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Brian Altomare

Strategic Partnerships - LugLess + Luggage Forward

Brian Altomare is an experienced entrepreneur and business professional currently serving in Strategic Partnerships at Luggage Forward since March 2024.15 He is the founder of LugLess, a luggage shipping service that he pitched on Shark Tank in 2013.23 Despite not securing a deal on the show, LugLess experienced significant growth, with a 500% increase in business after the Shark Tank appearance.34

Altomare has a background in various startups and travel-related businesses. He co-founded MadPackers, Inc., a college shipping and storage company, and E-Magine Networks, an internet marketing startup.5 His career has focused on disrupting static industries with innovative products and services.5

Some key points about Brian Altomare:

  1. Education: B.A. in English Literature from Binghamton University1
  2. Current role: Strategic Partnerships at Luggage Forward (since March 2024)5
  3. Previous roles: Founder and Strategic Partnerships at LugLess, Business Advisor at V18 Rentals, Client Engagement Manager at Digiday5
  4. Entrepreneurial experience: Founded LugLess, co-founded MadPackers and E-Magine Networks5
  5. Shark Tank appearance: Pitched LugLess in 2013, seeking $100,000 for 10% equity3

Altomare's LinkedIn profile (username: brianaltomare) showcases his career trajectory and entrepreneurial spirit in the travel and logistics industries.5

Highlights

Dec 4 · linkedin

I haven't posted anything on LinkedIn for a looong time. I still use it daily and enjoy all the content and interact when I feel moved to be part of the conversation. I continue to focus on partnerships in the travel space for LugLess, and our parent company, Luggage Forward. However, I've felt very comfortable (maybe too comfy) over the last couple years being a passive user and realizing if I don't have anything compelling or newsworthy enough to share about the company I resign myself to quiet consumption here.

I don't think that's a bad thing. We all go through our different phases of sharing or not sharing things and what we feel aligns with our most authentic self.

Today I felt compelled to share my recent experience acting for local community theater in the countryside. We finished our last performance on Sunday for the adapted play The Gift of the Magi. I was Jim, the husband, in the heartwarming story of two in love newlyweds living in the early 1900's of NYC with no money for Christmas presents to each other. Touching end to the story for those that know it.

Last winter, I acted for the first time and it was a couple of small roles and it WAS terrifying. I didn't love it. It was stressful from start to finish - with moments of some joy as I now reflect back. It was hard for me to get so outside my comfort zone and try something new that required so many hours of memorizing lines and delivering them in front of empty seats(rehearsals) and live audiences (50 seats and 100 intense eyes).

Fast forward a year, and I decided after a year of "retirement" from the stage to try it again. However, this time, I wanted to enjoy it start to finish.

I viewed it as basically being part of an unproven startup for 6 weeks with 12 other cast members and directors. Would we get there and how would we do it without creating a toxic culture and be open to vulnerability, failure, support, and fun as well as setting expectations and ensuring we've set ourselves up for success and accomplishing our goal: entertain and delight an audience with an escape from their daily lives.

My biggest takeaway from the theater experience this time was the entire team effort required to pull this thing off. How each piece was so crucial to the flow of the show and seeing the little moments add into bigger ones when strung together, scene by scene. For me, I think I get lost in my day job at times and lose sight of the bigger picture because it is not a 6 week production, rather I'm coming up on 6 years.

So, I'm grateful for the extra perspective this recent experience provided me. It reminded my work self (maybe some can relate) how important it is to have outside passion projects. They can be both a source of personal satisfaction and motivation into your daily job (not such a struggle after all to balance the two - at least I'm learning to embrace it finally).

Mar 5 · linkedin

So last week, LinkedIn reminded me I've been with LugLess for 3 years. I had to take a pause and it dawned on me it's been officially 9 years talking about luggage shipping. Just shy of decade. Jeez.

The only thing I've concretely learned and know for a fact in BD /partnerships is it's not a game of checkers. One move (partnership) doesn't mean much. At the time it might to you as you clean the board and leap frog to the other side. But in reality, it's chess. And a series of moves that at the time seem pretty boring (pawns, "yawn").

What strikes me as share worthy is that over time as you make all your various BD moves (partnerships, co-marketing, staying in touch, banging your head against the desk, etc), there comes a moment when it all makes sense and one move (big partnership) wouldn't have happened if you didn't start with a single pawn move. And that move lead you into a matrix of a hundred additional moves that were questionable at the time but you had one main purpose: get to checkmate.

I guess this post should've been written with a big partnership announcement but it's really not about that for a Friday share. I'm out here playing chess, moving pawns, focused on strategy. That's the real fun for those in it (I think). And there's always a rematch :)

Related Questions

What inspired Brian Altomare to start LugLess?
How did Brian Altomare's experience on Shark Tank impact his business?
What are some of the key partnerships Brian Altomare has formed for LugLess?
How did Brian Altomare transition from LugLess to Luggage Forward?
What challenges did Brian Altomare face while growing LugLess?
Brian Altomare
Brian Altomare, photo 1
Brian Altomare, photo 2
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Location

New York City Metropolitan Area