From Pro Soccer to CEO: How Sports Shaped His Business | EP20 - Pedro Uchoa on Chai Tea with Nina D.

He helped turn a niche Brazilian food concept into a fast-casual success in NYC and Miami, with no culinary school, no business degree, and zero restaurant experience.   In this episode of Chai Tea with Nina D, we sit down with Pedro Uchoa, a former pro soccer player and marketing executive who left behind a stable corporate career in Brazil to help grow Tap, a 100% gluten-free, Brazilian fast-casual brand founded by a friend and run by his younger brother.   What began as a small family-run shop evolved into a mission-driven brand, bringing authentic Brazilian staples like tapioca, açaí, and pão de queijo to American audiences, without compromising on health, flavor, or cultural integrity. Pedro shares how discipline, reinvention, and trust helped him lead through uncertainty and scale a business in one of the most competitive food markets in the world.   💡 What You'll Learn: How to grow a brand with no industry background The immigrant hustle mindset that fuels Pedro's leadership Why gluten-free became the brand's unexpected superpower How to scale without losing cultural authenticity The realities of running a business with family What it really takes to build in New York, and win