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2025-07-30 Gary Sheng, Matt Holm, Ryan Quinn & Jon Werner - Austin Networking & Modular Housing Strategy

Participants: Gary Sheng, Matt Holm, Ryan Quinn, Jon Werner Date: July 30, 2025 Context: Casual Austin meetup covering Gary's transition to manufacturing work with Dr. Lael Alexander, Matt's extensive modular housing insights from failed startup experience, Ryan's celebrity CPG business, and community networking Type: In-person conversation during Austin walking group meetup

Executive Summary​

Gary shared details about his transition to working with Dr. Lael Alexander on American reindustrialization, focusing on modular housing manufacturing. Matt provided extensive insights from his failed $50M modular housing startup experience, offering detailed production and shipping advice. Ryan discussed his celebrity-driven CPG business Drip MFG, while Jon briefly covered his Fiesta event management platform. The conversation revealed the depth of Austin's entrepreneurial network and collaborative opportunities around manufacturing, events, and community building.

Key Themes​

Gary's Manufacturing Transition & Funding Structure​

Legacy Family Funding: Gary revealed the unique financing structure behind his new venture:

"The way I've understood this financing where you've got, like, a lump sum up front, and then basically access to almost unlimited capital is that this legacy family wants to be able to preserve and grow its wealth and make an impact, but there's not, like, a biological heir that they feel like would be able to do that. So, they're, like, in exchange for, like, profit share."

Geographic Strategy: Gary outlined expansion plans across multiple states:

"He's, like, buying... He's working on buying, like, a military base in Alabama, for example. That's, like, a little factory town. And I think the idea is to do this in multiple places and help with re-industrialization."

Austin Connection Maintained: Gary emphasized he won't fully leave Austin:

"You've got boots on the ground in Austin. So, you're not really leaving... You're a big reason why I'm never going to fully leave this place."

Matt's Modular Housing Expertise & Lessons Learned​

Failed Startup Experience: Matt shared details from New Community Energy disaster:

"I invested a hundred grand, but I was the head of sales... I ended up getting $6,500, and I was probably responsible for half of it, signups... Unable to be delivered. And luckily, their suggestion was $1,000."

Critical Production Insights: Matt provided detailed shipping and design constraints:

"If you can keep it inside the width of a single line trailer, you can keep it inside the width so you don't have to get special shipping... if you can make an elegant-looking 40-foot-by-3-foot product, that fits exactly on the back of the truck, that's your ideal product delivery cost."

Key Design Principles: Matt outlined essential considerations:

"You want to make them kind of gadget-y, where everything has a double use... just think big windows for lots of light, because that's what you need... you want to make them look efficiently, you know, basic trailer, we've been going to IKEA, and seeing how they're able to squeeze a lot of stuff in a small space."

Scaling Philosophy: Matt emphasized focus over customization:

"You can't have like 50 different options. To me, you need to have, do your market research. Is this ADU? Is this whatever? Is it 30 by 10 feet by 10 foot tall ceilings? Great. You get one version. You can have any color you want, as long as it's black."

Competition Analysis: Elon Musk Threat​

Matt's Prediction: Matt positioned Elon as inevitable competition:

"Elon literally needs about 8,000 houses between Brownsville and here. And if some motherfucker doesn't come up with a good decision, he only owns the roof, the solar roof. He owns the best, most efficient heating and A.C. that he puts in Tesla's that'll run most efficiently on, and at least not on electricity."

Gary's Response: Gary acknowledged the competitive landscape:

"There's no one like Elon. He's so deep and wide on everything that's needed to make a product at scale... But we need more of those people in America. This guy is unique in his own ways, special in his own ways."

Ryan Quinn's Celebrity CPG Business Model​

Drip MFG Overview: Ryan described his celebrity partnership approach:

"They're kind of lending their brand, right?... You do like, heavy betting on the character of the people... They're the exact same person that they are on camera. Really? They're good guys? These guys are the exact same."

Current Success: Ryan shared business metrics:

"We're right at, like, this month, we're finally at bridge. Right. On sales... We're raising eight more right now."

Product Strategy: Ryan outlined their approach with comedians:

"A high-octane, like, high-caffeine, high-sodium, meats, energy drink... They're selling $30 million at merch price. Every bike, or every $5 in the store gets a new bike."

Austin Surf Club & Community Infrastructure​

Kelly Slater Wave Technology: Ryan provided detailed description:

"It's the Kelly Slater wave pool technology... we clocked it on his car, it's like over a mile long wave. It's the longest wave... This is going to be the longest wave in the world."

Membership Strategy: Discussion of community access and networking:

"I guarantee you, I have a friend with a membership... there's a couple of guys on here that might be able to afford a fucking membership. That gets us our wave. Yes! Everybody wins."

Matt's Real Estate Analysis: Matt applied his expertise to the development:

"But if you have a membership, there's your hangs... But it was $2 million for a half-acre shared duplex lot... So you can have a $6 to $8 million half a duplex. When he lives 25 minutes away."

Zach Levi Ranch Event Planning​

August 14th Event Coordination: Gary and Matt coordinated major networking event:

"August 14th event at Zach Levi's ranch... I'm co-hosting it... I connected everyone to make it happen."

Network Orchestration: Matt explained his role:

"If I surround myself with awesome people and they're friends, then I just know that eventually they go, Dom, who else am I going to use? I don't want to see good, but he's my friend."

Logistics and Activities: Matt outlined event planning:

"2.30 we're going to the factory to do like an hour, hour and a half tour. And then 6.30... I'll probably give them a tour of Elon's 3,000 acres... We're going to bring guns and stuff... military attacks, security, military stuff."

Jon Werner's Event Management Platform​

Fiesta Software Licensing: Jon described his business model:

"We're looking at licensing now, so we're trying to figure out licensing models where we'll get a playbook for you running your own Fiesta in your city, and you'll pay a licensing fee based on the size, you know, population size of the city."

Monetization Strategy: Jon outlined revenue approaches:

"We're going to start off with $500 a year, which is nothing... Sponsorship... we have a women's event called Founders. That meets monthly too. We charge $15 for that event."

Austin Walking Group Community​

Network Quality: Matt described the walking group's caliber:

"The guy that was like creatively designed the world of Diablo was there. One of the guys that helped Mr. Beast grow rapidly early on, as well as Vans, like grew Vans, like from a legacy brand to like relevant again."

Authenticity Philosophy: Gary and Matt discussed authentic networking:

Gary: "Communication is more than just words or even audio of it... it's also energy that you pick up in person. And it's something that you can't fake." Matt: "You know what the number one thing about communication? It drives this authenticity... Even when you're authentic self, people will gravitate towards you."

Manufacturing and Real Estate Integration​

Gary's Strategic Role: Gary positioned himself as focusing mechanism for Dr. Alexander:

"I don't think so. I think, generally, what I want to do is just help him focus. Because he's just like such a... I'm sure you've seen this a million times. Well, just super smart, and so he just likes to tinker on so many things."

Matt's Practical Insights: Matt provided real-world applications:

"I've got a house in Lake Austin. I'm going to need a water... I got a 20... I thought I had a 25-foot jetpack in the county. Instead, I've got a 40-foot, which means I have to build a house on a cliff... I can put a trailer on that."

Strategic Insights​

Modular Housing Market Opportunities​

  • Shipping constraints drive design requirements (single-wide trailer compatibility)
  • Standardization critical for scaling (avoid customization complexity)
  • IKEA-style space efficiency and multi-use features essential
  • Visual appeal through big windows and ceiling height crucial
  • Utilities consolidation ("wet wall in one spot") reduces complexity

Austin Network Effects​

  • Walking group serves as high-quality filter for entrepreneurs
  • Physical proximity and regular interaction drives collaboration
  • Authentic relationship building more valuable than transactional networking
  • Cross-industry connections create unexpected opportunities

Celebrity Partnership Business Model​

  • Character assessment crucial for long-term partnerships
  • Authenticity requirement (same on/off camera) essential
  • Merchandise integration with content creation drives revenue
  • High-volume, high-margin products suit celebrity partnerships

Community Infrastructure Development​

  • Premium amenities (surf clubs) create networking hubs
  • Real estate plays secondary to membership value
  • Group purchasing power enables access to exclusive opportunities
  • Geographic advantages compound over time

Collaboration Opportunities Identified​

For Gary's Manufacturing Initiative​

  • Matt's design and production consulting
  • Ryan's branding and marketing expertise
  • Jon's event management for community building
  • Austin network's capital access and talent pipeline

For Community Building​

  • Surf club group membership strategy
  • Walking group expansion and diversification
  • Event coordination across multiple venues
  • Software platform integration for networking

For Business Development​

  • Celebrity partnership models for manufacturing brands
  • Real estate development integration with manufacturing
  • Event management software for community initiatives
  • Network orchestration for funding and talent acquisition

Personal Updates and Transitions​

Gary's Life Changes​

  • Moving to Tulsa while maintaining Austin presence
  • Transition from Alpha Schools to manufacturing focus
  • Faith-based event coordination in Atlanta
  • Relationship and material simplification focus

Matt's Situation​

  • Divorce proceedings ongoing
  • Spain travel plans
  • Real estate investment strategies
  • Community building through walking group

Ryan's Business Growth​

  • Successful celebrity partnerships
  • Fundraising in progress
  • Marketing expansion plans
  • Austin comedy scene integration

Future Planning and Next Steps​

Immediate Actions​

  • August 14th Zach Levi ranch event execution
  • Surf club group coordination with Casey
  • Modular housing design consultation between Matt and Gary
  • Ongoing Austin community integration

Strategic Development​

  • Manufacturing facility location selection
  • Celebrity partnership expansion
  • Event management software licensing
  • Community infrastructure investment

Significance​

This conversation demonstrates the sophisticated Austin entrepreneurial network's collaborative approach to business development, community building, and strategic partnerships. Gary's transition to manufacturing work benefits from Matt's hard-won experience in modular housing, while Ryan and Jon represent the creative and technology infrastructure supporting Austin's startup ecosystem. The discussion reveals how personal relationships, authentic networking, and geographic concentration create compound advantages for ambitious projects spanning manufacturing, entertainment, technology, and community development.

The integration of practical business insights (shipping constraints, celebrity partnerships, event management) with community building philosophy (authenticity, relationship focus, network effects) exemplifies the Austin approach to entrepreneurship that combines ambition with genuine collaboration.