The Journey of Barùkas | Rodrigo Figueiredo

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Starting a business isn’t just about making money and becoming successful. Sure, it can be a little bit about those things. But, ultimately, the biggest reward of entrepreneurship is when you’re able to help others, as well as yourself. And the journey is never easy.

WELCOME TO THE DARIN OLIEN SHOW.

Rodrigo Figueiredo is helping me save the world with nuts.

If you’ve listened to this show before, or follow me on social media, then you’ve probably heard of Barùkas. Rodrigo is the guy who introduced me to this superfood, and the reason why I am a fellow co-founder of this amazing company. The journey of Barùkas as a business is quite the story.

Rodrigo is a Brazilian American who spent many years in the corporate world. He was working as a business manager in the big Oil, Gas, and Mining industries, and making good money doing so. But something was missing. And it was getting harder and harder to justify working in industries that he knew had immensely negative impacts on the environment. Not to mention the lack of personal fulfillment it provided.

After randomly adding me on Facebook years prior, a trip to a remote area of the Cerrado in Brazil made him think of me. Maybe this California surfer dude (me) could help him realize his dream of starting a company to bring sustainability to a community, and a superfood to the world. And the rest, as they say, is history.

In this conversation, Rodrigo and I talk about the struggles and triumphs we’ve had building up the Barùkas brand. We talk about the beautiful part of the world these delicious nuts are from and the incredible people that facilitate their growth. This isn’t an infomercial for Barùkas, guys. It’s the true story behind a couple of guys who want to make a positive impact on the planet while building a sustainable business. I can’t wait for you to hear more about Rodrigo and the Barùkas nuts story.