Supply chain entrepreneurship is hard,
but you don’t have to do it alone.

Supply chain entrepreneurship is hard,
but you don’t have to do it alone.

Welcome to Ballast

Based on feedback from supply chain entrepreneurs across the world we created Ballast – the world’s first private community for logistics Founders.

In Ballast, everyone is vetted and trusted.

When a Founder is stuck, someone knows the answer.
Or knows someone else who knows the answer.

When left feeling isolated or burnt out, others are there to listen and offer support.

When it’s time to celebrate the big win, it’s gratifying to share it with those who know what it took to get there.

That’s why the most compelling entrepreneurs keep coming back.

For Ballast.

What Our Members are Saying

“Everyone in Ballast shows up for the same two reasons: To give and to receive. The beauty is that we’re all aligned and come to both inspire and be inspired. That’s what makes this mastermind group unique.”

Charlie Saffro, Founder of CS Recruiting in Chicago, IL.

“I walk away with nuggets of information that we can use in the business immediately. To come to the group and get validation or correction from people who’ve been there is invaluable.”

Bill Hale, Founder of FetchGoat based in Fort Worth, TX

“The answers I found in this group literally saved us $25,000 in the first year.”

Andy Shiels, Founder of SiLo based in Nashville, TN

“As a solopreneur, the Ballast meetups have become an essential masterclass in logistics education for me. It feels like a cheat code to the industry and to business in general.”

Blythe Brumleve, Founder of Digital Dispatch and Everything is Logistics in Jacksonville, FL.

“Ballast sessions are my favorite meeting of the month. We all step off the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship to share our victories and defeats together. It’s applied business school with a bit of spice and a dash of group therapy”

Kevin Hill, Founder of Brush Pass Research in Dallas, TX

“It can be lonely at the top. But the camaraderie and collaborative spirit of this network of founders is astounding. The Ballast community has become indispensable to me, both refining my craft as an entrepreneur and helping grow our business.”

Roberto Icaza, Co-Founder of Rapido Solutions Group based in Guadalajara, MX.

“Being a founder can be a lonely place, but Ballast makes it a community. This group works because of the open dialogue and sharing of experiences between founders.”

Mike Malakhov, Founder of Carpool Logistics based in Atlanta, GA.

“I don’t know if I can say enough times how meaningful and helpful each Ballast session is. Everyone walks away with something.”

Petere Miner, Founder of CoLoadX based in New York, NY

Member Benefits

As the world’s first private community exclusively for logistics entrepreneurs, we are selective. For those who are accepted we offer personal growth and a sense of belonging through several deliverables.

  • Monthly virtual sessions with 8-10 other Founders

  • Private Slack channel

  • Special discounts for key supply chain events

  • In-person events (Future)

Membership Fees

We offer different membership rates based on company stage and complexity. While not an exact science, we have found a simple approach that works for nearly everyone.

Early Stage

For Early Stage Founders we offer Ballast at $2,500 per year or $250 / month.

Common Discussion Areas Include

  • Product Market Fit
  • MVP demos and feedback
  • Fundraising
  • Sales and marketing
  • New lead generation
  • Brainstorming / talking shop

Later Stage

For Later Stage Founders we offer Ballast at $4,500 per year or $450 / month.

Common Discussion Areas Include

  • Scaling sales and operations
  • Financial planning & analysis
  • Executive development
  • Leadership team dynamics
  • Risk management
  • Exit planning

Join Now

Sign up to visit our next meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

New Groups are only started when 8-10 new members of similar company stage and relevant experience combine and it appears likely to result in a longterm self-sustaining group. This process ensures each Group is curated to offer the most value to its members. However, it also means new members may not begin sessions immediately as it can take time to get the balance and chemistry right.

Group Sessions vary depending on Founder stage. Earlier stage core groups often spend time workshopping key issues together, sharing tools and offering introductions to help each other. Later stage core groups often discuss business strategy, risk management and scaling their operations.

Both session types are led by a moderator and follow a similar structure each time. Each 90 or 120-minute session includes a group check-in punctuality is required), personal and professional updates, scheduled discussion topics and a final check-out at the end. Guest speakers may be brought in by request to speak on key issues relevant to the Founder community such as fundraising, leadership, technology and talent to name a few.

Prior to each session, members are encouraged to complete a personal reflection on the state of their professional and personal wellbeing. Key issues are surfaced for discussion and notes are prepared to share with your Group.

We are currently exploring options for members to connect in person. We will share more information as it becomes available.

We consider annual revenues, company stage and complexity along with overall Founder experience. While not an exact science, we have found a simple approach that works for nearly everyone.
Founder

Nate Shutes

I love logistics.

I mean I really, really love it.

And I love being around entrepreneurs.

So for the last few years I’ve shared Founder stories on The Bootstrapper’s Guide to Logistics getting up close and personal with some of the most compelling entrepreneurs in supply chain. Each time I came away inspired and grateful to share their story with others. But behind the scenes I also heard about the toll entrepreneurship can take.

So I invited a few Founders to meet and see if they could help each other. It turned out to be much stickier than I expected, so we kept meeting. And the number of Founders kept growing.

What started as just a way to help my new friends has now grown into a passion for supporting a much larger community. I am Founder-first and fully committed to supporting each and every one of them on their journeys.

Contact Us

Listen to the Podcast Now
Listen to the Podcast Now