Built In America

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.&n...

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 t...

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 c...

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...

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.  Bradl...

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 st...

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...

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. Na...

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, Aus...

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 combinati...

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 in...

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 w...

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 floa...

In the first episode of Built in America, host Sam Mahmood is joined by Erik Huberman, founder and CEO of Hawke Media. Since founding Hawk Media in 2014, Erik has revolutionized the marketing industry by offering top-tier marketing solutions to businesses of all sizes. His agency has collaborated with renowned brands such as Red Bull, Verizon, Crocs, and Barstool Sports. Beyond his agency work, Er...

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 entreprene...