaningful impact, everything else becomes much easier to build around.

From there, it's about continuing to learn, staying consistent, and growing one step at a time. Focus on creating something that people actually need, and keep improving as you go. That's how you build a business with long-term success.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

One piece of feedback that has really stuck with me is hearing from people who were able to catch a serious health issue early because they had access to preventive care through our benefits. Knowing that someone went in for a routine screening—whether it was a colonoscopy, prostate exam, or another preventive service—and caught something before it became a much bigger problem is incredibly meaningful.

We're passionate about educating people on the importance of preventive healthcare because the earlier you can address an issue, the better the outcome is likely to be. It's also rewarding to hear from members who have been able to save money while getting the care they need. More than anything, it's knowing that we've helped people improve their health and quality of life that makes the work worthwhile.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I see 1099Workers helping millions of Americans by becoming the trusted infrastructure for the self-employed workforce. Independent workers are often expected to figure everything out on their own, but they shouldn't have to. They deserve the same level of support and resources that traditional employees receive.

Healthcare is one piece of that, but we want to provide so much more—benefits, retirement planning, tax support, access to capital, continuing education, and a strong community. Our goal is to be the first place independent workers turn to, giving them the tools and support they need to build successful, sustainable careers.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions about being self-employed is that it's easy or that you'll automatically have more free time. Many people leave traditional jobs thinking they'll have complete flexibility, and while that's true to an extent, building a successful business takes an incredible amount of time, effort, and dedication.

When you're committed to doing something at a high level, you're thinking about it around the clock. It comes with plenty of challenges, but it's also incredibly rewarding. As a business owner, you get to put your fingerprint on everything you build, and your success is a direct reflection of the work you put in. Being able to bet on yourself, create something meaningful, and define success on your own terms is a feeling that's hard to replicate.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of the biggest challenges has been navigating the complexity of the healthcare industry. The system has traditionally been built to serve large employers, not individuals or businesses of one. As a result, the self-employed have often been left without the same level of access, support, and benefits. Building an infrastructure that truly serves independent workers has required us to rethink that model. Our mission has always been to make sure a single entrepreneur or freelancer has access to the same quality of healthcare, benefits, and resources that someone at a large company would receive. Creating that kind of solution in such a fragmented industry hasn't been easy, but it's been one of the most meaningful challenges we've taken on.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I'd definitely like to give a shoutout to our team. You can't build something great by yourself, and while I may be the face of the company, they're the ones working behind the scenes every day to make our vision a reality. Our executive team, my co-founder Frank, JR, and everyone across the organization have been instrumental in helping grow 1099Workers and expanding our impact.

I'd also like to recognize my wife and my family. Being an entrepreneur takes a tremendous amount of time and commitment, and having the right partner by your side makes all the difference. Their support, encouragement, and understanding have been invaluable throughout this journey, and I truly couldn't have done it without them.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Readers can learn more about us by visiting 1099Workers.com, where they'll find information about our mission, services, and how we're helping independent workers access affordable healthcare, benefits, and the resources they need to succeed. You can also connect with us on social media to stay up to date on the latest news and initiatives.