Travis Makes Money Make Money by Solving America's Public Housing Crisis | Samuel Sells
Sam Sells is a retired U.S. Air Force officer turned impact investor and entrepreneur who has led the acquisition and management of over $200 million in commercial real estate assets. As co-founder of Impact Growth Capital and host of the Disruptive Capitalists podcast, Sam specializes in building wealth by solving critical housing challenges—especially in America’s most neglected communities. His approach combines military discipline, systems thinking, and a passion for making a difference at scale.
On this episode we talk about:
– How Sam made his first dollar as a kid selling whatever he could—and why his last name “Sells” fits his entrepreneurial journey
– Lessons from a global military career, building sustainable healthcare systems, and learning to create repeatable, high-impact outcomes
– The moment in Chad, Africa, that sparked his mission to pursue financial freedom and help others achieve it
– Why real estate became Sam’s vehicle for impact and wealth, starting with mobile home parks and scaling to national projects
– The realities of flipping homes, the misleading nature of TV real estate shows, and the importance of understanding the real numbers
– How Sam used creative strategies like master lease agreements to acquire and improve properties with limited capital
– The risks and pitfalls of real estate investing—over-leverage, mismanagement, and the brutal lessons of recent market cycles
– Why America is the country’s largest “slumlord,” and how Sam is tackling public housing’s massive problems through public-private partnerships
– How Impact Growth Capital works with HUD and local housing authorities to renovate or rebuild thousands of government-owned units, using government funding and innovative systems to guarantee returns and create real social mobility
– The unique, vertically integrated model that combines real estate development, nonprofit resident support, and measurable poverty reduction
– The challenges and rewards of scaling a national impact business, and why entrepreneurship—not bureaucracy—is the key to solving America’s toughest problems
– How others can get involved as investors or partners in this mission
Top 3 Takeaways
1. Impact and Profit Can Coexist: You can build wealth and make a real difference by solving urgent problems—like America’s public housing crisis—at scale.
2. Creative Structures Unlock Opportunity: Master leases, public-private partnerships, and government-backed funding can open doors for investors willing to learn and innovate.
3. Entrepreneurship Drives Change: Lean, mission-driven entrepreneurs are better equipped than government alone to tackle complex social issues and deliver lasting results.
Notable Quotes
– “No matter how hard he works, he’s never going to become free. What do I need to do to become free—and how can I help as many other people become free as possible?”
– “The number one slumlord in America is America. Public housing authorities own nearly 900,000 units—seven times the size of Blackstone.”
– “We can do good and do well at the same time. Our intent is to help millions get out of poverty and help our investors make a great return in the process.”
Connect with Sam Sells:
Email: sam@impactgrowthcap.com
Website: impactgrowthcap.com
Podcast: Disruptive Capitalists
LinkedIn: Search “Sam Sells Impact Growth Capital”
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