Founders In The Lab with Ruben Kanya

In this focused solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks the lessons he learned from attending a three-day Nike tennis training camp and how they directly apply to business, real estate, and personal growth. He reflects on the four key pillars that make intensive training so powerful—proximity, reps, correction, and longevity—and why missing just one of these can make the entire experience meaningless.

Drawing from his own journey as an athlete, coach, and entrepreneur, Ruben explains how the right environment accelerates progress, why repetition creates mastery, and how a single correction from a mentor can completely shift your trajectory. Most importantly, he emphasizes the compound effect: real transformation doesn’t come from a one-time intensive but from consistent application over time.

If you’ve ever been inspired by a boot camp, conference, or training program but struggled to sustain the momentum afterward, this episode will show you how to turn short bursts of intensity into long-term growth.

Tune in now to learn how to leverage intensive training for lasting success in your business, health, and personal experiments.

#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #RealEstateStrategy #MindsetShift #CompoundEffect #ExperimentNation

In this reflective solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben shares the lessons he gained from running his first 10K race and how they directly apply to entrepreneurship, real estate, and life. From training with mentors to pushing through discomfort and finding the right environment, Ruben unpacks why success is less about talent and more about discipline, persistence, and proximity to the right people.

Using powerful analogies from sports and business, he explains how identifying your targets, surrounding yourself with the right environment, and pacing yourself against stronger peers can accelerate growth. Ruben also dives into the importance of environment over automation in today’s AI-driven age—and why genuine relationships remain irreplaceable.

If you’re re-evaluating your goals mid-year or searching for the right push to keep going, this episode will help you reflect, reset, and realign with the fundamentals that never change: preparation, mentorship, consistency, and celebrating each milestone along the way.

#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #MentorshipMatters #Resilience #RealEstateStrategy #Leadership #MindsetShift #ExperimentNation

In this high-impact episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Brandon Rickman, an Atlanta-based investor, entrepreneur, and general contractor who has flipped over 500 houses, developed 100 new-construction single-family homes, and built vertically integrated businesses spanning private lending, self-storage, and consumer products. With over 25 years in real estate, Brandon shares how his career evolved from flipping houses to raising private capital for large-scale developments—including a three-story, Class A self-storage facility outside Atlanta.

Brandon opens up about the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship, from multi-million-dollar exits in the consumer products world to surviving the 2008 market crash when banks abruptly called his loans. He reveals the data-driven criteria he uses to reverse-engineer self-storage projects for REIT buyers, the add-on revenue strategies that maximize NOI, and why private lending has become a major growth focus.

If you’re looking for a transparent blueprint to scaling across multiple real estate verticals while building resilience through challenges, this conversation is packed with insights on strategy, mindset, and execution.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

14:46 Brandon talks about self-storage investment strategy

44:55 Brandon talks about entrepreneurial resilience and scaling across multiple real estate verticals

KEEPING IT REAL:

05:20 – Why self-storage is Brandon’s top focus today

06:47 – How syndication works for self-storage investors

10:04 – Understanding demand: square footage per capita and site selection data

14:46 – Reverse-engineering self-storage for REIT buyers

17:47 – Pricing power and tenant retention in self-storage

22:05 – Increasing NOI through add-on services and rentals

26:27 – Automated vs. manned self-storage operations

30:08 – From consumer products to multi-million-dollar exits

44:51 – Surviving the 2008 market crash and negotiating with banks

59:22 – Big wins: high-margin flips, 7-figure syndication potential, and legacy deals

1:10:08 – Building a $20M/year private lending business

1:14:10 – Advice for 20-year-old entrepreneurs

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-rickman-9885a22/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonrickman08/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQGTzF6JvH4qqT_V8Lx2cw

#RealEstateInvesting #SelfStorage #EntrepreneurMindset #PrivateLending #FlippingHouses #ResilientEntrepreneur #CommercialRealEstate #BusinessGrowth #REITStrategy #FinancialFreedom

In this powerful and paradigm-shifting episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Jay Cameron, real estate investor, international speaker, and founder of Maximum Impact Travel. Jay opens up about the pivotal moment when he realized that grinding through life just to pay bills wasn’t enough. After building financial stability through real estate and entrepreneurship, he made a bold decision to travel to Africa—facing his fears, confronting his conditioning, and ultimately transforming his life.

Jay shares the mental due diligence required to break out of the bubble, why many Americans have a flawed perception of Africa, and how embracing global citizenship reshaped his identity and his business. From launching a multimillion-dollar travel company to leading over 2,000 people on transformative international trips, Jay explains how deep experiences—not just dollars—pay the highest dividends.If you’ve ever felt stuck in routine, this episode will challenge you to rethink your own story.

Tune in to hear Jay’s journey from constraint to clarity and how you can unlock a life filled with purpose, expansion, and global impact.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

11:03 Jay talks about overcoming the old paradigm of fear, routine, and mental confinement

38:33 Jay talks about why Africa’s branding is broken

KEEPING IT REAL:

04:26 – How travel shaped his identity and business

10:58 – The old paradigm: fear, routine, and mental confinement

13:30 – First fearful leap to Africa in 2018

16:55 – A better way to grind? Unpacking hustle culture

20:39 – Use low overhead to create freedom

30:58 – Reframing travel as a personal investment

32:59 – “Die With Zero” and building memory dividends

37:15 – Why Africa’s branding is broken

42:27 – Doing your own mental due diligence

45:53 – How expanding your mind dismantles generational programming

50:26 – Smiles, dignity, and the universal human connection

51:22 – Turning the world into an adult summer camp

53:23 – From viral YouTube video to travel empire

54:05 – Why this business is the reward after the grind

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://www.maximumimpacttravel.com/#

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-cameron-532a2951/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaycameronofficial/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/maximumimpactwithjaycameron

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/maximumimpacttravel#RealEstateInvesting

#GlobalCitizenship #MindsetShift #LifestyleDesign #EscapeTheGrind #MaximumImpact #TravelEntrepreneur #MentalDueDiligence #AfricaUnfiltered

In this deep-dive episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Joel Friedland, founder of Brit Properties, to explore an uncommon but powerful approach to real estate syndication: acquiring industrial properties with no debt. Joel, who has been in the industrial real estate game since the age of 22, shares his evolution from working under a Chicago family office to building his own portfolio of high-performing industrial buildings.

The conversation spans everything from the anatomy of industrial leases and long-term tenant retention to the personal values that shape Joel’s unique investment philosophy. Joel opens up about surviving the 2008 financial crisis, the dangers of signing standard loan documents, and how he now protects his investors through detailed side letters and ultra-low leverage—or none at all.

You’ll hear how Joel evaluates industrial assets, builds long-term relationships with tenants and investors, and why he believes most operators are taking unnecessary risk in the name of returns. His perspective is rare, contrarian, and backed by decades of experience.

If you're a syndicator, investor, or entrepreneur curious about how to build a portfolio with resilience and integrity, this episode will shift how you think about risk, returns, and relationships. Tune in now to learn why Joel is one of the few operators in America focused on building a community through no-debt deals—and how you can apply the same principles to your business and life.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

21:34 Joel talks about building relationships

13:11 Joel talks about his lawn mowing business at age 14

KEEPING IT REAL:

05:00 – Why industrial outperforms office and retail

08:13 – Long-term leases and tenant retention

10:00 – Triple net leases and low-maintenance management

11:16 – Entry into industrial real estate

13:11 – Lessons from starting a lawn business at 14

15:06 – Are entrepreneurs born or made?

20:19 – From chasing deals to building relationships

30:16 – A model focused on long-term trust and low turnover

36:08 – The critical importance of reading legal docs

42:46 – Hidden risks in loan documents

47:04 – Avoiding high leverage even if it means lower returns

52:00 – Strategy and differentiation: why safety wins

56:00 – Why he doesn’t use infinite banking or other loan-backed strategies

59:03 – Hiring mistakes and how to identify A-players

1:03:01 – Likability ≠ capability: the hiring lesson most learn too late

1:06:10 – Current focus and future direction

1:08:55 – Why he only buys infill industrial in Chicago

1:10:50 – The shrinking market advantage in industrial real estate

1:13:02 – Parting advice and how to connect with Joel.

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://www.britproperties.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-friedland/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Brit-Properties/61561165483112/?_rdr

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@investingwithjoel

#PublicAdjuster #InsuranceClaims #CoverageD #MidtermRentals #TemporaryHousing #RealEstateInvesting #PolicyholderAdvocacy

In this timely episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down when and why you should consider shifting to a hybrid short-term and mid-term rental model and how the latest tax legislation makes it even more lucrative. Coming off last week’s Driving Conversations with AI vs. Questions, he explains how operators can strategically layer MTR contracts over STR availability to increase monthly income while protecting long-term upside.

Ruben shares why hybrid models aren’t just a fallback when STRs are soft—but a proactive strategy that aligns with seasonality, market demand,and most importantly the tax code. He covers how to position your properties to attract both leisure guests and insurance contracts, the systems you need in place to pull it off, and how to avoid making reactive decisions that hurt your business in the long run.

If you’re looking to increase occupancy, optimize taxes, and build a more resilient and profitable rental portfolio in today’s evolving landscape, tune in now and learn why now is the best time to execute the hybrid STR/MTR model.

#MidtermRentals #ShortTermRentals #STRStrategy #MTRGrowth #HybridHosting #RealEstateInvesting #VacationRentalTips #InsuranceHousing

In this informative episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down a powerful framework for how to actually use AI as a strategic partner—not just a search engine. Drawing from real-world conversations he's had with AI to help close deals, refine business plans, and optimize decision-making, Ruben reveals how the right prompts, context, and conversations can turn ChatGPT into your most valuable board of advisors.

This isn't about asking better questions—it's about having better conversations. Ruben shares the difference between surface-level prompts and deep AI dialogue that reveals blind spots, sharpens thinking, and accelerates progress. From uploading your favorite book frameworks to building bots that mirror your business philosophy, this episode maps out exactly how to scale your thinking using AI.

If you’re ready to move faster, make clearer decisions, and unlock unfair advantages with AI in your back pocket, tune in now and upgrade the way you operate—before your competition does.

#RealEstateStrategy #MidtermRentals #Entrepreneurship #TemporaryHousing #BusinessGrowth #MTRAccelerator #Q3Planning #RealEstateTips

In this solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben delivers a powerful, high-impact debrief heading into Q3 2025. With the lab coat on and lessons in hand, he walks through seven strategic experiments and three hard-earned insights from the previous quarter that every real estate entrepreneur needs to hear. From HELOCs on second homes and appraisal strategies to AI integration and bank account structuring for business credit, this episode covers the exact tweaks Ruben is using to grow Invested Escapes and support clients nationwide.

Ruben dives deep into how to structure relocation proposals, why in-person events still win in a digital world, and how compressing negative timeframes can drastically improve your quality of life. He also breaks down the importance of storytelling, the untapped power of leveraging GPTs for niche business use, and what it means to move with clarity in your next season.

If you're looking to sharpen your edge, build systems that scale, and lead with purpose this quarter, tune in now and take these 10 proven strategies into your lab.

#RealEstateStrategy #MidtermRentals #Entrepreneurship#TemporaryHousing #BusinessGrowth #MTRAccelerator #Q3Planning #RealEstateTips

In this data-packed episode of In The Lab, we sit down with Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder and former President of Vrbo, Chief Strategy Officer at HomeAway, and COO of Expedia Group. Jeff brings decades of experience in travel and hospitality tech to a fast-growing platform that has quietly become a powerhouse in the midterm rental space. Under his leadership, Furnished Finder has doubled its team, modernized its infrastructure, and doubled down on transparency—offering rare insights into tenant demand, booking trends, and platform economics.

Jeff walks us through how Furnished Finder is fundamentally different from traditional OTA platforms—highlighting landlord control, flat-rate pricing, and a commitment to empowering hosts with direct lead access. He unpacks the tenant segments behind over 2 million inquiries per year, including construction crews, relocating families, digital nomads, and healthcare workers. From scalable furniture ROI to market mismatch signals, Jeff shares actionable insights that today’s operators can apply immediately.

If you’re looking to scale with better data, more control, and deeper tenant insights, tune in now to learn how Jeff Hurst is leading a marketplace revolution—one booking request at a time.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

12:14 Jeff talks about pricing transparency

42:58 Jefftalks about chasing shiny objects

KEEPING IT REAL:

08:25 – How Furnished Finder differs from OTA platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo

11:00 – Why tenant experience and pricing transparency matter

14:00 – The role of data in trust-building and growth

17:00 – Tenant breakdown: business travelers, relocation, and digital nomads

19:45 – Rise of renovation relocation and local stay trends

22:30 – Super agents and power users: Furnished Finder’s enterprise use case

24:30 – Jeff’s product roadmap and replatforming efforts

26:30 – 130% YoY growth in relocation booking requests

29:30 – Room count and pricing by bedroom type explained

34:00 – 10% of tenants are large families—how to meet that demand

37:00 – Extended stay hotels vs. MTR: the real comparison

40:00 – Life hacking with Furnished Finder and furniture savings

43:00 – Product philosophy vs. chasing shiny objects

47:00 – How private ownership shapes Furnished Finder’s decision-making

52:00 – Operators vs. entrepreneurs and solving real problems

54:00 – Advice to 20-year-old Jeff and early-career insights

59:00 – What’s next for Furnished Finder: messaging, sort order, and tools

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hurst-atx/

#MidtermRentals #FurnishedFinder #RealEstateInvesting #CorporateHousing #TemporaryHousing #InsuranceHousing #FurnishedRentals #MTRStrategy

In this insightful episode of In The Lab, we’re joined by Gabriel Wacker, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Transitions Group—a vertically integrated firm providing solutions in corporate housing, furniture rental, and temporary accommodations. Gabriel has been a key player in the evolution of furnished housing since the early days of Oakwood and Marriott’s foray into corporate housing. His background spans decades of leadership at Executive Stay, Vicinity, and Furniture Options, positioning him as an authority on scalable housing solutions across the Midwest and beyond.

Through Gabriel’s lens, we explore the challenges and opportunities in temporary housing—from military and intern housing to large-scale insurance displacements. He unpacks the history of corporate housing, including Oakwood’s rise and exit, and reveals how today’s midterm rental operators can scale by leveraging supplier networks, CHPA partnerships, and match leases. Gabriel explains how controlling logistics, furniture, and housing—without owning property—can unlock cash flow, using real-world examples of 100+ unit contracts built on strategic relationships.

If you’re looking to scale your rental operation, tap into legacy networks, or grow through strategic partnerships without owning property, this episode is for you. Tune in now to learn how Gabriel built a vertically integrated platform, secured complex 100+ unit contracts, and unlocked cash flow—one strategic relationship at a time.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

21:22 Gabriel talks about having a realistic path to scaling

41:53 Gabriel talks about how insurance housing fits into their business model

KEEPING IT REAL:

07:00 – Differences between midterm rental and corporate housing terminology

10:05 – Why corporate housing began in multifamily apartments

11:45 – The scale and strategy behind Oakwood’s 15,000+ units

13:33 – How Oakwood and Marriott transitioned executive housing brands

16:00 – The journey from Executive Stay to Transitions Group

20:48 – A realistic path for operators scaling from 5 to 100+ units

24:00 – Unlocking growth with furniture rental as a scaling strategy

27:01 – Intern housing, FEMA, and other complex housing projects

29:00 – How Transitions Group partners and bids on major housing contracts

32:00 – Logistics and warehousing behind 100+ furnished unit deployments

34:00 – How pricing and net terms are structured with corporate clients

36:00 – The origin story of Furniture Options and its corporate housing pivot

40:00 – What’s ahead: volatility, post-COVID trends, and the new normal

42:30 – Insurance housing’s place in the midterm rental strategy

47:00 – How CHPA supplier networks drive collaboration and opportunity

50:30 – Franchising, licensing, and the Marriott model for revenue sharing

54:02 – Final advice: mentorship, partnerships, and playing the long game

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://www.transitionsgroup.net/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielwacker/

#CorporateHousing #MidtermRentals #InsuranceHousing #CHPA #RealEstateScale #TemporaryHousing #FurnishedRentals #HospitalityBusiness