American University graduate Jayson Rapaport moved to New York from Southwest Securities in 1999, becoming an over-the-counter trader at Herzog, Heine & Geduld (HH&G), a firm that then dealt in more share volume than any other in the nation. Rapaport made markets for Fidelity, Janus, Ameritrade, Putnam, and George Soros, among other clients, throughout HH&G's merger with Merrill Lynch.

In 2003, Jayson moved to Austin, opened two restaurant franchises, and turned both around. Birds Barbershop was born when his best friend Michael moved to town and asked him where to get a haircut.

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