At 21, Jake Santaniello has already built a 7-figure business empire with e-commerce brands like UCLA Vintage and Martino Milano, a real estate investment fund, and a protein gummy company, Thrive Candy. And he’s done it all without a single internship—proving that building can sometimes beat the traditional path.

In this episode, we uncover the strategies behind Jake’s rapid success, including:
⚡ The key business partnership that fueled his growth
🔄 How he’d restart his entrepreneurial journey if beginning tomorrow
🎯 Whether it’s possible to build businesses as a substitute for internships and still land elite jobs like his role at Boston Consulting Group

Jake’s story is a masterclass in balancing ambition, action, and innovation. Tune in to hear how he’s rewriting the rules—and how you can too.

02:15 - All the different ventures and projects Jake takes on
06:42 - Jake's views on building over planning
08:30 - Jake's first slime "business"
09:30 - Jake's powerful business partnership
11:40 - What Jake optimizes for
12:30 - Jake takes on consulting
15:00 - The power of optimism, radical self-belief, and bad things
22:00 - Mentors, inputs, and how success changes things
26:00 - Jake's best investment
29:00 - How Jake landed a consulting job with no internships
34:00 - How Jake would restart his entrepreneurial journey tomorrow
38:00 - What is the ultimate scarce resource

• LinkedIn
• Young, Smart, & Battling Broke Substack
• Youtube
• Instagram
• X | Twitter

Email me at colehume1@gmail.com for any feedback, ideas, or notes!