Ep. 025: Seminary, Joining the Military, and Building a Tech Start Up w/ Sam Malkasian
- Ryan Snaadt
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
In the heart of Iowa, Des Moines business landscape is shifting. Local entrepreneurs are no longer just looking for traditional marketing—they are looking for ways to leverage cutting-edge technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to protect their bottom lines and scale their operations.
In the latest episode of the Rhymes with Odd podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Sam Malkasian, the founder of Carpathian, a Des Moines-based tech startup. Their conversation serves as a masterclass for Iowa business owners on career pivoting, the ethical implementation of AI, and how a local "liability mitigation" company is aiming to save industries billions of dollars.
The Non-Linear Path of a Des Moines Entrepreneur
Many business owners in Iowa feel the pressure to follow a traditional trajectory. However, Sam Malkasian’s story is a testament to the power of diverse experiences. Sam originally moved to Ankeny, Iowa, in 2014 to attend Bible college, earning a degree in theology.
“All my formal education is in religious studies,” Sam tells Ryan Snaadt. “Completely unrelated to what I did professionally and what I do now.”
Sam’s journey took him through the world of videography, a stint at Grinnell Mutual, and eventually into the military. As a radio operator in the military, Sam developed the technical discipline that eventually led him to pursue a Master’s in machine learning and data science. For Des Moines marketers and founders, Sam’s story proves that "pivoting" isn't a sign of failure—it's a gathering of unique skill sets that eventually coalesce into a competitive advantage.
Overcoming Burnout: A Lesson for Iowa Creatives
Before launching Carpathian, Sam was a staple in the Iowa film and marketing scene. But as many local agency owners know, the "hustle culture" can lead to a breaking point. Sam recounts a story to Ryan Snaadt about a high-stakes project where he got in over his head, missed a deadline, and eventually settled with a client out of pocket to protect his character.
This experience led Sam to sell all his gear and enlist in the military. The lesson for Des Moines marketers? Protect your passion. Sam now does photography solely as a hobby for local coffee shops, refusing to take paid gigs in that niche to prevent the burnout that almost ended his career.
Building "Carpathian": AI-Driven Liability Mitigation
The core of the episode focuses on Sam’s latest venture: Carpathian. Named after the Carpathian mountain range as a nod to Sam’s love for rock climbing, the startup is a computer vision company.
How it Works
Carpathian uses existing surveillance footage and applies AI to recognize behaviors that could lead to accidents. Sam explains to Ryan Snaadt that the idea was sparked by a $6 million landmark lawsuit in the rock climbing industry involving a climber who fell 30 feet due to an improperly secured harness.
“The vision for Carpathian is to be a liability mitigation company using computer vision going into industries that are high risk and being able to recognize that something could go wrong and prevent it,” says Sam.
Why This Matters for Iowa Business Owners
Whether you run a manufacturing plant in Cedar Rapids or a construction firm in West Des Moines, liability is your silent profit-killer. In 2022 alone, $143 billion was paid out in workers' compensation claims. Sam’s technology aims to:
Predict Risks: Train systems to recognize deviations from safety protocols.
Lower Premiums: By reducing claims, businesses can negotiate better insurance rates.
Real-Time Alerts: If a worker is on a job site without a hard hat or a climber isn't clipped in, the system sends an instant notification to management.
The Importance of the Des Moines Tech Ecosystem
One of the most inspiring parts of Ryan Snaadt’s interview is Sam’s description of the Des Moines business community. Sam credits the Drake Business Accelerator and the Greater Des Moines Partnership for helping him realize that his initial market (rock climbing gyms) was too small.
By networking with local leaders like Manny Isaacson and Ryan Dozer, Sam learned a vital lesson for any startup founder: Ask for what you want. “The power of name-dropping is incredible,” Sam notes. In a tight-knit community like Des Moines, one coffee meeting can lead to a connection with a C-suite executive or a lead investor. Sam’s ability to "pivot" his product-market fit was only possible because of the mentorship available right here in Iowa.
Ethical AI: Solving the "Big Brother" Problem
A major hurdle for AI adoption in marketing and operations is the fear of surveillance. Ryan Snaadt asks the tough questions about privacy, and Sam’s response sets a standard for ethical tech in Iowa.
Sam believes that "good people" need to be the ones controlling this technology. To combat the "Big Brother" stigma, Carpathian implements:
Monthly Data Deletion: Training data is purged regularly.
Blackbox Systems: Preventing unauthorized access to raw footage.
No Profiling: Systems at different locations do not "talk" to each other to prevent the tracking of specific individuals across the web.
For Des Moines business owners, Sam’s approach proves that you can implement high-tech safety measures without sacrificing the trust of your employees or customers.
Final Thoughts from the Rhymes with Odd Podcast
The transition from a videographer to a tech founder might seem vast, but as Sam Malkasian and Ryan Snaadt discuss, it all comes down to solving problems and building relationships.
For the Iowa business community, Sam’s journey with Carpathian is a beacon of what is possible when you combine a "high-road" character with the willingness to fail fast and pivot. As Sam puts it, there is never a better time than now to "go do it."
Key Takeaways for Des Moines Businesses:
Leverage Local Resources: Utilize accelerators like the Drake Business Accelerator to vet your business model.
Safety is Profit: AI isn't just for chat-bots; it's a tool for mitigating billion-dollar liability risks.
Community Matters: The Des Moines tech scene is built on "the ask." Don't be afraid to reach out to local mentors.
To hear the full story of Sam Malkasian’s journey and his deep dive into AI ethics, watch the full episode on the Ryan Snaadt YouTube channel or listen to the Rhymes with Odd podcast on your favorite streaming platform.
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