​In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with John Gagliardi, founder and CEO of Kane Footwear, to explore his journey from professional lacrosse player to pioneering a sustainable recovery shoe brand. John shares how his experiences in sports and the footwear industry inspired the creation of Kane, focusing on performance, sustainability, and innovation.​ 

John discusses the challenges of product design, the importance of sustainability, and strategies for building a successful brand. He emphasizes the significance of enjoying the entrepreneurial journey and balancing profit with purpose. He also reflects on lessons learned from past experiences and offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs about following their passions while being pragmatic about their career choices.​ 

Join us for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the journey of building a brand that prioritizes both performance and sustainability.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

• Instagram: @TheSamMahmood
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Follow our producers, The Peers Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepeersproject?igsh=MTZ1dWJpZXVpYWdybA==

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Diego Saez Gil, co-founder and CEO of Pachama, to explore how his journey from the Andes to Silicon Valley shaped his mission to combat climate change through innovation. Pachama uses technology to bring transparency and trust to the carbon credits market, helping companies offset emissions while supporting forest conservation. 

Diego shares the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial path—from launching his first startups during the 2008 financial crisis to facing the challenges of raising capital as an immigrant founder. He offers insights on the importance of surrounding yourself with passionate people, building a culture rooted in purpose, and viewing entrepreneurship as a path to service. He also opens up about how meditation, nature, and perspective have influenced his leadership style and personal growth. 

Join us for a thoughtful conversation on climate tech, startup resilience, and creating a company that values both impact and culture.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

• Instagram: @TheSamMahmood
• Twitter: @TheSamMahmood_
• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

Join the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.co

Follow our producers, The Peers Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepeersproject?igsh=MTZ1dWJpZXVpYWdybA==

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Sasha Siddhartha, co-founder and CTO of Thrive Market, to explore how his passion and drive for entrepreneurship helped him build a thriving e-commerce platform. Thrive Market’s mission is to make organic, sustainable groceries accessible and affordable through a unique membership model. 

Sasha shares the story of building the company, from navigating the challenges of fundraising to leveraging influencers as investors for authentic brand growth. Sasha dives into the importance of operational efficiency, customer personalization, and staying mission-driven while scaling a direct-to-consumer business. He reflects on early mistakes in customer acquisition, the lessons learned in balancing growth with long-term value, and the competitive landscape of e-commerce. With a clear vision for the future, Sasha also shares his thoughts on global expansion, leadership, and what it takes to build a purpose-driven brand in a rapidly evolving market. 

Join us for a candid conversation on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the power of aligning business success with positive impact.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

• Instagram: @TheSamMahmood
• Twitter: @TheSamMahmood_
• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

Join the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.co

Follow our producers, The Peers Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepeersproject?igsh=MTZ1dWJpZXVpYWdybA==

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Dennis Mortensen, CEO of LaunchBrightly, to discuss the art of entrepreneurship. Dennis shares how identifying pain points—not just passion—fuels great business ideas and why he keeps a ‘list of hate’ to track inefficiencies worth solving.

Dennis dives into the challenges of startup culture, emphasizing the need for founders to cultivate a company built on care, authenticity, and shared commitment. With insights on raising capital, integrating family into entrepreneurship, and hiring for resilience, Dennis offers a candid look at the mindset required to scale a startup. 

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leadership, innovation, and the power of solving problems that truly matter.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

• Instagram: @TheSamMahmood
• Twitter: @TheSamMahmood_
• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

Join the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.co

Follow our producers, The Peers Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepeersproject?igsh=MTZ1dWJpZXVpYWdybA==

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Sara Blackmer, CEO of FluidLogic, to discuss how she’s revolutionizing hydration technology for athletes. Drawing from her military engineering background, Sara shares her journey into entrepreneurship and the science behind FluidLogic’s innovative hydration system. 

Sara dives into the challenges of developing cutting-edge technology, scaling a business, and creating a new category in the sports performance industry. She also highlights the importance of perseverance, leadership, and fostering a culture that embraces failure as a learning opportunity. Beyond the tech, this conversation dives into leadership, perseverance, and the importance of fostering a company culture that embraces failure as a stepping stone to success. Sara also reflects on the lessons she’s learned from her military career, why character matters more than skills when building a team, and how staying mission-driven fuels long-term innovation.

Join us for an insightful conversation on innovation, endurance, and the future of hydration in high-intensity sports.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

• Instagram: @TheSamMahmood
• Twitter: @TheSamMahmood_
• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

Join the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.co

Follow our producers, The Peers Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepeersproject?igsh=MTZ1dWJpZXVpYWdybA==

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Bradley Nardick, CEO of Bazaar, to explore the evolution of a family-owned business founded by his grandfather after World War II. From navigating the complexities of succession and family dynamics to leading a bold digital transformation, Bradley shares how he’s modernizing the company while honoring its rich legacy. 

Bradley discusses the challenges of transitioning from retail to a digital-first model, the intricacies of supply chain management, and the importance of hiring the right leaders to drive growth. He reveals the lessons learned from past hiring mistakes and emphasizes the role of company culture in sustaining long-term success. With a focus on digital transformation and enhancing customer experiences, Bradley outlines his vision for the future of Bazaar. 

Join us for a compelling conversation on leadership, innovation, and the unique journey of scaling a family business in the digital age.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

• Instagram: @TheSamMahmood
• Twitter: @TheSamMahmood_
• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

Join the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.co

Follow our producers, The Peers Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepeersproject?igsh=MTZ1dWJpZXVpYWdybA==

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Steve Schwartz, Founder & CEO of Art of Tea, to uncover how he turned a deep passion for tea into a globally recognized brand. From hand-selecting the finest tea leaves across the globe to crafting blends enjoyed in top restaurants and luxury hotels like Wolfgang Puck and Caesars Palace, Steve shares the behind-the-scenes story of building a premium tea empire.

Steve discusses the entrepreneurial drive that fueled his journey, the art and science of blending high-quality teas, and the challenges of scaling while maintaining authenticity. He explains why great tea isn’t just about taste—it’s about experience, storytelling, and creating a lasting impact. Fueled by his unwavering belief in his vision, Steve–with the help of his wife–self-funded Art of Tea—relying on personal credit cards to turn his passion into a thriving business, proving that quality and vision drive long-term success.

Join us for an insightful conversation on brand-building, product excellence, and the business of tea, as Steve shares his lessons on leadership, sourcing, and the power of creating a product that consumers love and recognize.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

• Instagram: @TheSamMahmood
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• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

Join the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.co

Follow our producers, The Peers Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepeersproject?igsh=MTZ1dWJpZXVpYWdybA==

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Kathy Hannun, founder and President of Dandelion, a pioneering geothermal heating and cooling company. Kathy shares her remarkable journey from Google X to launching Dandelion, a company dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by making geothermal energy accessible for homes and businesses.

Kathy discusses the challenges she faced building a startup in the clean energy sector, her approach to raising capital, and how she aligned Dandelion's mission with its revenue model. She also delves into the importance of mentorship, the value of building a strong team, and the strategies that fueled Dandelion’s growth. Kathy’s insights on the future of geothermal energy and its potential to revolutionize the market offer a compelling look at the intersection of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation.

Join us for a fascinating conversation on the future of clean energy, the power of mentorship, and the strategies behind building a mission-driven business that’s changing the way we think about sustainable solutions.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

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• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

Join the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.co

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood chats with Nanxi Liu, the powerhouse co-founder of Blaze.tech, a company changing the game for small businesses by making app creation simple and accessible. From managing multimillion-dollar companies like CarParts.com to founding Blaze.tech, Nanxi’s entrepreneurial journey showcases her ability to turn bold ideas into impactful businesses.

Nanxi shares how she built Blaze.tech from the ground up, the lessons she’s learned from leading in the tech industry, and her secrets to raising capital and building a dream team. She dives into her strategies for creating products that customers love, the importance of staying adaptable as a leader, and why integrity is key to long-term success.

Join us for a compelling discussion on entrepreneurship, tech innovation, and the practical strategies behind building and scaling successful businesses.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

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• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

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In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Austin Long, the visionary co-founder behind Youtooz, a collectibles brand that has captivated the online creator community. Austin shares how his background in talent management for YouTube and Twitch creators helped him recognize a gap in the market for unique, creator-inspired collectibles. Since Youtooz's launch in 2019, Austin and his team have worked to make Youtooz a beloved direct-to-consumer brand, creating iconic figures that resonate with internet culture and fans worldwide.

Throughout the conversation, Austin reveals insights into Youtooz’s rapid rise, from overcoming manufacturing hurdles to developing a distinct direct-to-consumer strategy centered on community engagement and organic growth. He explains how Youtooz has set itself apart by prioritizing creator partnerships and a trial-and-error approach to product development. This episode dives deep into the challenges and rewards of building a niche brand, the role of content in fostering loyal communities, and Youtooz’s future in expanding responsibly while staying true to its roots in innovation and ethics.

Let’s keep building… 

Follow Sam Mahmood: 

• Instagram: @TheSamMahmood
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• LinkedIn: Sam Mahmood

Join the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.co

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