#254: Reshaping the Agave Spirits Industry through Supply Chain Technology with Rob Weir, USMA ‘11

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Maguey Exchange is an exchange—an exchange of ideas, an exchange of communication, an exchange of product. Being at the center point of this relationship between producers and buyers, we are able to provide data insights that enable both sides to optimize and simply make better decisions.” -</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rob Weir, USMA ‘11</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rob Weir is the Founder and CEO of Maguey Exchange, a supply chain technology platform reshaping the face of production and consumption in the agave spirit industry. Maguey Exchange empowers producers with cutting-edge technology, connects buyers to the tradition and culture of agave spirits, and actively contributes to the environmental production of the agave regions of Mexico. The platform reduces supply chain complexity and integrates with the systems producers already have in place. Rob was inspired to start the Maguey Exchange after a backpacking trip in Mexico. Leaning on his previous experience as an Infantry Officer deployed to Afghanistan and as a management consultant, the Maguey Exchange was born and continues to grow.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, we discuss:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rob’s military and professional background and how that led him to create The Maguey Exchange</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The steps Rob has taken to learn about the agave spirits industry and address the problems that exist in the supply chain</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Rob has learned from the pilot version of the platform they tested with producers in Mexico</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Rob builds relationships in the industry on the buyer side of the platform</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The challenges Rob is