Kurt Avery, Founder of Sawyer, on the Filter That’s Ending the Water Crisis (Ep. 124)

The Finish Line Podcast

Kurt Avery, founder of Sawyer Products, began his business career as a top MBA graduate and found himself working for two Fortune 500 companies. With a vision to reach success by making things that people need and solving world problems, Kurt branched out and founded Sawyer Products which manufactures outdoor products for enthusiasts and military applications.

In particular, Sawyer is the maker of the world’s most advanced personal water filter which is now providing clean water access to some of the hardest to reach parts of the world. Sawyer produces and gives millions of filters annually around the world through partnerships with over 140 nonprofits, many of whom are equipped to share the gospel. Sawyer was also a forerunner in the research that led to the development of insect repellent mosquito nets which have saved thousands of people from malaria around the world.

Major Topics Include:

• Kurt’s faith and professional journey
• The story of how Sawyer came to be
• Lessons from the first difficult decades of the company
• How Kurt got involved in repellants, mosquito nets, and sunscreen
• Four lesser-known ways to give from your business
• What makes Sawyer water filters unique
• The impact of pairing clean water access with the gospel
• A framework for aligning a for-profit company with life-changing impact

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

• “With tithing, 10% isn’t the limit, it’s the starting point.”
• “God helped you build that business, now what are you gonna do with it?”
• “If you have a big God, you can do big things.”
• “Know your skill sets. If you’re going to do something big, it’s within your skill sets.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• Sawyer
• The Bucket Ministry (see our interview with founder Christopher Beth)
• Mission Drift (see our interview with author Peter Greer)
• Filter Best Practices
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.