Building a Business Around Passion: Cars, Community, and Club Culture With Sia Bani

Sia Bani is the President of Club Sportiva, a luxury automotive lifestyle company based in San Jose, California. Since resuming his role in 2015, Sia has transformed Club Sportiva from an enthusiast car-sharing concept into a premier destination offering exotic car experiences, private events, and exclusive club memberships. Sia’s entrepreneurial journey includes leadership roles at Social Club Ventures and Rapid Funders and board membership at Moonblink Communications. Sia is also a Partner at Meen Ventures, a micro private equity firm, and the CEO of Special Events, a corporate and private party event equipment rental service acquired by Meen Ventures in 2024.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[1:44] Sia Bani’s background as a serial entrepreneur and his passion for cars
[4:13] How Sia discovered entrepreneurship through acquisition and launched a micro private equity firm
[9:34] Sia’s childhood dream of being a doctor to launching a car forum in college
[13:51] How Club Sportiva evolved from a classic car timeshare to a luxury car club and event center
[22:15] How buying an event rental company became Sia’s next entrepreneurial chapter
[27:58] Turning points that fueled Club Sportiva’s growth and long-term sustainability
[35:12] Lessons by way of fraud, pandemic pivots, and optimizing operations for scale

In this episode…

Many entrepreneurs believe the only path to building a business is starting from scratch with a bold new idea. But what if growth could come from acquiring and transforming an existing business? How can entrepreneurs identify overlooked opportunities, reduce risk, and build companies that align with their passions?

Sia Bani, an experienced entrepreneur and operator, shares how he leveraged entrepreneurship through acquisition to breathe new life into an underperforming business and scale it into a thriving luxury auto and events enterprise. Sia explains the importance of aligning personal and business missions, using sweat equity to gain ownership, and continuously optimizing internal operations. From introducing systems like DocuSign to collecting upfront payments, he emphasizes practical, low-tech changes that boost profitability. Sia also highlights the value of community-building and long-term vision in sustaining growth.

In this episode of The Road Already Traveled, Rich Schuette interviews Sia Bani, President of Club Sportiva, about building businesses through acquisition and transformation. Sia discusses his journey from car forums to premium car clubs, the impact of optimizing a legacy rental business, and how he’s scaling an event rental company. He also reflects on early entrepreneurial lessons, balancing family with work, and creating high-value customer experiences.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

“I discovered entrepreneurship through acquisition: buying an existing cash-flowing business and trying to grow it from there.”
“I like to call myself a refounder. I’ve changed 180 degrees in the last 15 years.”
“Our job as parents is to enable our kids to be independent as fast as possible.”
“The business you currently have, your personal mission, and your business mission statements must align.”
“I’ve made this business to be something that I personally do enjoy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t do it.”

Action Steps:

Explore entrepreneurship through acquisition: Buying an existing business can reduce risk and accelerate your path to profitability.
Align your personal and business mission: Ensuring both are in sync helps sustain motivation and long-term fulfillment as an entrepreneur.
Optimize outdated systems: Updating processes like payments and contracts can dramatically improve cash flow and operational efficiency.
Build recurring revenue models: A subscription-based structure adds stability and predictability during uncertain economic cycles.
Create community-focused customer experiences: Building around shared passions fosters loyalty and long-term relationships beyond just transactions.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is sponsored by Avalan, a wealth management firm dedicated to personalized financial, business, and investment planning.

We work with select high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and trusts, providing guidance tailored to their unique needs.

From supercar entrepreneurs to music industry entrepreneurs, our team employs proven investment strategies to help them preserve wealth, protect assets, and plan charitable giving.

With an unwavering focus on world-class service, our relationships are built to last generations, helping clients achieve lifelong goals through a thoughtful, consultative approach.

To learn how Avalan can empower you to reach your goals, visit https://www.avalanwealth.com/contact/.