Kyle Ewing, TerraSlate

In this episode, we’re joined by Kyle Ewing, Founder and CEO of TerraSlate—a Colorado-based manufacturing company and global leader in waterproof, tear-proof paper and ultra-durable printed materials. Kyle has grown TerraSlate from a basement startup into a $40 million vertically integrated manufacturing enterprise, serving customers ranging from the U.S. military and NFL teams to Michelin-starred restaurants and Fortune 500 manufacturers. Remarkably, he built the company with zero outside funding and still owns it outright. TerraSlate is a compelling example of modern American manufacturing in action: lean operations, same-day fulfillment for 95% of orders, in-house innovation of nano-coated and military-grade materials, and a culture-first leadership approach. The company competes head-to-head with low-cost imports—while keeping production in the U.S. and pushing the boundaries of advanced materials. Kyle also brings deep insight into scaling without outside capital, building resilient manufacturing systems, and leading teams with kindness, clarity, and discipline. He is the author of Ideas to Empires, where he shares lessons on building factories that can scale sustainably—even without the founder in the room. Join us for a conversation on growth, innovation, operations, and culture—and what it truly takes to build a successful advanced manufacturing company from the ground up. Keywords: manufacturing leadership, advanced materials, vertically integrated manufacturing, workforce culture