From Cuba to $15M: The Carlos Pereira Story

I didn't really like the idea of just being in an office the whole time. I like the idea more of like being a contractor, [music] the guys that make things happen, you know, and and actually take >> an idea that's on paper and building it out from scratch. So, >> yeah, >> that's how I started. >> Everything I ever wanted to do was construction and it's just taking off. So, I I feel like, you know, maybe

later down the line, but right now I just don't have time. Like, I'm working my butt off. Was that for Forex? The little Forex thing. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> And I was just so hungry that like all I did was just ask questions. And I would say my biggest challenge was that I didn't know what I was doing. Like I did not know how to put a new construction home together. I knew how to manage

subs, you know, make phone calls, schedule subs out and and do their job and manage them, but I had no idea how to put a new construction home together. Where do I start? You know, >> I know it's going to take some time to get there cuz I mean, it's a it's a high entry, right? But that's that's ultimately where I want to land. I want to be known not as just a builder, but a quality

builder. Welcome to another episode of Pick Up the Phone podcast. I am your host, Josuayanas. I am the founder of Getsu.ai, the emotionally intelligent voice AI for real estate industry. It's not artificial intelligence, it's emotional intelligence. Today's guest is Carlos Pereira. Uh Carlos Pereira has taken Kaen Holmes uh to 15 million in revenue in two years. And I think uh another amazing accomplishment is uh taking his construction company when he was 18 years old uh in

two years to 3 million revenue while he was living in Miami. Um he's worked with celebrities, influencers, um and a lot of great people out in Miami. So Carlos, thank you for being here, bro. >> Of course, man. Thank you for having me. >> Yeah, absolutely, bro. So man, let's um let's jump right in. Dude, you have uh some pretty good success stories here. Um, but first I'd like to get to to know a little bit

about you, your story. Um, you were telling me a little bit right now right before we started filming that you're from Cuba. >> Yes, sir. >> Nice. Nice. So, uh, what part of Cuba you from? >> Havana. >> Oh, yeah. Lavana. Okay, cool. Yeah. I was telling you I went to Lavana about 3 years ago. >> Yeah. >> When did you leave Lavana? >> When I was 10. >> 10 years old. >> Yes, sir. >> Nice.

They um when we went the man the the sentiment there you could just feel like like the depression in the air, bro. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of poverty. >> A lot of poverty. Widespread. Right. >> Yes, sir. >> That's what communism is. Keep them all the same. Right. Right. >> Yeah. And then everyone just ends up being poor. Yeah. >> So, >> yeah. Um, we went to a restaurant and it was right by the

beach and we're thinking like this is gonna be great, right? Like we're gonna have fresh seafood. An hour went by and we're like, "Dude, where's the where's the fish at?" And they're like, "Oh, it's it's defrosting." And I'm like, "The ocean's right there." >> Yeah. >> But they, you know, they don't have the resources, you know, like fishing line even is like scarce. They can't go out and fish whenever they want, >> right? Um, so we

had to, you know, at that point we're like, I'm sorry, we had to cancel it, you know. Um, but, uh, it's it's it's interesting what's what's happening there, man. Hopefully they find a solution soon. Uh, so you left when you were 10 years old. >> Yes, sir. >> Nice. Tell me about your story. >> So, I mean, I left when I was 10 years old. We crossed a bunch of borders through couple countries and then we

moved out to Miami where my grandma lives. My a lot of my family lives there. my aunt, my cousins, um they had immigrated way before and you know we just we needed a way out and I think everybody in Cuba wants a way out and so you know some of them figure it out, some don't. Some die in the process >> and um you know we figured it out. We got to Miami. I grew up with

immigrant parents. So since a very young age, uh my dad is an entrepreneur. He's the one that gave me all the knowledge and you know willpower to get things done. And uh he opened up his engineering firm like 4 years into being in Miami. >> Mhm. >> Not knowing English. So a lot of the times he relied on me to like translate emails, get on phone calls. So I've been in the industry since I was very

young. And then eventually I started drawing out floor plans and uh getting into the actual engineering and architectural side of things. And I mean I loved it. Uh but I just felt like once I started going out to the job sites and seeing that you know what we would draw on paper was getting executed I kind of fell in love with that. You know especially being young and active like >> I didn't really like the idea

of just being in an office the whole time. I like the idea more of like being a contractor, the guys that make things happen, you know, and and actually take >> an idea that's on paper and building it out from scratch. So, >> yeah, >> that's how I started. I started in the in the engineering and architectural space. And then by the time I was 17, actually, I started um skipping school, painting houses with a lot

of my boys and uh you know, making some money. And so I was able to see the the fruition out of it. And then by the time I was 18, I started, you know, a legit uh company, my dad's friend, cuz over there you need to be licensed. It's not like here where you can just open up an uh art um construction company and just get going. Over there, you need somebody to have a license in

your construction company. So my dad's friend had a license and then he qualified a company that I opened. Um, and then that's how I was able to get construction contracts going and then, you know, it was >> it was up from there. >> Yes, sir. >> Man, so um, how old were you when you started working with your dad? >> Uh, man, I want to say like 12 >> 12 >> 12 13 years old. >> You

were young. >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> So, would you say that that like the love of learning how to build something came like immediately or was it something that kind of developed over the years? I I believe I mean I didn't really start going to the job sites and stuff till I was like 15ish. Uh most of the time I was just translating emails and phone calls and you know trying to understand the business. >> Yeah.

But he started like for example one of the things that I applaud till now and I used to cry when I was young >> but he used to like whenever he would punish me like if I was late you know with with my curfew or if I didn't do good in school the way that he would punish me is like you need to draw this plan whenever you're done with that plan then you can go out

or or do whatever. And I hated it you know but that's how I learned to like draw plans cuz I wanted to go out. all my friends were going to the mall, whatever. By the time I was 15 years old, so I learned how to draw plans. And I mean, he taught me little by little, he would put like a code sheet of how to draw and then he wouldn't necessarily give me a lot of instructions.

He'll be like, "Hey, just figure it out, you know, like draw draw the plan. Whenever you draw the plan, then you can go out." >> Yeah. >> And so that's that's how I learned to to draw the plan. >> What a blessing, bro. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. At the time you you probably hated it, but like it just turned out to be a huge blessing for you. >> Oh yeah, I hated it, man. I was like,

I'm not drawing nothing. Take me to the mall, you know. >> Yeah. So, uh so by the time you're 18, you're able to start a a um a construction company. >> Yes, sir. >> What happened as soon as you you opened up, man? Like, did you have all these jobs lined up because of your dad's connections or >> No. So, it's funny. So, um I I saw some influencers online. And they were like over there like

crypto trading and uh forex trading and market trading options like that's huge out there you know um you see a lot of people with Lambos Rolls-Royces and so uh my wife was actually in um in a company uh selling shampoo that it was like a kind of like a pyramid right where like you know you sell shampoo but you recruit people to sell shampoo and then you know the more people you recruit the more money you

make >> an MLM Yeah, exactly. >> And so, um, >> there was this lady that used to do that, but then she started >> You said, sorry to interrupt. You said your wife. >> Yeah. >> Was she your wife at the time or >> No, she wasn't my wife at the time. She was my girlfriend. >> When did you When did you guys When were you guys uh dating and then >> in high school? So, I've

been with her since I was 18 years old. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Oh, that's incredible. Congrats, man. >> Thank you, brother. >> Yeah. So, you're 18 years old. your girlfriend at the time, wife now, uh she worked for that MLM company, right? >> Selling shampoo. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's that's interesting. Yeah. Nice. And so what happened? >> Um so there was this lady, she was huge in that industry and then she opened up a

Forex Academy with her husband. Um and then another MLM, right? And so I got on uh a Zoom with her kind of like to get that started because I really wanted to start trading, etc. Um, you know, like I said, I was just painting houses and making a little bit of money here and there. So, I started uh interviewing with her and then like a week after that interview, uh, mind you, I was supposed to sign

up uh to that Forex company and it it took a couple dollars. So, I told her, "Hey, give me about a month and, you know, we'll start." >> But like a week after that, um, one of my friends used to do windows for a government company. like he was like their window installer, window provider, etc. And then he knew that I was a general contractor at the time. And then he told them about me and me

about them. And so I got a huge government contract to do a bunch of rehabs down in Florida. >> And so that's when >> I feel like this happened when you were 18. >> Yeah. >> Nice. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So that was kind of like the Kickstarter, huh? >> Right. Exactly. So it just started taking off. Mind you, they were rehabs for government. So they were like very low-end, you know, but it was volume. It

was like we have 10 houses for you. Here you have to replace some drywall, get it painted, you know, install some doors, some windows he would do, etc. And so um it started taking off and it was a big contract. It was about like $120,000, $100,000 a month, you know, and then we were spending about 60 to 80 um to get that done. So we had like 30 $40,000 profit. When I say we, I mean like

me and my dad cuz I opened up the company and obviously he became a partner. >> Yeah. >> And so then it started taking off from there. Then I met with her a month after. She followed up with me and I was like, "Hey, you know, like I I would really love to do this, but I just feel like my dreams are coming true right now. Like everything I ever wanted to do was construction and it's

just taking off. So I I feel like, you know, maybe later down the line, but right now I just don't have time. Like I'm working my butt off." Was that for forex? The whole Forex thing or? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> You dodge a [clears throat] blow at the time. >> Yeah. Uh it was crypto actually. Crypto. >> Okay. >> Um and so I was like, you know, maybe later on down the line. And um you

know, right now my dreams are taking off. I'm I'm just really busy. I was 18 and I was working 60 to 80 hours a week trying to go to college as well, which that's one of the reasons I dropped out of college is cuz I would go to class and then I would leave like 20 minutes in because I had a call from a client, you know, texting subcontractors, this needs to get done, etc. And so,

um, I I told her and then like a month or two later, she called me. Mind you, she's big influencer down in Miami. her and her husband, huge, huge, huge people in the influencer space uh for crypto. >> Um, and so they called me, hey, I want to do a pool >> and a couple things in my house. My sister's an architect. And then >> her sister had put some plans together, etc. The first thing was

like a big wall in their living room, huge marble wall, 40 ft, etc. And I had no idea how to quote that, you know. And so I got with some of my friends, some of some of the bigger guys in the industry, my dad's friends as well, and they guided me, and they're like, "Hey, you can charge like 100 120,000 for this, >> and it'll cost you >> for a wall." >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I

mean, it was a marble wall 40 ft up, so it was it was a fancy wall, you know, with a fireplace, >> not just a regular wall. >> Yeah. some like real real wood uh stained shelves, lighting everywhere, you know, cabinets, mantel, the whole thing. >> So you said it you can charge 120 and then your cost on that was going to be how much? >> Like 40 >> 40. >> Yeah. Jeez. >> Yeah. And so

then >> like a 60% profitability, >> right? Right. So that was like one of my first big big contracts. So, we got that done. And then, um, one of her friends down the street, another huge influencer in the crypto space, her husband's best friend at the time, um, was like, "Hey, I want to do my pool, too, and I want to remodel my whole house, you know." >> Um, and so I went in there, started remodeling

his whole house, made a good amount of money, and then, um, started working with other influencers. And then another one was an NFL player, his name is Noah Igrahini. used to play for the Dolphins. I think he plays for the Texans now. We got his pool done and then just, you know, a bunch of clients came from that. And then I stopped doing the government rehabs. I actually got screwed over doing the government rehabs. Uh cuz

I wasn't direct to the government. There was a company that was direct to the government and they paid us as a subcontractor. And so they they screwed me out of like $80,000 at the time. But it it wasn't a big deal because I was making a a good amount of money with, you know, higherend clients. And so I was able to pay all my subs out and have no debt, >> you know, very quickly. And so

then it was just up from there, >> dude. Incredible. Yes, sir. >> Yeah. So that was what, your first year? >> That was my first and second year. >> First and second year. So first and second year, you're out there, you're grinding, um, getting a bunch of influencers, a ton of money in as a construction company. Um, what happened when you were 20? Why'd you stop? >> U, no, I didn't stop. I mean, I said 20,

but it it's actually to about 22, right? And so, as I grew in the space, I saw a lot of my dad's clients were new construction clients, right? So, basically, contractors would hire my dad to do the plans, do the engineering, the architecture, the whole thing. And so, I was like, man, I really want to do new construction. Really want to do new construction. And down there there was uh you know like you needed a a

a high entry to do new construction. Like to buy a lot you're talking about probably a couple million if it's a good lot. And then to build you're talking about another couple million. Back in the day I didn't know about lenders. I didn't know about any of that. To me you just had to have that money. So I started looking into you know other places out of state. I think since I was young I always loved

Texas. Like I didn't know where in Texas, Dallas, Houston, Austin, you know, but I always love Texas, like this big country place, Cowboys, you know. Um, and so I started looking into Texas and then I found out you don't need a license out here. And then I started finding out that you can just raise money instead of, you know, having it in your own pocket. So I started looking into it and then I looked into Fort

Worth, Dallas, and Houston. >> Yeah. And um I knew this guy. He was big in the in the government uh contracts industry. And he's one of the guys that I reached out to when that company screwed me over cuz I knew that he was like the head of the the actual government program. >> And uh I asked and I knew he was from Texas. So I asked him like, "Hey, where do you recommend you know I

go to where, you know, can I get a job, etc." and and he told me, "Look, we're we're out in League City. That's right next to Houston, Texas. It's one of the suburbs." >> Yeah. >> And uh I mean, you I can't get you a job, but you can definitely apply and see see how it goes, you know. But um it's a great place. There's a lot of new opportunities, etc. So, me and my wife took

a flight out here in 2022 or end of 2021. Mhm. >> And uh we came, we saw, man, I saw a bunch of new construction going on and I was like, man, that's that's what I want to do. That's my future, you know? >> Yeah. >> And then I I got a job for a government company thinking that it was just rehabs, right? Cuz that's what I used to do. >> And like my first or second

day, they handed me a set of plans and an address. When I went to the address, it was an empty lot. And I look at the set of plans and it's a new construction home. And I was like, "No way." Like, "This this is what, you know, my job is. That's crazy." Because I wanted to get there eventually, you know. >> And so that's that's where I started to learn how to do new construction, manage it,

the subs, etc. >> Yeah. I I want to back up here a little bit because you it it's it's almost uh you kind of you kind of lost me where you said that you moved to Houston, but how did you not know what you were going to be doing whenever you showed up here? Like how did you interview for the job and then like [laughter] did they not tell you exactly what you're going to be doing?

>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean they I it was it was kind of a short interview cuz since I was a subcontractor down in Florida, I knew what to say already. Like, hey, you you guys are aiming to, you know, satisfy the client, get a letter from them, and you know, like I I know exactly what you guys are looking for. I've already done it in Florida for you guys as a sub. And so, the

guy was like, "Okay, well, you know what? You're hired. I don't need to interview anybody else. I think you're you're fit for the job. When can you come out here?" I was like, "Well, I can come out in February." I think this was January or December. >> Um, and then he just he gave me the job, but I had no idea that it was new construction. Like that was never mentioned in in the interview. >> Oh,

they didn't tell you that. >> No, at all. Wow. >> Yeah. I thought I thought it was rehab, like government contract. >> What about like even on the um like on the job ad on the job posting? >> It wasn't a job posting. I just went to their website cuz that guy told me what their website was. So I went to their website and then I was I I got a a job interview and then when

I had that job interview I also did schedule several project management positions >> uh from other companies so that I can come and hit a couple interviews and like I came I think for a week or or four days or something like that and during those four days we looked at apartments we looked at you know the job interviews etc. But since he hired me on the spot, I didn't even go. I had two other interviews

lined up and I just didn't even >> Oh, I see. I mean, it sounds like you were just like moving 100 miles per hour and like really not paying attention to the details, >> right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Not asking any questions. >> Um there's a book and it's called like uh shoot, fire, aim, something like that. Basically, um, basically you take action first and then you look at the results and then you adjust afterwards. Kind of

>> it's kind of like what happened to you right here where you just like taking massive action. >> Yeah. >> And not asking a whole lot of questions, just like you just landed, you know, it just so happened that you landed exactly where you wanted to be at, >> right? Yeah. I mean eventually I wanted to I just wanted to secure an income you know and and know that like hey this is my income this is

what kind of apartment I can afford and then from there I was going to start looking into new construction companies but I wanted some experience in the field uh you know just in Texas construction and like how things are done here etc. And I had I had no idea it was a new construction company. Like I thought it was just remodel company, you know. >> Yeah. >> So, >> dude, that's incredible. >> Yeah. >> That's amazing.

Congrats, dude. So, um Okay, so you come you come to Houston, you're at this point, you're what, 22 years old? >> Yeah. >> So, you're 22 and you're like, "All right, you show up and uh first first day on the job. I want to know what it was like starting off in new construction just from the get-go. What were the some of the challenges? And um these are some of the questions that I'll ask you here.

Uh what were some of the challenges that you learned when you got to that job immediately? And then how did you overcome all of those challenges being a 22year-old now with your wife in a new city? I mean, it seems like it's a it's an uphill battle, right? So, uh I'd love to hear uh the answer to those questions. We're just going to take a quick commercial break to hear from our sponsors. If you're a nationwide

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go sign up. Get hard money.com. All right, Carlos. And we're back. So, you came to Houston, Texas when you were with uh Did you have any family here? >> No. No. So, no resources, no family. You came to Houston with uh nothing but a dream, right? Right. And uh and you show up uh you don't even know the job that you're you're going to do. >> First day on the job, they give you some plans. It's

new construction. What's going through your mind, man? I mean, it seems like >> it seems like for a lot of people, a lot of people would crumble under this kind of pressure, right? Especially being 22 and that young. >> Yeah. So, how did you overcome all these challenges and what lessons did you learn as a 22-y old man? >> Yeah. Well, honestly, like I saw it as a challenge, but more than anything, I got goosebumps. Like,

I was I was hungry and I just felt so blessed, you know? I felt like God put me in the position that I've always, you know, dreamed of. Like, >> I didn't expect it to be new construction at all. Like, I thought it was just remodels and rehabs. And so when I saw that it was new construction, like I remember calling my dad and getting on FaceTime and showing him like, "Look at these plans and guess

what? Like I'm gonna build it from scratch. Like empty lot, you know, check this out." Like I I I didn't see it too much as a challenge as much as I saw it as a great opportunity to finally start working towards my dreams, you know, cuz I I I just really wanted to make that happen. And I was just so hungry that like all I did was just ask questions. And I would say my biggest challenge

was that I didn't know what I was doing. Like I did not know how to put a new construction home together. I knew how to manage subs, you know, make phone calls, schedule subs out and and do their job and manage them, but I had no idea how to put a new construction home together. Where where do I start, you know? Um, so I feel like that was my biggest challenge. But as soon as I um

got back to the office, I would say I had a great mentor. His name was Mike Fall. This guy, he used to work for Perry Holmes. And then [clears throat] he started working for that government company shortly before I started working there. >> And he was assigned to be like my manager, my construction manager. And so I just started telling him like, man, >> I was honest with him. I I told him, "Dude, I had no

idea that I was going to do new construction. like I thought it was just rehabs and he's like well you know you're in the right place and if you don't know I'm going to teach you and so on a daily basis he just took me under his wing and started telling me you know he would ask me questions like on a daily basis weekly basis take me out to lunch and say what's the first step you

know like you get this lot you get these plans what's the first step and the first meeting I had no idea how to answer that but then he he told me well the first step is getting your pad built right? Getting the dirt work done. After you get that done, you stake it with a surveyor. So, you need to call your surveyor. Uh, and then after you get that done, you come, you put your forms. After

your forms, you do a form survey, etc. And then by like the second or third week, I was already answering all of those questions from bottom to end cuz I would I would go home and just study everything he told me. I would write it down, write it down, write it down, and just study, you know, like like I had never studied in my life. I'm not really a books guy at all or or, you know,

a school guy. >> Uh but that I was really passionate about, you know, how to learn to put a home together, how to build something from the ground up. And so, you know, by the third week, he was like, "Man, you you've got it." You know, >> and it was a very aggressive company. So, actually they would make me uh build the first time around cuz I worked for this company twice. Um, and the first time

the first time around I lasted about 8 months there. Um, and basically like they wanted me to build homes in 45 to 60 days max. And that's including permitting, inspections, everything in the city of Houston. Yeah. Um, and I didn't know how I was going to do it, but my first home took about 60 62 days or something like that. >> And um, I mean, he walked me through the whole process and he guided me. And

then from there, they would just give me three, four, five homes a month. And I was building three, four, five homes a month in 60 days or less. >> Wow. >> Wow. Sounds like a lot. >> Yeah. >> So, um, how long would you say that it took you to kind of become proficient then? um like three months I would say like in three months I I felt like you know I was one of the top

producers in the company uh just because I was so passionate I was so hungry that I was like give me more give me more give me more like I I remember asking for more and more and more projects because also based on the projects they would give you bonuses right so for every home you build they'll give you $1,000 and it was structured based on three things uh timeline budget and quality you And each one of

those was worth like $400 to $600, $200 each. Um, and so, you know, I I just wanted more and more homes, not only so that I can learn and like show them that I'm top producer and an overachiever, but also so I can make a ton of money. >> Yeah. >> So, at the time now, you're what, 23, 24, >> right? >> Okay, cool. >> Yeah. >> So, 22 23 24 and um you're working for this

company. Um, how many how many homes were you building? Like what's the most that what's the most amount of projects that you were building at any point in time? >> Um, the first time around I think I did seven homes at once. Like they just got thrown to me and I was doing seven homes at at once the first time around. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And then um as you scaled it, what were what did you

build it up to? Um, well, I mean, I I was just building. So, basically, it's a it's a company that they just they get contracts from the government and they tear down whoever the the homeowners houses. It's it's basically it's a GLO program and these people are low income, you know, no resources, low resources, and they make no money. And so basically what happens is like their house got torn up by Harvey or a hurricane or

some sort of storm where they have leaking they like unlivable conditions basically. So they apply for a government grant and then that government grant uh gets uh goes to the construction company and the construction company's responsible for relocating them, putting them in a hotel and then tearing up their house and building a new one. M >> um so I mean the most that I ever did the first time around was seven homes and then from there

I went to work for several different uh construction companies. >> Okay. So you you went to work at different construction companies. >> Yeah. >> How many construction companies did you work for? >> Three. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then uh you said you were doing like 50 60 >> uh 50 60 what? >> Homes. >> No. So I was building I was building homes in uh 45 to 60 days. >> 45 to 60 days. >> Yes.

45 to 60 days. >> So So from the moment that you got started to the moment that the home got finished, it was 40 to 60 days. Right. >> Got it. Got it. All right. >> And um after you went and worked at two, three different companies, what happened then? Did you when did you know that it was the right time for you to start your own construction company? >> Right. cuz I mean they're paying like

200 bucks for like 1,000 bucks for houses is crazy, right? Like compared to the amount of profit that you can make now, >> right? Right. Right. >> Yeah. And I mean I'm I'm sure that you saw the money that you were making in Miami and then coming over here. >> Um was that like did did that hit your ego at all >> knowing that you were making before, you know, like >> 60,000 on a wall? >>

Yeah. >> To making a,000 to build a house? >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean it definitely it definitely did feel like a big sacrifice >> but I always knew I wanted to build my own company and that it it took this sacrifice you know so I never saw it as like you know uh I'm an employee now and I used to be a CEO or you know I saw it more as like I'm always going to be

a CEO I'm always going to be an entrepreneur and build my own company but it just takes some time some grind to be able to learn the systems and that's why I went to go work at other companies because I wanted to learn the systems. I wanted to, you know, get to know the subcontractors that were going to be my future subcontractors. So, I built a really good relationship with the subs. Um, I made sure that

they liked me, that I liked them, that they did what I expected of them. And so, my main goal was that, just learn the process of how the new construction companies work, what what type of systems do they use, what what kind of daily logs, etc. that they use so that I can implement that in the future to to my own. >> So you kind of did it even like as a like a training or like

a school session for you, right? Right. >> Yeah. That was education at the time. >> So then now you're equipped and you even worked at two to three different construction companies. Now you got to see three different construction companies, their systems, their processes, uh their technology, the people, the way they handle business. Now you have a really good idea of what to do, right? So now you uh when did you start Kaen Holmes? >> So Kaen

Holmes got started when um I was working at at a different construction company and um I was always pitching. I mean since even the very first construction company that I worked here um even 3 months in, I was always telling uh people like hey if you ever want to build something or you want to invest you know let me know. I can I can build homes, you know, and so I was always spreading that word. And

so by the third construction company that I was working at, um, one of my subcontractors at the time, he's like, "Hey, I got this lady and she wants to, uh, she has a client, she's a realtor, she has a client that has a lot and she wants to build uh, they want to build 12 houses in the Galleria." And I was like, "Okay, yeah, let's do it." So I started meeting with them. It took like 3

months of meeting and meeting um after I was able to sell them. Mind you, I didn't have anything. I didn't have a company, company name, uh company shirts, cards, nothing. I was just like, "Yeah, I can do it." And then little by little, uh my daughter was born. And so we were like, "What to name this construction company?" And that's when I was like, "Oh, Kaen. That that's my daughter. Let's name it Kaen Holmes." Yeah. >>

And so >> I made business cards. cuz I got me like three, four shirts so that I can start showing up to the meetings with. Got me a website. >> Um and so then I I made myself look a little bit more presentable >> and um I landed my first big contract with with those and then from there like I was just always going after investors. That's when I got into like >> meeting a lot of

the the people in real estate investors, you know, wholesalers, e every type of uh person that's in real estate in Houston. I wanted to get to know each of them and and their industry. And >> I would say that I I got to know a lot of very, you know, um, smart individuals. >> Yeah. >> Yes, sir. >> Damn, that's amazing, dude. So, your first project as Kaen Holmes was a 12 house project. >> Yeah. >>

Wow. How big was that? How big was that project? What was the revenue on that? >> So, that one that was a $6 million contract. 5 point 5.5 uh million dollar contract >> um in the Galleria 12 homes. >> 12 homes. >> Yes, sir. >> So you the way that that construction works and um maybe you could educate me on this. Uh the the they give you a contract and then they have some sort of deposit

that they give you up front. >> Yeah. So I mean it all depends, right? So most investors do not give you a deposit because they're working on loan uh on loan draws, right? So a lot of times and that's I mean that's a big risk that we take is like we need to do the foundation after we do the foundation then we get paid you know. So a lot of times you have to have money so

that you can pay the subs cuz you might be able to wait but the sub is not going to wait. As soon as that foundation is poured he wants the money. soon as a framing's done, he wants the money, you know, versus like when you work as an actual contractor, you need to pay them through steps like, you know, here's a deposit to start the foundations and buy the rebar, etc., right? >> Uh, but in this

case, that very first contract, they were a allcash investor. So, I did request a deposit from them and that's how I was able to move that. Uh >> but today I try to have money around so that I can pay subs and then I collect my money on draws when parts of the construction are completed. >> Yeah. Basically whenever the investor gets the draw from their loan, right? >> Right. >> So um I mean it seems

like everything was just kind of lining up for you, bro. Like God was really on your side here, you know, like you your first project 12 homes, 5.5 million, they have cash. >> Like how many projects are like this? >> Not many. >> Not a lot. [laughter] >> Not a lot. >> Not a lot. Yeah, I know. I mean, I talked to a lot of people, man, and uh I think you're just uh blessed, right? Everything

like the lines are um like it just seems like the path is just like opening up for you, man. And you know, just a huge blessing in your life and I'm really happy to hear your story, dude. and you know and be able to share it here with the audience. So, uh what happened after that, bro? Like, did you um you you got your first contract. Uh did you find your second project again right away or

how long did it take you to get the second project? I mean, cuz 12 homes is a lot, right? So, >> you're probably pretty preoccupied with that project for a while. How long did it take you to uh finish that that job? Um, it took me about a year and two months, but I didn't So, I was still working as an employee for for a construction company. When I got the contract signed and then we started

the infrastructure, I was still an employee working. And then once I saw like, man, this project needs a lot of my time. That's when I finally quit my job. But I already had that secured. And then my second project took a while. I mean, honestly speaking, I was very nervous because I'm like, man, I'm just a one project company, you know, like I need to start getting projects because otherwise when this project is done, I'm going

to have to get a job again, you know. Um, so >> it took a while and and that had me on my toes for sure. Um, but I mean, I was able to secure a couple remodels. I was able to secure more new construction as well uh by getting to know individuals, going out to networking events, speaking at them, etc. And so that's what took me to get more projects. >> Yeah. So, uh your first project

it took you a year a year to complete. Um so 12 homes. uh how what was that time frame and and how did you how did you do it in between the projects then to to live bro you know like you don't have a secure source of income like what do you what's going through your head at this point >> well I mean definitely I knew that I needed assistance right away so like about 6 months

into that project I was like I need to hire a project manager and I need an office you know um and so then I I started uh with my office down in downtown >> and um you know I I was like I need a project manager. So that same sub that took me that lead his son always wanted to be a builder and I always saw him kind of like him and his pops were always in

the job site. They were doing the plumbing. So >> reminded you of him of yourself. >> Yeah. Every Exactly. It reminded me a lot of myself and I was like man like you know >> he wants to be a builder. Let's do it. like let's you know do you want to be a project manager? So I interviewed him and then I didn't even interview anybody else. I was just like hey let let's get started. And I

mean he was 20 years old at the time. So >> yeah, >> he he was I mean he was a beast uh as far as hunger and that reminded me of myself a lot like he was just hungry >> uh but very green as a builder, you know, and so I I had to train him a lot and I mean to today he's he's I would consider him like my right-hand man. >> Yeah. >> Oh, so

you guys are still working together? >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> That's amazing. >> Yes, sir. >> How long did it take you to have consistency in project? cuz I know you mentioned you, you know, you finish that first job and then, you know, there there's some time in between projects. Um, you start going to networking events, you start doing speaking engagements. How long did did it take you to start getting a lot of momentum and

start getting uh consistent projects in in your company? >> I would say like six six months. >> Six months into that. Um, and then that's when I hired the the project manager. And then, you know, I just started to to look for more and more projects. I mean, I was looking since the beginning. I was looking for more investors, more projects. And I just I couldn't land any anything, you know. Everybody also saw me as too

young, you know. Um, like I remember I had this interview with an investor one time. He's like, "You don't build new homes? Like, do you do this with your dad?" And I was like, "No." like my dad's in Florida. >> Um, and he's like, "I don't know. I've been screwed over before and I mean, you're just too young. >> Like I don't, you know, you have a company and you build new homes. Like, show me, show

me the proof, you know, and so like it was it was kind of hard at first cuz I feel like people didn't have that belief. I I'm a very good salesman and I was able to sell um, you know, that I am a contractor, that I do build homes, etc. But it was it was hard at first, especially not having a lot of projects to showcase and be like, I do do this. Come to my project

here. Come to my project there. Talk to this investor that I worked for already. >> Yeah. >> You know, and so that that was the the hardest challenge for sure. >> Uh but once once um I got my first one, then I was able to showcase that project. >> Your first what? >> Uh my my my first contract. So that Galleria one. So once I had that project, I was able to showcase it and then you

know it took Yeah. It took about 6 months to get my second project. >> 6 months. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So you're still building that first project when you got your second project, right? >> Got it. Got it. Okay. Cool. And then after that it's just like like projects are just coming in easily then. >> Right. Right. Yeah. I mean not easily. I still had to work a lot. Today I would say they're coming in

more easily. like I get more phone calls like, "Hey, I want to build a duplex here. I want to build a single family there." >> Um, and so that today it's a lot easier because I've already built a good amount of uh projects. >> Yeah, makes sense. >> So, um, dude, that's that's amazing. Uh, I want to get into now shifting gears into what you do today in your company and what does success look like in

your company today. Um, but be before we do that, uh, we're going to just take a quick break here again. >> You good? >> All right. And we are back. Carlos, so what does success look like in your company today, brother? >> Um, definitely we have a very solid team. >> Yeah. >> Um, I now have two project managers and then an office manager who also I mean she does everything. She's a project coordinator. So she

does a lot of the communications with clients with the cities. Uh we have systems, right? So like all the selections for the houses, the budgets for the project. So you know, just having that solid team in place has been able to get us to the next level and the next level and being able to escalate. >> Um and so that that's what I feel like has brought more and more success is just having a solid team

and solid systems in place. >> Yeah. So you have two project managers and an office manager. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is that like your your main bulk of your company now? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean uh uh I would say a lot of our subcontractors, they're subcontractors, but they only really do work for us. >> Yeah. So it's almost like they're >> they're working primarily with you, >> right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You can't

call them employees. Yeah. You don't want >> you don't want that liability, but >> Right. >> Uh man, that's amazing, dude. So, how many projects do you have working now? >> Uh, right now we're currently I want to say eight almost seven cuz we're almost done with one of them. Um, >> is it eight houses or um like how many houses is there? >> So, out of Yeah, out of those uh seven cuz that eight that

eighth one I'm I'm literally almost done with that one is a uh an investment property that we flipped it. Um but out of those eight uh four are new construction, five are new construction. So, we have uh three duplexes, three single family homes, um another eight houses, and then another four homes, and then the other one is a a custom home. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Nice. >> Well, actually, we have six new construction. Two of

them are custom homes. One's in Seabbrook, one's in Baytown, and that one I'm I'm almost done with as well. >> Beautiful. So, most of the construction that you're doing right now, you're doing it for other people. You're building homes for either investors, developers, etc. >> Yeah. Or homeowners, too. And that that's a niche I want to get into as well. It's more custom homes for homeowners. People that buy their piece of land, they want to build

their dream home. >> Um, and then, you know, we get hired to be able to execute on that. >> Beautiful, man. So, now you have your own engineering team, architectural, all that stuff, too, or >> Yeah. >> Is it mainly just like the >> the construction part of it of of it? No, we also so we also have architectural and engineering. They're not in our office, like they're not in-house, but we do have preferred teams that

we work with. We get special pricing. So, we're able to offer those services to uh investors and homeowners and just anybody that wants to build. Uh we pretty much do everything from A to Z, even land acquisition, right? So, if they're looking for a lot, we can help them find that lot and then we help them with the the planning, the architectural, the engineering, even the interior design. Yeah. And then take it to the city. We

expedite it ourselves. Um, and then the construction aspect of it. >> Yeah. Do you have any plans to develop your own properties in the future? >> Yeah. Well, I mean, we we currently already are. So, we we did two duplexes in North Houston. That's a lot that we bought. Um, and we developed it into two duplexes. We replotted it, you know, the the whole nine yards. >> Okay. So, you own those. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well,

those are sold already, thank God. >> Okay. No, but what I mean is like you bought it yourself. Yeah. >> You got a lender. You you're building it all. So, you're everything. You're the investor, the developer, builder on the project. >> Yeah. So, that one is like that. That one we bought the land. Uh, we did the replat, the the permits, everything. We built it ourselves, sold it ourselves. So, that one was our first one. And

then now we're currently working on two more projects that are like that that I mean, they're not completely ours, but we partnered up uh with Investor. Yeah. And then we we bought the land together. We did the plans together. One of them is uh three homes right here on the Southside, South Union. >> And then the other one is three more duplexes right next to the first two that we did. >> Nice, dude. Nice. Do you

have uh when when you're saying we are you referring to just you and your wife or do you have any other partners? >> Um no other partners. So uh we So we number one is the the three duplexes. That's an investor partner of mine. We basically like I said we bought the lot together. Um and then we're we're going to develop it together. And then the three homes, same thing. the three homes. I actually bought the

lot myself and then I found an investor that wanted to go half uh with me. >> Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha. And do you have a realtor on your team? Is uh who who's selling the properties for you? >> Um so we don't have a specific realtor. We work with any realtor, but um we do work with Kayla Monroe a lot. Um, and then the the next one really is the investor partner of mine who's going to to

choose that realtor. >> Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay, cool. Is your wife uh in in your business at all? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, she does a lot of the financing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. She runs with a lot of the financing organization. So, she she does do a lot of our >> the bookkeeping part of things. Yeah. >> Yeah. Women are very good at handling finances. So that's smart man. >> Yeah. >> Um where do you see your

company going in the you know in the next 3 5 10 years? What's your vision? >> Um so my vision honestly um I I want to be able to not necessarily work for a lot of investors. I want to be my own investor. Uh of course with partners um and just man rebuilding Houston, rebuilding communities, custom homes. I I really like the custom home uh aspect of it cuz it's it's a little bit fancier. It's a

little bit, you know, more to the next level, but I also like building communities and track homes, you know. >> Yeah, spec homes. Yeah. Nice. >> So, do you see yourself in the future doing more custom homes or more speck homes? >> I would say custom homes, definitely. Yeah, I want to I want to take it up a notch. I know it's going to take some time to get there cuz I mean, it's a it's a

high entry, right? But that's that's ultimately where I want to land. I want to be known not as just a builder, but a quality builder, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. I should definitely introduce you to uh one of a really good friend uh friend of mine. His name's Justin Davis. >> Um he's exactly he does exactly that. He builds he buys lots like in Spring Branch. Yeah. Um he studies the market, buys like lots on a

culde-sac in a premier neighborhood with great school districts. goes in, buys a lot for like 800 grand, throws in like a million, sells it for like three million, you know, like projects like this, like a million dollars in profit or, you know, like in in the spread there. So, >> uh, really really smart guy, man. I think, um, I think you guys would get along really fine. And then, um, the lender on projects, uh, the reason

how I met Justin Davis, shout out Justin Davis, uh, I know he watches the podcast, um, is our good friend Andrew F. So, Andrew Fot is um a DSCR lender, but he also does like new construction. So, uh do you know Andrew Fot? >> No. >> No. Cool guy, bro. Like, amazing guy. Uh I love Andrew F. Shout out Andrew. Uh he gives uh Justin Davis these loans to go and do all of this stuff that

I'm telling you about, like buy the buys the lots, develops it. Um Justin Davis does some beautiful houses, bro. Like like mini mansions, bro. I think I follow him. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh Har what's his uh you know his uh company name? >> No. >> Yeah. Harbor >> Holland. >> Holland >> I think. So yeah. Holland. Fine. Something like that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So um definitely definitely need to introduce you to uh

my my good friend Andrew F. Um, so you guys can get connected and then whenever you know, if not now, but in the future whenever you're ready to do like a a new development, you know, he can definitely do the financing for you. >> For sure. I mean, I got something right now. [laughter] >> You got what? >> Yeah, I got something right now that I mean, I have I have lenders already in place, but I

always shop around. >> Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Because a lot of the times also it's not even about like uh you know rates or whatever and that's important obviously but it's also you know customer service uh draw schedules, >> right? >> There's a lot of um there's a lot of lenders that I've worked with in the past that have a lot of red tape just to even be able to get a draw, >> right? >> You know,

and so the easier someone's able to do it, you know, uh like I like being able to roll closing cost into a loan or XYZ, you know, like just certain things that some lenders can do. So >> yeah. Um anyway, uh when do you when do you foresee being able to do a project like that? >> Um I do think within the next 12 months or maybe right after the next 12 months, but definitely by 2027.

I mean, I've been talking about it since I started the company. Like that's where I want to head to, you know, I want to head to higher end. Exa exactly like what you mentioned Justin does, right? like buying buying a high-end lot in a premier neighborhood and then building a a high-end home and selling it. >> Yeah. Imagine, bro, like you do five projects like this, >> which I think is brilliant. You know, I so glad

I met Justin cuz I didn't even like know anyone else that does stuff like this, but you know, you do a lot or or a a development like this. And uh you know, the profit on it could be 800,000 to 1 point some million. >> Yep. Mhm. >> So, uh you know, you imagine you do five projects a year, which is super easy, super cake, right? That's like 5 mil that, uh you can generate in a

year. >> Yeah. You know, and >> quality over quantity. >> Yeah, brother. So, uh I think, you know, there's something for everyone, you know, and I think if you're in the spec home space, then you're competing against, you know, like you mentioned Perry Holmes earlier, >> right? >> Then you're competing against them. So, it's uh it's a race to the bottom in my opinion. I think the custom home space is a really great space to be

at. So, I I think it's a really good direction. >> Yeah. >> I'm excited to see where where you land at there, man. Like, that'll be really cool to uh follow your story and then uh you know, maybe whenever you actually do a project, we'll have you back in in the podcast and film another one and talk about your experience there. >> For sure. >> Yeah, that'd be cool. >> So, um for uh for anyone that's

uh listening to this right now, what are um what are some of the biggest lessons that you've learned over the years in in everything that you've done? you know, >> um the biggest one one of the biggest lessons for sure um in in the general contracting building space is having having a contract, you know, um not basing your your business based on trust, you know, do not trust anybody like that. That's what uh construction has taught

I mean, don't get me wrong, there's a lot of people that I trust and I love them. And, you know, I'm not necessarily talking about like my my circle, my inner circle, but I'm I'm talking about like there's subcontractors, man, that I've given them great opportunities and they've done a great job and so I feel like I trust them and then, you know, get get screwed over, you know. Yeah. Um, and so just having very strict

contracts that the day of tomorrow you have a good solid base for litigation and getting your money back because you know contracting is a dangerous sport where you know you can give guys a deposit they take off with it or you can give guys some money. Um, and I mean like just to put an example right recently we had this uh subcontractor he does my cabinets. He did all of my cabinetry work. And I'm talking about

I was feeding this guy's company $500 to $800,000 a year. >> And uh you know towards the end he started telling me like, "Hey man, can you advance me a draw cuz I'm a little short on money, etc., etc." So I'm here like, "Man, I trust this guy. You know, he's done plenty of work for us. Here here you go." You know, um and then just advance him. And then >> little by little, same thing, you

know, like, "Hey, can you know throw me some money? I'm almost done with the last part and I'm like I mean I already gave you some money already. You know like get to this and then no man please I you know like I it's been tough lately. Work has slowed down like help me out you know I'll I'll be finished as soon as possible but I do need that draw. Give them draw. And then the guys

just start showing uh stop showing up and you know slow work down and just making me look bad to my clients and you know eventually just not even answering the phone. Um, and so it's like how how do I get my money back, you know, cuz now I can't look bad to my clients no matter what. I have to execute. So I have to buy the cabinets that he's missing myself and then pay another installer to

go install them. Even though I already paid him for the cabinets and installation, now I have to pay double. Um, but I need to get it done. You know, I can't tell my clients a sorry story of like, oh, hey, you know, this guy disappeared, you know, with with the money. like they're going to be like, "What kind of contractor are you?" >> Right? >> And so, yeah, just having having very strict contracts and not not

have the best heart, you know, like I have a great heart. And I think that's one of my biggest flaws in business, right? When it comes to my personal life, when it comes to >> every other area, my big heart takes me a lot of places, but when it comes to business, I've learned that it's only screwed me, you know? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's something that like I think like over time like everyone eventually learns,

you know, like I think your your heart hardens with business. Uh >> and and it's sad to say because you know, you wish that you could be kind to everyone and and I you know, you can be kind, but um in terms of having um your tees crossed and your eyes dotted, you definitely need to have that. And I think contracts are extremely important in business. >> Yeah. What do you how do you do you have

a an attorney on retainer or how did you get all of your contracts uh set up? >> I mean now I do [laughter] I didn't have one before. I had no reason to, you know, everything was smooth. uh my people were great, you know, re respectful listeners and I still have a lot of guys that that are like that, you know, that like they're they're just very morally correct and they won't screw me over and they

know I won't screw them over, you know, whenever they ask for payment, here's payment, you know, and I still still think that I have a big heart. Like I still get asked like, "Hey, can you advance me a little draw here there?" you know, and I do, you know, and I I just I do think I need to get better at that, but at the same time, like they know that because I help them, they help

me, you know, and it it it maintains a healthy relationship. Um, but lawyer on retainer, I don't have him on retainer. So far, I haven't had to use him a bunch. Um, I only used him to write up my contracts and then I used him to sue this guy and then sue another guy for a different similar reason. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, man. That is uh that's some really good feedback. So, anyone that's watching, get your

contracts in order. Don't uh don't trust Chad GBT or Claude or anything like this [laughter] >> for contracts. Definitely want to have it reviewed by an attorney. So, man, thank you so much for coming out here, bro. I um had a great time getting to know your story. Uh hearing what you've done and what you've accomplished, and kudos to you, man. It's it's incredible. Um, what are what are you looking for right now in terms of

uh the future? Are you looking to partner up with people? If there's anyone that's watching here, right, and they they've watched the podcast or they're listening to it on one of the uh podcast u platforms, what are you looking for? Are you looking for investors? Are you looking for clients? Are you looking for partnerships? What is it that you're looking for? >> I mean, I would say definitely definitely all three, man. um all three investors, our

clients, um but also partners, right? And so that definitely and then I also been meaning to grow my business around AI. I know we were talking about it earlier um and you told me about voice AI. So if you can tell me a little bit more about it, man, I I definitely want to start implementing that into the business. I think I mean it's the future, you know. >> Yeah. So let's talk about a little bit

about that real quick, bro. Um when it comes to some of your workflows right now like um what are you how are you handling I know you you spoke about your software that you're using it's called uh build leader >> builder trend >> what other technologies are you using right now >> builder trend and jobber you know and then of course chat gbt you know for for simple stuff and then recently I've gotten into more AIs

that you know are more helpful with not not only reviewing my stuff but helpful with estimating, helpful with getting back to emails, um, you know, following up, etc. But, um, you know, when you mentioned voice AI, voice AI, that's not something I really looked into, but when you started showing me some examples, I was like, man, that that definitely. >> So, I mean, I I think the biggest opportunity for someone like you, bro, would be to

help you find and source your own lots. So, um let's say you have you've done business with um with with a marketing company, right? And you have like a list of uh of people that own properties, right? Let's say you have a list of specific properties that you're interested in. Uh the voice AI, uh you can't do um you know, and you know, you can consult an attorney for this, but uh I don't recommend doing like

anything like co- calling, >> right? Uh but if you have a list of potential warm leads uh that you have consent to reach out to, you could have AI call them. And so the way that that process works is um you give it a list and you upload it to the platform. And my platform is completely uh it's a full B2B SAS platform uh independent from anything else out there. It's not on Goan level. It's not

on it's not on Vappy. It's not on anything. It's not on a voice rapper. It's its own independent uh software. You upload a list on there and then when you upload a list, you uh you set a campaign and then the AI will call down the list and so it'll ask them a questions like, "Hey, are you interested still in selling your property, your lot at XYZ Main Street?" Yes. Okay, great. And then after it talked

to someone, it'll qualify them and it'll ask them some questions that are important to you, right? Like, do you have a survey? Um, you know, is there is there an was there a structure there before? You know, like what are what are some questions that are important to you whenever you're looking at a lot? >> Yeah. Well, definitely is there a survey, right? Cuz I a lot of people, man, you you you have no idea how

many people send me lots and I'm like, is there a survey? Do you have a survey? And they're like, no. And I'm like, well, how can I even analyze it? You know, right? >> U so definitely the survey utilities, right? I want to know if there's uh water, sewer. Um and then also exactly what you said, like what what kind of property was built there before? Has this always been an empty lot, you know? Um >>

utilities, easements, rightways, >> right? Well, and that's what I need to survey for, right? Because the survey is going to show me what kind of easements, what kind of setback, what's your build line. So, I mean, with the survey alone, I I get to answer 50 questions, you know? Um and then I I would say utilities too. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So the AI can ask all those questions, qualify the person and then if someone um

does agree and they uh you know answer all the questions then what the AI does is it books an appointment for you and it sends you an email and then it books it right on your calendar for when you need to call that person back. >> Yeah. Or, you know, it could even be done so that um that it could be an in-person appointment so you can go out there and negotiate in person and talk to

them and you know a lot of the times you know like 99% of the time sellers want a price that's unrealistic. So then it's a matter of >> talking to the person talking to the client and being like hey like like let's be honest here you know you're asking too much and going back and forth and getting the price that you need to be at. So that's what the the voice AI can primarily do for you.

um you know if you have properties it can do property management um dude it's um it's a fully capable system and it works for different organizations. So like uh for example I have like a roofing AI that will take calls and and uh qualify leads for roofing. I have uh plumbing AI, one for electrical, Hback, um realtors, real estate investors, um mortgage lenders, uh insurance, just about anything out there. Um property management, both commercial and residential.

So fullfledged platform, it works uh extremely well. And I think what sets it apart is that it can read the tonality in people's voice and it can uh it can detect how they're feeling based on the tonality that they're how they're speaking, >> right? >> And then it matches their tonality. So if someone's excited, it'll be like, "Yeah, yeah." It the the AI will sound excited. And if they're mad, it'll slow down and like be calm

and relax and like >> uh it matches the person to be able to get them feeling the right set of the right way that we that uh that is the most effective way for effective communication, right? >> If someone's mad, you don't want to be talking if someone's mad, right? You got to calm them down first. So, >> it's pretty impressive, man. It's pretty impressive. The the emotion aspect is uh >> I think what really sets

it apart, you know, >> for sure. Yeah. I think everybody thinks of AI as like just a computer, you know, like I I remember the other day I was having a conversation. I forgot with who, but we were talking about AI and we're like, "Yeah, but you can only, you know, use it for so many things cuz it's a computer. It doesn't have feelings." >> I'm like, "Yeah, that's true." But then now what you're mentioning sounds

like a whole lot different. I mean, it's still a computer, but it it's it's trained to know how to talk based on that tonality. I think that's that's amazing. That's the future. And now like that because I always thought about it the same way, you know, like all of AI sounds like pretty soulless, right? >> But what is emotion, right? It like emotion is >> uh you know these feelings that we experience. And so if we

can teach an AI not so much to feel emotions but to un for them to understand us and then for for the AI to mirror the emotions back to us then although we know it's an AI now we feel a a sense of connection there right like >> sometimes I've heard you know people talk to AI and to my AI and they forget that they're talking to an AI and they're like saying please thank you you

know like apologizing Uh, and you don't have to apologize to a robot, right? But why are people doing it? Because there's connection, >> right? >> You know what I mean? So, >> I think the I think the future definitely is going to be uh in technology that makes us feel connected to that technology, right? So, I think the motion detection of it is uh >> the next wave of >> of tech, >> right? >> Yeah. I'm

excited for it. >> Yeah, man. >> Yeah. So, we'll definitely talk, man. We'll um we'll sit down and uh be happy to tell you a little bit more about it and uh if you need some help with automating other workflows um you know we created this platform and coded it all uh using AI and uh implementing it directly. So in my business, dude, I have 19 19 AI agents that basically are like employees, right, >> for

the business that do different things in the company, right? Everything from finance to marketing to SEO to sales to onboarding, uh customer retention, everything, right? And an AI agent is some is basically like a little employee that can automate and make decisions for a workflow, >> right? >> So onboarding someone, if you need to onboard someone and it's not always the same way and every person is different, that's not something that can be 100% programmed, right?

There's going to be some sort of variances in how either the conversation goes or the onboarding goes because everyone also has different priorities for onboarding, >> right? so that an AI agent can be spun up and help someone be on boarded on the platform. So, this is the future, man. You know, I think um there's this guy named uh forget his name, but it's a guy out of California. He made like a $1.8 billion company with

just him and his brother and AI. >> Oh, yeah. I heard >> you saw that. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's incredible. >> Insane. >> Yeah. It's nuts, right? And uh so my goal is to be able to keep this as tight as possible and just do it with AI agents as employees instead of you know a bunch of people. >> Yeah. >> So >> yeah. And I think I think also one one of the main one

of the main potentials of that um is like like we were talking about earlier like >> an AI agent is not going to forget you know like how many times from your employees don't you get like >> oh yeah no I I'm sorry. Yeah I didn't follow up. I honestly forgot. you know, and it's like the honestly part like, oh, honestly, like, oh, it that makes it okay cuz you're being honest, you know, and it kind

of does cuz you you always expect honesty out of everyone. >> Um, so like even even for for the team to be like, hey, no, honestly, I forgot, but I I'll get to it right now, >> right? >> Versus like you're not never going to get that from an AI agent. They're never going to forget anything. They they don't get tired. They don't sleep. They don't take any days off. They don't need a vacation. >> They

don't have family. >> No. No family. >> Yeah. >> They're going to show up on time, right? They will never forget anything because they have a memory that gets documented in the software. >> Um and they're going to follow the script 100% of the time, >> right? >> Like it is the perfect employee. >> Yeah. [laughter] Uh, you know, I think a lot of people's jobs are at risk and I think the people that implement AI

right now are the people that are going to be ahead in the new economy. I think we're headed into a new economy that is revolved around AI as automating workflows, right? And I think I think people need to wake up right now and start using AI before they get left behind. And I truly mean that from uh truly mean that from a very loving heart. Like I want people to implement it whether they work with me

or work by themselves. Like please use AI. >> Yeah. >> You know I it it's it's coming. Agree. >> It's already here. >> They call it the point of singularity, right? Where things will happen so fast that before you know it like jobs will disappear. Yeah. >> So >> anyway, just just a warning. Anyway, brother, thank you so much for being here, bro. If someone wants to invest with you, uh if someone wants to partner with

you or someone wants to hire you to build, how can they get in contact with you? >> Um, so there's many ways. One of them is being our website. If you go to kaleenhomes.com, uh that that's one way you can fill out a form there and it it comes directly to us. Um you can also reach out to us on social media, kaen.homes or carlos.builds. Um, that's our Instagram page or you know just by phone number

as well. >> Cool. What's your phone number? >> Uh, 281-9612217. >> Cool. Well, if anyone that's watching wants to partner up or reach out to Carlos, there it is. Thank you so much again for being here, Carlos, man. I had a great time, bro. >> Yeah, man. Thank you for having me. >> Absolutely, bro.