In this powerful episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Glenn Poulos, a seasoned entrepreneur who has built, scaled, and exited multiple companies across industries, only to lose it all and start again.

Glenn shares the story of what looked like a life-changing exit, until the acquiring company went bankrupt and wiped out the value of his shares. Faced with starting over in his mid-40s, he chose action over hesitation, rebuilding from scratch and eventually growing his next company to more than $80 million in revenue.

Carly and Glenn unpack the realities behind business exits, including the risks of stock-based deals, the complexity of private equity, and how deal structure can make or break the outcome. Glenn also outlines the three essential ingredients for starting a business and explains why momentum after failure is often more important than the setback itself. This episode is a candid and practical look at resilience, smart decision-making, and playing the long game in business.

Key Themes:

• Not All Exits Are Wins: Why liquidity matters and how stock-based deals can carry hidden risks.

• Momentum Beats Setbacks: How taking action quickly after failure can change the trajectory of your next chapter.

• The Real Requirements to Start: Why runway, a viable product, and a willing customer are the true foundations of any business.

Memorable Quotes:

“Don’t sell your company for all shares. Make sure you get cash.”
“One of the three things you need to start a company is a customer you don’t deserve.”
“It doesn’t matter what change you make, you will piss off somebody.”

About Glenn Poulos:
Glenn Poulos is an entrepreneur and strategist currently building his third company, ProgUSA, which supplies tools and equipment that help test and strengthen the modern power grid. His work supports utilities, contractors, and the growing demand driven by data centers and AI infrastructure.

Glenn founded his first company at twenty-nine and grew it over fifteen years before a successful exit. He later co-founded Gap Wireless, helping scale it to more than $80 million in revenue before another eight-figure exit. After these successes, he moved from Toronto to Orlando to lead ProgUSA, stepping into a new industry, new customers, and a new country.

He is also an award-winning author of Never Sit in the Lobby, runs AI training initiatives, and performs as a voice-over artist and charity DJ under the name Phossl, supporting non-profits through events and fundraising.

Connect with Glenn Poulos:
https://a.co/d/2D6b0iV
https://progusa.net/

Listen to the Episode

YouTube: https://youtu.be/pF75EzJ0hR4

Spotify: 

Apple Podcasts: