Steve A. Rodgers is a Founder and President of Planet 9 Ventures, the Midwest’s leading startup studio focused on helping founders and entrepreneurs leverage AI and automation to accelerate and transform their businesses.
Before founding Planet 9 Ventures, Steve launched and led several successful ventures, including Security Professional Services Inc. (Security PS), kcReal Properties LLC, RedShift VoIP, and Freedom Strength.
With a background that spans industries such as cybersecurity, consulting, financial services, communications, real estate, healthcare, fitness, and the public sector, Steve is uniquely skilled at harnessing the power of automation and artificial intelligence to drive operational efficiency. His expertise has helped businesses optimize performance and achieve sustainable growth across a range of sectors.
Today, Steve channels his extensive experience in business strategy, operations, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation to mentor and empower aspiring founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners. By leveraging a proven methodology, he helps founders launch and scale their businesses, maximizing their expertise, time, and resources to drive success.
He also has a passion for helping 50+ year old adults be stronger, fitter, more confident versions of themselves with a proven, time-efficient methodology of barbell strength training and conditioning.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Missouri State University and has earned an “honorary MBA” from the School of Hard Knocks, a testament to his hands-on experience founding, funding, and successfully exiting multiple seven-figure businesses. He is also a Dale Carnegie Course Graduate.
Steve's Companies and Ventures
Planet 9 Ventures is the Midwest’s leading venture studio focused on helping founders and entrepreneurs leverage AI and automation to accelerate and transform their businesses.
Nexus 9 is an engineer-based solutions firm dedicated to the reliability and safety of critical infrastructure. We protect against contemporary cyber threats with a first-principles approach, ensuring safety, customer focus, and fact-based decisions.
Freedom Strength helps you get back to your younger self. A better, stronger, fitter version of you.
It all starts with barbell strength training and conditioning.
kcReal Properties LLC has provided single-family homes in the Raytown and Lee’s Summit suburbs of Kansas City since 2007.
Steve's Favorite Quotes
Quote of the Day:
“There is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.”
Complete Quotes List
For a complete list of Steve’s Favorite Quotes click here.