In this episode of the Grit Daily Startup Show, host Phillip Lanos sits down with Canadian-born aviation technology pioneer and global business executive, Louis Bélanger-Martin. As a seasoned entrepreneur who spends nearly six months of the year in the air, Louis shares his three-decade journey of transforming the commercial passenger experience. From co-founding DTI Software to eventually leading acquisitions that formed Global Eagle Entertainment—a $650 million integration of media and satellite services—Louis has consistently shaped how the world stays entertained at 40,000 feet.

In this episode of the Grit Daily Startup Show, host Phillip Lanos sits down with Canadian-born aviation technology pioneer and global business executive, Louis B&eacute;langer-Martin. As a seasoned entrepreneur who spends nearly six months of the year in the air, Louis shares his three-decade journey of transforming the commercial passenger experience. From co-founding DTI Software to eventually leading acquisitions that formed Global Eagle Entertainment&mdash;a $650 million integration of media and satellite services&mdash;Louis has consistently shaped how the world stays entertained at 40,000 feet.

Grit Daily Startup Show podcast explores the world of entrepreneurship, founders, and CEOs to talk scaleups and startups, from conception and funding to exits. Interviews run across all industries, with entrepreneurs sharing their best decisions, mistakes to avoid, and wildest entrepreneurial stories. With single-guest entrepreneur and multi-guest formats.

Grit Daily Startup Show podcast explores the world of entrepreneurship, founders, and CEOs to talk scaleups and startups, from conception and funding to exits. Interviews run across all industries, with entrepreneurs sharing their best decisions, mistakes to avoid, and wildest entrepreneurial stories. With single-guest entrepreneur and multi-guest formats.

Startup Show, brought to you by the premiere startup news hub, Grit Daily

Grit Daily Startup Show

Louis Bélanger-Martin on Building the Future of Flight Before Passengers Know They Want It

Rei Cosmetics founder Nami Soejima saw a simple gap in the beauty market: American consumers were becoming obsessed with Japanese cosmetics, yet many of Japan’s most trusted brands were still difficult to buy in the U.S. She shares how she turned that frustration into a growing retail business, navigated tariffs and cross-border logistics, and learned that patience and trust are essential when doing business with Japanese companies.

Website: https://www.reicosmetics.com/

Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube

Anime NYC (August 20-23rd, Javits Center): Booth #5632 https://www.reicosmetics.com/blogs/news/rei-cosmetics-at-anime-nyc-2026

Harness the Full TikTok Shop eCommerce Suite (Sept 15th)
https://maven.com/ecomm-biz-school/learn-tiktok-ecommerce-in-2-hours

Rei Cosmetics founder Nami Soejima saw a simple gap in the beauty market: American consumers were becoming obsessed with Japanese cosmetics, yet many of Japan&rsquo;s most trusted brands were still difficult to buy in the U.S. She shares how she turned that frustration into a growing retail business, navigated tariffs and cross-border logistics, and learned that patience and trust are essential when doing business with Japanese companies.
Website: https://www.reicosmetics.com/
Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Anime NYC (August 20-23rd, Javits Center): Booth #5632 https://www.reicosmetics.com/blogs/news/rei-cosmetics-at-anime-nyc-2026
Harness the Full TikTok Shop eCommerce Suite (Sept 15th) https://maven.com/ecomm-biz-school/learn-tiktok-ecommerce-in-2-hours

How Rei Cosmetics Is Bringing Japan’s Best-Kept Beauty Brands to the U.S.

Candie Zar believes exercise is more than a workout—it's the foundation for confidence, longevity, and showing up as your best self. The founder of SWEATWITHCANDIE shares how discipline, community, and consistency can transform not only your body but every area of your life.

Candie Zar believes exercise is more than a workout&mdash;it's the foundation for confidence, longevity, and showing up as your best self. The founder of SWEATWITHCANDIE shares how discipline, community, and consistency can transform not only your body but every area of your life.

Candie Zar on Why Fitness Is the Best Investment You'll Ever Make

ProAssisting co-founder Ethan Bull explains why experienced executive assistants are no longer reserved for large corporations. He shares how fractional support, human expertise, and AI can help growing businesses scale without the overhead of traditional hiring.

ProAssisting co-founder Ethan Bull explains why experienced executive assistants are no longer reserved for large corporations. He shares how fractional support, human expertise, and AI can help growing businesses scale without the overhead of traditional hiring.

Louis Bélanger-Martin on Building the Future of Flight Before Passengers Know They Want It

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