Lay of the Land podcast #200: Andy Tran (Arthur Street Ventures) — A Modern Renaissance Man

On this episode of Lay of the Land, host Jeffrey Stern sits down with Andy Tran, founder of Arthur Street Ventures, to trace a career defined by relentless curiosity and unconventional adventures. Tran’s path spans architecture, MMA fighting, defense contracting, tequila, consumer products, and more—each venture tied together not by industry expertise but by a willingness to learn, take risks, and build from the ground up.

Raised with few resources, Tran developed self-sufficiency early on, putting himself through school and launching businesses in his teens. He co-founded an architecture firm at 18, helped build one of Washington, D.C.’s largest MMA gyms, and later spun up startups like Drop Camp, which he sold within nine months. Each chapter reinforced his belief that “curiosity is the compass” and that fear of failure should never outweigh the pursuit of experience.

Through Arthur Street Ventures, Tran now incubates and funds companies across media, defense, consumer goods, cannabis, apparel, and spirits. He describes his approach as being a “venture man”—identifying overlooked opportunities, assembling the right people, and iterating quickly. His philosophy rests on five “P’s”: people, processes, patents/protection, passion, and product. If these align, he believes a venture has a strong chance to succeed.

The conversation also delves into his work in the defense sector, where he applies startup velocity to an industry often hampered by bureaucracy. By rapidly prototyping and engaging customers early, Tran has accelerated innovation in areas such as counter-drone technology. He emphasizes that brand and business success ultimately come down to people—both the teams who build and the communities who adopt.

Now based in Cleveland, Tran champions the city’s entrepreneurial energy and collaborative spirit. For him, ambition is less about chasing billion-dollar exits and more about building authentically with curiosity, humility, and resilience at the center.