By Elisha Spencer | From the Ground Up
The gas station in Summit, Miss., that launched Zack and Caitlyn Pieper’s investment company, Adventurous Investing.
SUMMIT, Miss. — When Zack and Caitlyn Pieper sat in a closing office a little more than a year ago, signing away their savings and every last nerve for a modest gas station on the edge of town, Zack remembers having just one thought:
“Heavenly Father, thank you for this opportunity. Please help me not screw it up.”
Today, that gas station serves as the foundation of Adventurous Investing, a Mississippi based investment company the Hernando couple says they built from the ground up.
With no real estate experience, no list of investors and, by their own account, $10,000 in debt, the Piepers took another leap of faith by borrowing an additional $20,000 to enroll in a Christian entrepreneurship program. Five months later, they say they had transformed that single investment into a multi six figure company.
Now they’re pursuing a second Summit location and hope to acquire a third property before the end of 2026.
But the Piepers insist their story didn’t begin with a business plan.
It began with a marriage.
Zack and Caitlyn Pieper, with their daughter Amnis, at a Life Surge event in Richmond, Va.
A Partnership Before It Was a Business
Zack and Caitlyn met while Zack was promoting his debut novel. What began as a friendship quickly grew into something more after they discovered they shared the same frustration with what they viewed as a broken publishing industry.
That common purpose eventually became the foundation of both their marriage and their business ambitions.
“Our relationship was founded on that idea,” the couple said. “When we realized we shared a desire to overhaul the publishing industry, teaming up became the obvious decision. Our marriage evolved out of that.”
Before Adventurous Publications could become reality, however, they needed both capital and credibility.
That search eventually led them to investing and, ultimately, to a gas station four hours from home.
For the Piepers, entrepreneurship has never been primarily about money.
“The potential to change the world,” they said when asked what motivates them. “Our goals aren’t financial. Our goals are transformational. We seek to create a cultural impact, a renaissance of American culture and excellence that helps people realize they can succeed if they’re willing to work hard, take risks and go on the adventure.”
That word, Adventure, isn’t accidental.
It’s the name on the door.
Why Summit?
The Piepers weren’t simply looking for any business to buy.
They had two requirements. The investment needed to generate enough income for Zack to leave his day job and demonstrate enough potential to attract future investors.
The Summit gas station checked every box.
“Owning a business opens you up to all kinds of networking and funding opportunities,” Zack said.
The relationship they built with the property’s previous owner has already led to another opportunity. That same owner is now offering the couple a significant discount on a second property.
Still, making the purchase wasn’t easy.
Zack has lived with generalized anxiety disorder and depression since childhood, and neither he nor Caitlyn had ever managed a business of this size.
“We were extremely anxious,” they said. “Neither of us had ever run a business this big before. But we worked with a knowledgeable business coach and a Christian entrepreneurship community called LifeSurge. The Lord gave us the tools and support, and we took a leap of faith.”
Learning by Doing
No seminar or online course, Zack says, could fully prepare them for running an operating business.
“Books are filled with useful business principles,” the couple said. “But they can’t tell you exactly what your business needs in your community. That’s where the rubber meets the road.”
Some lessons were surprisingly simple.
For months, Zack drove four hours almost every week just to collect and deposit cash before realizing he could open bank accounts closer to the business.
Other lessons have been far more difficult.
Refinancing debt remains one of the company’s biggest challenges, particularly for a young business trying to establish itself.
“Most of our emotional hardship comes from the financial challenges,” Zack said.
Building a Business Together
The Piepers quickly learned that trying to separate marriage from business wasn’t realistic.
“We tried that initially, and it didn’t work,” they said. “We eventually realized business operations fit Zack’s strengths, while Cait provides valuable input and perspective. Once we embraced that structure, things became much smoother.”
Like any business partners, they occasionally disagree, particularly about the future of Adventurous Publications.
Those disagreements, they say, are resolved through communication, research and careful evaluation of market conditions.
Their strongest foundation, however, isn’t a business strategy.
It’s their faith.
“Having a relationship grounded in biblical principles where both parties accept their responsibilities and genuinely love one another.”
From One Property to a Growing Portfolio
The Piepers’ goal is to own three properties before the end of 2026.
From there, they plan to streamline operations, strengthen their financial position, build management teams and eventually acquire two new investment properties each year.
Profits, they say, will continue funding their long-term dream of growing Adventurous Publications.
When asked when they stopped thinking of themselves as gas station owners and began thinking like investors, Zack didn’t hesitate.
“The moment we incorporated,” he said. “We are Adventurous Investing. We didn’t set out to own a gas station. That’s simply the opportunity the Lord put in front of us.”
That first investment also reshaped how they evaluate every opportunity.
Today, they focus on capitalization rates of at least 10%, built-in equity at purchase, opportunities for improvement and, for now, properties located in Mississippi.
“We plan to stay local for the foreseeable future,” they said.
Investing in Communities
For the Piepers, success isn’t measured solely by financial returns.
One of Zack’s first decisions after purchasing the business was giving the station’s manager a raise that had reportedly been delayed for more than two years.
“Raising his wages puts money back into his community,” Zack said. “When the business needs something, I buy locally whenever possible. We want our locations to become financial pillars of the communities they serve.”
That philosophy extends beyond the balance sheet.
“When you’re an Adventurous customer, your money stays in your community.”
The couple says they’ve felt welcomed throughout Mississippi.
“Summit has a lot of friendly folks,” they said. “Back home in Hernando, everyone has been excited for us. Our experience has been that Mississippi is full of good people.”
They believe small businesses remain the backbone of rural America.
“Small business owners keep small towns alive,” they said.
Looking ahead, the couple hopes to rehabilitate historic buildings, invest in agriculture and restaurants, and advocate for policies that make entrepreneurship more accessible.
“Mississippi is the diamond in the rough,” they said. “We have big plans for Mississippi.”
Zack and Caitlyn Pieper with Sean McNicholas of HGTV.
Advice for Other Couples
For couples considering entrepreneurship, the Piepers offer simple advice:
Strengthen your faith.
Invest in your education.
Build relationships.
“Put yourself around people who know more than you do,” they said. “Listen. Learn. Make yourself valuable. Business is at least 50 percent relationships.”
They also encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to ignore the myth of overnight success.
“There is still no ‘get rich quick’ for 99.99 percent of people,” they said. “You have to become comfortable with stress and uncertainty.”
Another misconception, they say, is believing you need wealth or connections before getting started.
“We started knowing no one, with $10,000 in debt and zero business or real estate experience,” Zack said. “We trusted God, invested in education, built a network from scratch and worked relentlessly. Five months later, we had built a multi six figure company.”
They laughed as Zack added one final lesson.
“We’ve both been told you can’t just ask people for money and expect them to invest. Turns out… sometimes you can. You just need a good opportunity and the confidence to present it.”
Looking Ahead
The Piepers’ five-year goal is to manage 11 major assets while establishing Adventurous Publications as a recognized publisher of books and entertainment.
Within 10 years, they hope to own 40 investment properties while building a nationally recognized publishing brand.
Yet when asked what success means today, Zack’s answer had little to do with business growth.
“Success is living every day being useful to my God, my family and my community,” he said. “Adventurous Investing is a rising tide. Rising tides raise all ships.”
Zack and Caitlyn Pieper own Adventurous Investing, based in Hernando, Mississippi. For more information or investment inquiries, email info@adventurousinvesting.com.
