COATI founder Aaron Ewton is on a mission to turn venues into cultural accelerators. In this episode he walks through his unlikely pivot from high-stakes forensic data analytics into concert production and hospitality, sharing how chasing down a Pig Latin taco food truck on a bicycle led to a 32-seat speakeasy sensation and inspired the audacious “free first” mantra that fills COATI with art, tacos and events. Along the way Aaron launched Atlas Restaurant Group as an operational umbrella for everything from a decade-old vegan juice bar to a pop-up concert series, and even tested a rum distillery pilot that never scaled, but taught him invaluable lessons in location, partnership and brand DNA. He also opens up about building venues during Covid, transforming scathing one-star reviews into fuel for improvement, and curating subculture activations, silent discos, sneaker cons, secret country rooftop nights, that keep Colorado Springs buzzing. Curious how “free first” philosophies, bold partnerships and off-beat events can spark growth in your community? Hit subscribe for weekly deep dives with local entrepreneurs and drop a comment with your boldest cultural idea! Local Sponsors: Bolton Co: For Purpose-Driven Executives. https://www.boltonco.net/ ProLift Garage Doors: Lifting Your Expectations. https://www.proliftdoors.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: Making Magical Memories. https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: Your go-to cleaning service in Colorado Springs. https://www.planetduct.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: Hassle-free healthcare. https://www.pinnacleapc.com Epoch Eyewear: Timeless Quality, Modern Edge. https://epocheyewear.com/ HomeDay : https://gethomeday.com/ Exponential Impact: https://www.exponentialimpact.com/ Fast Signs: https://www.fastsigns.com/ Cars Helping Charities: https://carshelpingcharities.org/ Dream Accounting - https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Awesome Home Services - https://www.awesomeservice.com/ Michael Schoening Legal Shield - http://MSchoening.legalshieldassociat... Reveal Med Spa - https://revealmedspas.com/