How Noor Fateh Turned FanBasis Into a 7-Figure Referral Machine (Without Spending on Ads)

“We’re not just a payment processor. We’re your partner in scale — and we don’t take equity.” — Noor Fateh, Chief Revenue Officer at FanBasis

In a landscape dominated by payment processing giants like Stripe and Square, it’s rare to find a startup making waves — let alone creating a movement. But that’s exactly what Noor Fateh and his team have done with FanBasis, a rapidly scaling company that started as a celebrity interaction platform and evolved into a full-suite infrastructure for digital entrepreneurs.

In a live SiriusXM interview at the Wynn Las Vegas on Office Hours with David Meltzer, Fateh broke down the mindset, pivots, and scrappy strategies behind FanBasis — a platform that’s quietly powering a new generation of online businesses.

From Immigrant Grit to Startup Rocket Fuel

Fateh’s origin story is not one of venture-backed privilege or Ivy League pedigree — it’s one of resilience.

“In my culture, it’s lawyer, doctor, or failure.”

His Pakistani parents came to Los Angeles with nothing but work ethic and belief. They climbed from running cellphone stores to owning franchise chains — modeling a blueprint for entrepreneurship that imprinted on Noor. Despite being on the path to a degree from the University of Miami, Fateh dropped out in his senior year to chase a bigger vision.

“They sacrificed so I wouldn’t have to — but I followed their footsteps anyway.”

It wasn’t easy. It came with disappointment, distance, and a need to prove. But he hit the ground running — becoming the top salesperson at his first startup and using momentum to launch the next.

FanBasis: The Anti-Stripe for Online Entrepreneurs

While most founders raise capital to “go faster,” FanBasis spent its early years doing the opposite: educating customers and perfecting product-market fit.

Initially built as a celebrity marketplace, FanBasis transformed during the pandemic — right when the creator economy exploded. Coaches, course creators, and digital entrepreneurs flooded the market, but quickly ran into a massive problem: payment processors flagging them as “high risk.”

“When creators scaled, Stripe would freeze their funds. That’s when we knew — we had to pivot fast.”

That pivot — into a vertically integrated, premium payment platform — became the foundation for what FanBasis is today: a one-stop shop where digital businesses can run everything from payments to communities, courses, and webinars.

Why 67% of Revenue Comes from Referrals

Before they spent a dime on paid ads, FanBasis leaned into something most startups overlook: delivering so much value that customers can’t wait to share.

“67% of our revenue comes from referrals. Because we help them scale, they refer everyone — and their mother.”

Here’s how:

• High-touch onboarding: They consult clients on media buying, funnels, and operations — for free.
• Affiliate referral program: Users earn when they refer others, incentivizing organic growth.
• Focus on transformation, not just transactions: They don’t just process payments — they unlock new revenue opportunities.

The result? 20x growth in a year — and projections to 10x again in the next.

Vision, Speed, and Transformation: The Startup Trinity

Fateh credits three traits for FanBasis’s exponential rise:

1. Vision

The original business model didn’t survive — but the founder mindset did.

“The companies that win aren’t always the ones that start perfect. They’re the ones that know when to pivot.”

2. Speed

When feedback pointed to payment issues, the team didn’t overanalyze — they rebuilt the product.

“You’ve got to move fast. The customer’s needs change fast. And we’re in-house, so we can ship fast.”

3. Transformation

FanBasis isn’t just disrupting payments — it’s rebuilding the infrastructure for a new class of entrepreneurs.

A massive product suite is on the horizon, aiming to rival platforms like Salesforce and GoHighLevel. And it’s all driven by a simple, but powerful belief:

“If we help our customers scale, we win too. That’s the alignment that builds billion-dollar businesses.”

Final Takeaway: Build Fans, Not Just Users

FanBasis isn’t trying to be the next Stripe. It’s trying to be the first of its kind — a partner-driven platform that helps creators and digital businesses own more of their revenue, their community, and their growth.

For early-stage founders, the lesson is clear: take care of your first 100 customers like they’re your investors. When you do, they’ll build your company for you.

Or as Noor Fateh puts it:

“If you don’t take care of what’s in front of you, you’ll burst at the seams. Scale doesn’t matter if the foundation cracks.”