Armando Colimodio: From Mechanical Blueprints To Business Blue Skies

Success in entrepreneurship doesn’t come from a single source, nor is it a straight path. The contemporary business world demands unprecedented flexibility, requiring entrepreneurs to continuously pivot, adapt, and innovate. 

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From the heart of Silicon Valley to the small-town suburbia, entrepreneurs rise from all walks of life. This creates a melting pot of experiences, cultures, and perspectives. Yet a common thread binds them all - the need to draw inspiration from their individual life experiences to achieve the extraordinary. 

These experiences shape one’s decision-making skills and leadership styles, which directly impact their entrepreneurial journey. This is especially true for the serial entrepreneur Armando Colimodio, whose business ventures, from Colsen Fire Pits to Blackforest Supplements, have been as diverse as the path he’s taken to success.

Colimodio was born and raised in Venezuela. He crossed the U.S. border in 2000, seeking higher education. His destination: Buffalo, New York, where he pursued a degree in mechanical engineering. During his interview, he revealed that the University’s rigorous academic environment inspired his business ambition.

“I’ve always believed that my engineering background laid the foundation for my business journey. It taught me to analyze, problem-solve, and aim for precision - skills that are invaluable in entrepreneurship,” Colimodio reflects.

After completing his studies, he left New York for hot Miami, carrying a wealth of knowledge and a burning desire to make his mark on the world. There, he transitioned from a student of engineering to an architect of business.

Colimodio’s first step in the ocean of business was a job at a glass manufacturing company, followed by a position as a manufacturing engineer for a pool technology manufacturer— a career that spanned over a decade and allowed him to hone his creative thinking and problem-solving skills to near perfection.

After a year, the latter position required Colimodio to relocate to North Carolina, and the growth opportunities that presented themselves to him at this time awoke a brand-new ambition in Colimodio.

“The moment you think you’ve learned it all is the moment you start falling behind. After I relocated to North Carolina, I realized I could do so much more with my career, but to get there, I still had miles to go and so many things to learn,” he shares.

The new path to prosperity led Colimodio to pursue an MBA at Wake Forest University. A strategic move that expanded his horizons and deepened his understanding of business dynamics. The program proved to be a career game-changer. He was able to complement his engineering mindset with a broader management perspective, this degree gave Colimodio a chance to pursue a promotion to manager. 

“As a manager, I was responsible for negotiating contracts and prices for a budget worth around $40 million annually. It was an incredible opportunity that instilled an immense sense of responsibility and taught me the true value of continuous learning and adapting,” he says.

Having spent years as an engineer and manager, even crossing the Atlantic during his short stint in Spain, an appetite for further success arose in Colimodio. Upon his return to Miami from Spain, Colimodio embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, deciding to take matters of financial prosperity into his own hands.

This fresh ambition resulted in the establishment of Colsen Firepits - one of Amazon’s first sellers of fire pits born out of the vast gap between existing supply and demand in the niche.

“For a year and a half, we had a monopoly in the niche since there was practically no one else selling fire pits on Amazon,” Colimodio reveals. “Naturally, competition came with time, especially from China, but by then, we amassed so many great reviews that our venture had nowhere to go but up.”

Following the success of Colsen and ever-curious about what greater heights he could reach, Colimodio soon ventured into an unexpected niche. He culminated his efforts in Blackforest Supplements, selling products to men in their 30s and 40s who lack additional testosterone.

Looking ahead, the future seems brighter than ever for Colimodio. As his ventures continue growing, he is excited to see where the path is taking him as ideas for new projects come in waves.

As Colimodio says, “It’s never been about the product, but the passion. The product is just a vessel for that passion.”

This post was authored by an external contributor and does not represent Benzinga's opinions and has not been edited for content. The information contained above is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as investment advice. Benzinga does not make any recommendation to buy or sell any security or any representation about the financial condition of any company.