Veteran to Entrepreneur: Lucas Naccarati’s Business Journey | APU
Source: https://www.apu.edu/articles/veteran-lucas-naccarati-25-a-mission-driven-path-to-business-success
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:36
Veteran to Entrepreneur: Lucas Naccarati’s Business Journey | APU
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Veteran Lucas Naccarati ’25: A Mission-Driven Path to Business Success
April 16, 2026 | Category Alumni, Military Education, Business | Written By Nathan Foster
Related Articles
APU Opens New Military Center Focused on Veteran Purpose and Success
APU Earns 2026-27 Military Friendly® School Designation with Top 10 Status
APU Earns 2025-26 Military Friendly® School Designation, Gold Award
Whenever Lucas Naccarati ’25 is faced with a big life decision, he turns to the same
avenue that’s never let him down—prayer. From deciding to join the U.S. Marine Corps
to selling his first business to starting a new one and investing his hard-earned
capital, prayer and seeking guidance from the Lord are constant through lines in Naccarati’s
life. At 30 years old, Naccarati has already experienced incredible success as an
entrepreneur and is looking forward to what the Lord has in store for him in the coming
years.
From Brazil to the U.S. Marine Corps
Originally from Glendale, Naccarati’s family moved to Brazil when he was an infant,
and returned to the U.S. when he was seven years old. Although he traveled back to
Brazil to visit family many times as a child, his Brazilian citizenship wouldn’t come
to play an imperative role until later in life. Growing up in Southern California,
Naccarati’s parents consistently encouraged him to go to college and get a degree.
After graduating from high school, Naccarati went to Pasadena City College for a semester,
but quickly dropped out. “School wasn’t for me back then. I was immature and didn’t
have the discipline I needed to succeed academically,” he said. When one of his best
friends decided to join the Marine Corps, it piqued Naccarati’s curiosity. “I looked
into what it would mean to join the military and researched all of the branches. The
Marine Corps was supposed to be the most challenging one, so I prayed about it and
that’s the one I chose,” he said. “It’s definitely one of the best decisions I’ve
ever made.”
Naccarati was ready and willing to serve his country. Over his time in the Marines,
he was stationed in California, Mississippi, Arizona, and Missouri. Naccarati quickly
learned the challenges of the military, witnessing the struggles of soldiers as they
trained for combat. “At the same time, there were lots of great moments. I met some
of my best friends,” he said.
We had camaraderie and I learned leadership skills and the discipline I needed to
be mature physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Most importantly, I learned the
importance of adapting and overcoming any obstacles. That experience shaped me into
the man I am now.
A Heroic Response and Launching a Safety Business
Soon after his time in the Marines, Naccarati’s military training and instincts would
come into play in a way he could never have imagined. While attending the Astroworld
Festival in Houston on November 5, 2021, a fatal crowd crush occurred among the 50,000
concert fans. Naccarati quickly assessed the situation and sprung into action. “I
gave CPR to two people. I was going in and grabbing people and taking them out as
well. It was nonstop. With CPR, I didn’t even realize how long I was doing it, there
was so much going on.”
That drive to protect others, which was so ingrained in him through the Military and
his experience at the concert, led him to his first business endeavor. With the alarming
rise of shootings making headlines around the country, Naccarati felt called to do
something. “I prayed about it and thought about what I could do. That’s when I had
an idea for HuskyPak, a bulletproof backpack,” he said. Naccarati made a pitch to
an investor and within seven months, the idea went from concept to reality, a bulletproof
backpack that could keep people safe. Although he initially marketed the backpack
to the military and law enforcement, Naccarati found a much bigger market, parents
who wanted to keep their children safe at school. Three years later he received an
offer to purchase his company, a decision he made that would open the door to new
opportunities.
Next Naccarati took a job with his brother, who owns one of the top neuropathy clinics
in the country, Premier Health Institute. That experience taught him a lot about how
a successful company should run. “My brother puts his employees first. He pays them
well and takes them and their families on corporate trips,” Naccarati said. “He knows
that if he invests in them, they’ll invest back in him and the company will thrive,
and it has.” Naccarati enjoyed serving as Chief Operating Officer for the company
for three years, but deep down, he knew he wanted to build a business again.
Entering the Global Fintech Market in Brazil
In March 2024, Naccarati received a call from an old connection in Brazil. “I flew
out there the next day to hear his pitch for the company, PayTech,” he said. “We founded
the company and now I’m a majority owner. The company is essentially a payment banking
platform.” Naccarati had thought about entering the fintech (financial technology)
sector in the U.S., but the Brazilian fintech economy is far less developed, which
represented a good opportunity for him to invest in it early. His capital would also
go further in Brazil; he would benefit from higher interest rates; and his Brazilian
citizenship allows him to easily travel back and forth to run the company while also
spending time at home in California. As PayTech has grown, Naccarati reflected on
what the future of the company holds. “When I first invested in PayTech, I asked my
partners to come up with a delusional goal and a realistic one. The delusional goal
was to take the company public, while the realistic one was to sell it if we got an
offer over $200 million,” he said. “That number has grown since then, but I think
there’s a real chance of that happening in the next 5-7 years.”
Earning a Business Degree as an Adult Learner
Around the same time that he invested in PayTech, Naccarati decided to go back to
school. Although he already ran a successful company, he knew there was a lot he still
needed to learn about the business world, but his decision went beyond that. “My mother
and father always wanted me to go back to school,” he said. “Whether I was in the
Marines or was running a company, they said, ‘but imagine if you got a bachelor’s
degree.’ I knew that it would make them happy.” Naccarati researched
business programs
and decided to attend Azusa Pacific University for his degree.
I liked that it was a Christian school, and I knew my mom would too. I also appreciated
that I was able to do most of my program online. I came to campus a few times a semester
to maintain my VA benefits, but most of the time I completed my work remotely, which
was exactly what I needed because I was constantly traveling back and forth to Brazil
for my business.
Naccarati completed his degree in just two years, an accelerated pathway in which
he excelled. The Marines had given him discipline and strengthened his work ethic.
“Being back in school with a mature mindset helped me focus and get it done as fast
as possible,” he said. “I also wanted it to be a surprise so finishing my degree
quickly helped me keep it a secret.” On November 28, 2025, two weeks before his graduation,
Naccarati finally revealed what he had been working on to his family. “I had a video
recorded of my admissions interview with APU. I watched it with my family,” he said.
“They thought it had just happened and I was about to start school, but then I swiped
to the next slide which was a photo of me in my graduation regalia. My mom and dad
started crying. That was definitely not on their bingo card for 2025, or ever for
me. It brought me a lot of joy to fulfill their wish for me.”
Faith Integration in the Business World
While Naccarati learned practical and theoretical knowledge in his courses, one of
his favorite parts of his APU experience was faith integration. Although he had grown
up in a Christian family and faith was always a part of his life, it hadn’t been as
big a part of his work before APU. Naccarati was presented with hypothetical scenarios
in his classes where his professors would ask—how would you handle this situation
being a person of faith? “Learning to ask, ‘what would Jesus do in this scenario’
really restructured the way I think. I found Bible verses that supported my decisions,
and the whole process deepened my faith.” Naccarati seeks the Lord’s guidance through
prayer as he continues to build his business and waits with faithful anticipation
for whatever comes next.
Apply to APU, California’s Top Ranked Christian University
Apply Now
Request Information
©
Home
>
APU Articles
>
News Article
Veteran Lucas Naccarati ’25: A Mission-Driven Path to Business Success
April 16, 2026 | Category Alumni, Military Education, Business | Written By Nathan Foster
Related Articles
APU Opens New Military Center Focused on Veteran Purpose and Success
APU Earns 2026-27 Military Friendly® School Designation with Top 10 Status
APU Earns 2025-26 Military Friendly® School Designation, Gold Award
Whenever Lucas Naccarati ’25 is faced with a big life decision, he turns to the same
avenue that’s never let him down—prayer. From deciding to join the U.S. Marine Corps
to selling his first business to starting a new one and investing his hard-earned
capital, prayer and seeking guidance from the Lord are constant through lines in Naccarati’s
life. At 30 years old, Naccarati has already experienced incredible success as an
entrepreneur and is looking forward to what the Lord has in store for him in the coming
years.
From Brazil to the U.S. Marine Corps
Originally from Glendale, Naccarati’s family moved to Brazil when he was an infant,
and returned to the U.S. when he was seven years old. Although he traveled back to
Brazil to visit family many times as a child, his Brazilian citizenship wouldn’t come
to play an imperative role until later in life. Growing up in Southern California,
Naccarati’s parents consistently encouraged him to go to college and get a degree.
After graduating from high school, Naccarati went to Pasadena City College for a semester,
but quickly dropped out. “School wasn’t for me back then. I was immature and didn’t
have the discipline I needed to succeed academically,” he said. When one of his best
friends decided to join the Marine Corps, it piqued Naccarati’s curiosity. “I looked
into what it would mean to join the military and researched all of the branches. The
Marine Corps was supposed to be the most challenging one, so I prayed about it and
that’s the one I chose,” he said. “It’s definitely one of the best decisions I’ve
ever made.”
Naccarati was ready and willing to serve his country. Over his time in the Marines,
he was stationed in California, Mississippi, Arizona, and Missouri. Naccarati quickly
learned the challenges of the military, witnessing the struggles of soldiers as they
trained for combat. “At the same time, there were lots of great moments. I met some
of my best friends,” he said.
We had camaraderie and I learned leadership skills and the discipline I needed to
be mature physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Most importantly, I learned the
importance of adapting and overcoming any obstacles. That experience shaped me into
the man I am now.
A Heroic Response and Launching a Safety Business
Soon after his time in the Marines, Naccarati’s military training and instincts would
come into play in a way he could never have imagined. While attending the Astroworld
Festival in Houston on November 5, 2021, a fatal crowd crush occurred among the 50,000
concert fans. Naccarati quickly assessed the situation and sprung into action. “I
gave CPR to two people. I was going in and grabbing people and taking them out as
well. It was nonstop. With CPR, I didn’t even realize how long I was doing it, there
was so much going on.”
That drive to protect others, which was so ingrained in him through the Military and
his experience at the concert, led him to his first business endeavor. With the alarming
rise of shootings making headlines around the country, Naccarati felt called to do
something. “I prayed about it and thought about what I could do. That’s when I had
an idea for HuskyPak, a bulletproof backpack,” he said. Naccarati made a pitch to
an investor and within seven months, the idea went from concept to reality, a bulletproof
backpack that could keep people safe. Although he initially marketed the backpack
to the military and law enforcement, Naccarati found a much bigger market, parents
who wanted to keep their children safe at school. Three years later he received an
offer to purchase his company, a decision he made that would open the door to new
opportunities.
Next Naccarati took a job with his brother, who owns one of the top neuropathy clinics
in the country, Premier Health Institute. That experience taught him a lot about how
a successful company should run. “My brother puts his employees first. He pays them
well and takes them and their families on corporate trips,” Naccarati said. “He knows
that if he invests in them, they’ll invest back in him and the company will thrive,
and it has.” Naccarati enjoyed serving as Chief Operating Officer for the company
for three years, but deep down, he knew he wanted to build a business again.
Entering the Global Fintech Market in Brazil
In March 2024, Naccarati received a call from an old connection in Brazil. “I flew
out there the next day to hear his pitch for the company, PayTech,” he said. “We founded
the company and now I’m a majority owner. The company is essentially a payment banking
platform.” Naccarati had thought about entering the fintech (financial technology)
sector in the U.S., but the Brazilian fintech economy is far less developed, which
represented a good opportunity for him to invest in it early. His capital would also
go further in Brazil; he would benefit from higher interest rates; and his Brazilian
citizenship allows him to easily travel back and forth to run the company while also
spending time at home in California. As PayTech has grown, Naccarati reflected on
what the future of the company holds. “When I first invested in PayTech, I asked my
partners to come up with a delusional goal and a realistic one. The delusional goal
was to take the company public, while the realistic one was to sell it if we got an
offer over $200 million,” he said. “That number has grown since then, but I think
there’s a real chance of that happening in the next 5-7 years.”
Earning a Business Degree as an Adult Learner
Around the same time that he invested in PayTech, Naccarati decided to go back to
school. Although he already ran a successful company, he knew there was a lot he still
needed to learn about the business world, but his decision went beyond that. “My mother
and father always wanted me to go back to school,” he said. “Whether I was in the
Marines or was running a company, they said, ‘but imagine if you got a bachelor’s
degree.’ I knew that it would make them happy.” Naccarati researched
business programs
and decided to attend Azusa Pacific University for his degree.
I liked that it was a Christian school, and I knew my mom would too. I also appreciated
that I was able to do most of my program online. I came to campus a few times a semester
to maintain my VA benefits, but most of the time I completed my work remotely, which
was exactly what I needed because I was constantly traveling back and forth to Brazil
for my business.
Naccarati completed his degree in just two years, an accelerated pathway in which
he excelled. The Marines had given him discipline and strengthened his work ethic.
“Being back in school with a mature mindset helped me focus and get it done as fast
as possible,” he said. “I also wanted it to be a surprise so finishing my degree
quickly helped me keep it a secret.” On November 28, 2025, two weeks before his graduation,
Naccarati finally revealed what he had been working on to his family. “I had a video
recorded of my admissions interview with APU. I watched it with my family,” he said.
“They thought it had just happened and I was about to start school, but then I swiped
to the next slide which was a photo of me in my graduation regalia. My mom and dad
started crying. That was definitely not on their bingo card for 2025, or ever for
me. It brought me a lot of joy to fulfill their wish for me.”
Faith Integration in the Business World
While Naccarati learned practical and theoretical knowledge in his courses, one of
his favorite parts of his APU experience was faith integration. Although he had grown
up in a Christian family and faith was always a part of his life, it hadn’t been as
big a part of his work before APU. Naccarati was presented with hypothetical scenarios
in his classes where his professors would ask—how would you handle this situation
being a person of faith? “Learning to ask, ‘what would Jesus do in this scenario’
really restructured the way I think. I found Bible verses that supported my decisions,
and the whole process deepened my faith.” Naccarati seeks the Lord’s guidance through
prayer as he continues to build his business and waits with faithful anticipation
for whatever comes next.
Apply to APU, California’s Top Ranked Christian University
Apply Now
Request Information
©