#23 - Jason McCann on How Vari Built a $2 Billion Empire Starting from a Cardboard Box

What does it take to turn a cardboard prototype into a $2 billion business movement? In this episode of the Sunbelt Developers Podcast, hosts Tim Wright and Zach Bean, Executive Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield, sit down with Jason McCann, Co-Founder and CEO of Vari. Famous for creating the sit-stand VariDesk movement and growing into a full-scale workspace innovation leader serving 98% of Fortune 500 companies, Vari is fundamentally reshaping commercial real estate.  The conversation covers the evolution of workplace real estate: how flexible spaces, hospitality-first amenities, modular design, and AI-driven efficiency are redefining the modern office landscape. Jason breaks down his journey from consumer products like Big Mouth Billy Bass to scaling Vari into a multi-asset landlord. He reveals how VariSpace converted a 90% vacant 22-acre campus into an 80%+ occupied community hub, why 10- to 12-year office leases are making a comeback in DFW, and how AI visualization is helping tenants execute 45-day move-ins.  Whether you are a commercial developer, broker, investor, or business owner navigating the future of work, this masterclass offers actionable insights into capital efficiency, space-as-a-service models, and resilient leadership.  Key Highlights:• The cardboard box origin story and the flight that changed everything• How Vari scaled into a workspace solutions giant with 300+ products• The Space-as-a-Service model: turning distressed assets into vibrant communities• Why modern office tenants are locking in 7- to 12-year leases• How Vari uses Claude and AI tools to save time on financial modeling and sales test fits• The role of hospitality, biophilia, and energy in driving office occupancy• Leading through crisis, maintaining workplace culture, and giving back  #CommercialRealEstate #OfficeDevelopment #Vari #PropTech #SunbeltDevelopersMore info: https://linktr.ee/timwright.cre