Built In America

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: @TheSamMahmoodTwitter: @TheSamMahmood_LinkedIn: Sam MahmoodJoin the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.coFollow our producers, The Peers Project: https://www.instagram.com/thepeersproject?igsh=MTZ1dWJpZXVpYWdybA== Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: Instagram: @TheSamMahmoodTwitter: @TheSamMahmood_LinkedIn: Sam MahmoodJoin the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.coFollow our producers: The Peers Project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: Instagram: @TheSamMahmoodTwitter: @TheSamMahmood_LinkedIn: Sam MahmoodJoin the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.coFollow our Producers: The Peers Project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: @TheSamMahmoodTwitter: @TheSamMahmood_LinkedIn: Sam MahmoodJoin the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.coFollow our Producers: The Peers Project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood welcomes Jeremy Yamaguchi, an entrepreneurial powerhouse who has carved a niche by transforming home service industries—part of a trillion-dollar market—through innovation. From founding a digital agency to creating Goldenshine and Lawn Love—both pioneering home service brands with successful exits—Jeremy’s career is defined by a rare combination of vision and operational rigor. Now, with his latest venture, Cabana, Jeremy is tackling the pool cleaning industry, aiming to consolidate and modernize a traditionally fragmented market.Jeremy discusses the evolution of his career, sharing how his multicultural upbringing and self-taught skills shaped his entrepreneurial path. He dives into the challenges of creating national brands in low-tech sectors, offering insights on strategic acquisitions, the power of genuine relationships, and his vision to make Cabana the "Orkin of pools." With a focus on continuous improvement and long-term growth, Jeremy’s journey exemplifies resilience and strategic thinking in scaling businesses from the ground up. This episode provides invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned founders, and anyone interested in how one can reshape traditional industries.Discover how Cabana is modernizing the pool cleaning industry—check it out at cabanapools.com.Let’s keep building… Follow Sam Mahmood: Instagram: @TheSamMahmoodTwitter: @TheSamMahmood_LinkedIn: Sam MahmoodJoin the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.coFollow our Producers: The Peers Project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Linda Garmolgomut, CEO of Ambassador Education Group (AEG), a trailblazer in Thailand’s private education sector. From her roots in Thailand to her formative years in the United States, Linda shares her journey of co-founding and expanding a network of international and bilingual schools that prioritize diverse curriculums and innovative learning experiences. Under her leadership, AEG has forged partnerships with global organizations like TED-Ed and National Geographic, setting a new benchmark for private education in the region. Linda offers insights into the challenges and triumphs of running a family business, scaling operations with private equity, and fostering a holistic educational philosophy that supports students’ varied interests—from STEM to hospitality and culinary arts. She also discusses the importance of cultural sensitivity and diversity in international education, creating inclusive environments that prepare students for a globalized future. Join us for an inspiring conversation on the transformative power of education, entrepreneurial leadership, and the vision required to create lasting impact in a rapidly evolving world.Let’s keep building… Follow Sam Mahmood: Instagram: @TheSamMahmoodTwitter: @TheSamMahmood_LinkedIn: Sam MahmoodJoin the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.coFollow our Producers: The Peers Project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood sits down with Andrew Savage, a founding member of Lime, the trailblazing scooter and electric bicycle company reshaping urban transportation. Lime’s success reflects on its innovative solutions for urban mobility, and Andrew’s unique blend of environmental policy and strategic partnerships has been key to Lime’s growth into over 280 markets worldwide.Throughout their discussion, Andrew shares the vision behind Lime’s inception and the strategies used to transform the “last mile” of urban travel. The conversation covers Lime’s collaborative approach with city governments—offering a contrast to more adversarial models like those of Uber and Airbnb—and Lime’s adaptability during the pandemic, a period that allowed the company to focus on sustainability and operational efficiency.Join us for an engaging discussion on innovation, urban mobility, and the importance of building lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships in the fast-evolving landscape of electronic transportation.Let’s keep building… Follow Sam Mahmood: Instagram: @TheSamMahmoodTwitter: @TheSamMahmood_LinkedIn: Sam MahmoodJoin the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.coFollow our Producers: The Peers Project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Built in America, Sam sits down with Ryan Duey, co-founder of Plunge, the iconic cold plunge and health startup transforming the wellness industry. Since its inception, Plunge has become a transformative force in the wellness industry, offering accessible and innovative solutions for cold exposure therapy. With a background in health and wellness, Ryan had previously owned float tank centers, but it was during the pandemic that he and his co-founder, Mike Garrett, launched Plunge—a venture that quickly captured the attention of many, including a memorable appearance on Shark Tank.Throughout the conversation, Ryan reflects on the early challenges of scaling Plunge, from navigating manufacturing hurdles to building a brand from the ground up. He shares insights on how influencer partnerships with the likes of Andrew Huberman and Aubrey Marcus helped catapult the brand, and how Plunge continues to innovate with upcoming products in heat therapy and preventative health. Ryan also emphasizes the importance of community-building through events and customer engagement, which have been pivotal in maintaining Plunge’s rapid growth.Join us for an insightful discussion on entrepreneurship, the future of wellness technology, and how Plunge is shaping the landscape of cold therapy.Let’s keep building… Follow Sam Mahmood: Instagram: @TheSamMahmoodTwitter: @TheSamMahmoodLinkedIn: Sam MahmoodJoin the Built In America community of others who are buying great businesses and sign up for Sam’s weekly newsletter: www.builtinamerica.coFollow our Producers: The Peers Project Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erik Huberman, founder and CEO of Hawke Media and investor, built a fast-growing marketing firm and complementary ventures. He talks about scaling through M&A and productizing AI, making enterprise marketing tools accessible to startups, building team culture and hiring standards, and lessons from major client wins and executive crises.

Starting a business is exciting, but it's anything but straightforward. Having a great idea is just the beginning — what really matters are the decisions you make and the pivots along the way. That’s where Built In America comes in. A podcast that explores the real and raw experiences behind entrepreneurial success, broken down from the very beginning. Hosted by Sam Mahmood, a self-made entrepreneur raised by immigrant parents, who has skillfully raised funds to acquire businesses across America. Sam interviews guests who have built and bought some of the most fascinating and successful companies across the U.S.It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out, thinking of buying a business, or somewhere in the messy middle, Built In America is for those ready to delve into the business of building something big and be inspired by those who have built it, bought it, and made it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.