V2 - Corporate Ventures TL | Richard G. Stewart

Corporate Ventures Timeline

Richard G. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D.’s career in business innovation spans more than five decades of building companies, securing groundbreaking patents, and forging trusted partnerships. From loyalty platforms to financial clearinghouse technology, his journey demonstrates how vision, persistence, and faith can create lasting impact.

This timeline highlights the milestones that shaped his ventures, culminating in WeSave—a next-generation marketplace designed to empower Main Street merchants, consumers, and communities.

Want the full story? Discover Richard’s journey from the beginning to today in his new book It's Worth A Billion – available now.

I want this!

2001

Founding Vision & Patent Defense

Richard founded Source, Inc., to reinvent loyalty programs as engines of collaborative engagement and financial empowerment. That same year, he secured key patents in loyalty technology and successfully defended them against industry giants. One settlement resulted in a strategic partnership with MetaBank® (now, Pathward), establishing credibility and a long-term strategic relationship. Over the next few years, Source developed the R-Net clearinghouse platform to support an open-loop, universal loyalty program.

HELP Worldwide, Inc.

2008

With a heart for humanitarian impact, Richard launched the Humanitarian Empowerment Loyalty Platform (HELP). This groundbreaking model wove charitable giving into everyday loyalty transactions, proving that business could also be a channel for generosity. As a sister company to Source, HELP became the public-facing marketing arm for what was then called the “LoyaltyShare” network for members and merchants.

WeSave Rewards Acquisition

2012

Richard’s team acquired a state-level eCommerce platform with government contracts serving hundreds of thousands of employees. This acquisition broadened reach and positioned his ventures to scale loyalty-driven commerce nationally.

International Clearinghouse, Inc. (ICH)

2019

The launch of ICH marked a new chapter: a centralized loyalty transaction processor capable of handling massive transaction volumes. MetaBank® deepened its commitment as both an investor and a board member, underscoring the platform’s strength.

Technology & Partnerships

2020–2021

Partnerships with a split-pay processor, Fiserv (CardConnect™), and the Indi affiliate aggregator expanded ICH’s capabilities. These relationships strengthened the technical foundation and prepared the system for rapid growth.

WeSave, Inc.

2021

Richard launched WeSave as a people-first eCommerce brand, fully integrated with ICH’s clearinghouse engine. To help lead this bold venture, he engaged Brad C. Hanson, former CEO of MetaBank, as CEO of WeSave.

WeSave is a next-generation, e-commerce–driven Wealth Empowerment Platform that turns everyday shopping into shared prosperity. Members and merchants earn equity ownership, dividends, cashback, referral income, and asset-backed rewards… all tracked, calculated and paid through a proprietary Revenue Distribution Engine operated with an exclusive partnership with the International Clearinghouse (ICH). Built with banking-grade clearinghouse tech and a “people first” philosophy, WeSave is the new economy for Main Street. It is the future of everyday commerce where ordinary Americans become owners, not just consumers.

Learn More About WeSave

SEC & Compliance Infrastructure

2022

Richard assembled a robust regulatory ecosystem by partnering with KBA (securities law), Rialto Markets (Broker/Dealer), KoreConX (Transfer Agent), and Enterprise Bank & Trust (Escrow). These alliances ensured WeSave could scale compliantly.

Merchant & Investor Integrations

2023

WeSave finalized merchant processing agreements, completed CPA audits, and integrated PT Holdings as a split-pay processor. The company also enabled investors to purchase stock by credit card—a first for many in the space.

Launch Preparations & Beta Phase

2024

SEC filings were completed, websites launched, and beta testing began. WeSave piloted with Chambers of Commerce, while onboarding merchants, members, and investors. Development of the mobile app advanced quickly.

Next-Gen SaaS & Loyalty Solutions

Future

Looking forward, Richard envisions WeSave powering in-store pickup, same-day delivery, Scan & Pay systems, and the wePay universal loyalty wallet—a future where loyalty and commerce merge seamlessly.