1. How Sawyer Products Scaled Global Impact with Quality, Research, and Purpose-Driven Partnerships

2. Unlocking 100x Social Impact: Lessons from Sawyer’s Kurt Avery on World-Changing Innovation

3. Building a Global Force for Good: Sawyer’s Journey to Millions Impacted Each Year

4. From Startup Grind to Saving Lives: Scaling Impact with Sawyer’s Water Filtration Breakthrough

5. Changing the World with Clean Water: Inside Sawyer’s Social Entrepreneur Story

6. Obsession with Quality: Driving Large-Scale Social Change with Sawyer Products

7. Lessons in Impact: How Sawyer Products Partners with NGOs to Transform Lives Worldwide

8. Disrupting Markets, Saving Lives: Sawyer’s Path to 40 Million People Helped

9. Purpose-Driven Innovation: Growing a Global Brand by Solving Big Humanitarian Problems

10. Scaling Up Social Good: Sawyer Products’ Strategy for Massive, Measurable Impact

Absolutely, here are 30 topical keywords covered in the transcript:

Sawyer Products, water filtration, insect repellents, humanitarian aid, clean water, cholera outbreak, kidney dialysis technology, hollow fiber membrane, testing standards, guerrilla marketing, outdoor solutions, NGO partnerships, hurricanes, disaster relief, military applications, impact measurement, social entrepreneurship, book SawyerThink, sustainable business, profit reinvestment, global health, public health research, baby wrap malaria prevention, permethrin, urban water solutions, environmental impact, microbusiness, gender equity, foundation donations, metrics-driven philanthropy

Welcome to another episode of Awarepreneurs, the world’s longest running social entrepreneur podcast! In today’s inspiring conversation, host Paul Zelizer sits down with Kurt Avery, the founder and president of Sawyer Products—a company renowned for its life-saving innovations in water filtration and insect repellents. With a remarkable background in Fortune 500 marketing and an MBA from Northwestern, Kurt Avery has guided Sawyer from its humble beginnings to becoming a global leader in both outdoor protection and humanitarian aid.

During this episode, you’ll hear how Sawyer’s practical solutions have not only supported outdoor adventurers, but also delivered clean water to millions in over 80 countries through partnerships with more than 140 nonprofits. Kurt Avery shares his passion for purpose-driven business, grounded in faith and impact, and reveals how Sawyer reinvests the majority of its profits back into global health initiatives. From originating cutting-edge filtration technology to rapidly responding to crises like the 2010 Haitian earthquake and recent hurricanes, Sawyer has become synonymous with innovation and social good.

Tune in as Paul Zelizer and Kurt Avery dig into the entrepreneurial grit behind Sawyer’s journey, their obsessive commitment to product quality, and the essential lessons from Kurt Avery’s new book, “SawyerThink: How a Small Company Disrupts Markets and Changes the World.” Whether you’re a seasoned social entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable insights on scaling impact and using business as a force for good.

Absolutely! Here’s a comprehensive sequence of topics covered in the Awarepreneurs episode featuring Kurt Avery, with sub-topic bullets under each main topic:

1. Introduction and Background

• Overview of Awarepreneurs and the show’s mission

• Introduction of Kurt Avery, his credentials, and Sawyer Products

• Personal testimony from Paul Zelizer about Sawyer Products’ impact

2. What is Sawyer Products?

• Sawyer’s core focus areas: insect repellents and water filtration

• Company’s reputation for innovation and product quality

• Key technological breakthroughs (e.g., adapting kidney dialysis membrane technology)

• Early humanitarian work—Haitian earthquake and cholera outbreaks

3. Real-World Impact and Humanitarian Aid

• Examples of Sawyer’s impact during disasters (e.g., hurricanes, cholera outbreaks)

• Participation of the hiking and outdoor communities in disaster response

• Sawyer’s rapid deployment in emergency situations

4. Sawyer’s Early Days and Growth Journey

• Founding in 1984 and the challenges faced transitioning from corporate to guerrilla marketing

• Financial struggles—losing money for first two decades before achieving success

• The transformative role of the internet and influencer marketing

• Importance of direct customer feedback and solving real problems

5. Product Excellence and Obsession with Quality

• Commitment to "not doing me-too products" and focusing on scientific advancement

• Technical explanation of Sawyer’s filtration standards (0.1 micron absolute)

• Rigorous testing protocols—testing every filter multiple times

• Contrast with industry standards (e.g., random testing, lower quality controls)

• Ethical responsibility in providing safe water

6. Business Model and Impact-First Orientation

• Small, skilled team with a focus on maximum impact

• Profit distribution model—90%+ of profits reinvested in impact initiatives

• Use of profits to fund humanitarian efforts rather than personal gain

• Flexibility in financial strategy to maximize philanthropy

7. Scaling Social Impact—The 100x Approach

• Long-standing commitment to impact over profit

• Factors enabling exponential growth in people served

• Aspirations and projections for increasing global reach (from 40 million to 30-50 million people/year)

• Strategies for leveraging profits to create positive change

8. Sharing Knowledge—SawyerThink Book

• Description and purpose of the book

• Compilation of business wisdom and actionable tips for entrepreneurs

• Mindset of giving back and making business more profitable for greater social good

9. Approaching Research and Evidence-Based Practice

• Heavy investment in research ($10–15 million over 10 years)

• Partnerships with world-class research institutions (Tulane, UNC Chapel Hill, etc.)

• Use of published, peer-reviewed data to prove impact (water quality, health, economic outcomes)

• Barcode and QR tracking for distribution and monitoring

• Encouragement for impact entrepreneurs to connect with researchers for credibility

10. Strategic Partnerships and Lean Team Model

• Extensive collaboration with 140+ nonprofits in over 80 countries

• NGOs and stakeholder partnerships as core to Sawyer’s global strategy

• Sawyer’s role as both a product provider and a knowledge/resource hub for partners

• Monthly webinars and training/support for NGOs

11. Driving Holistic Impact: Sustainability and Gender Equity

• Measuring environmental impact (tree and fossil fuel savings by eliminating boiling)

• Economic empowerment through clean water (energy savings, time, and new business opportunities for women)

• Focus on gender equity, children’s health, and cultural adaptation in different regions

• Supporting entire communities, not just individuals

12. Continuous Innovation and Disruption

• Expansion into new product lines (e.g., permethrin-treated baby wraps against malaria)

• New urban-focused water solutions and integrated tap filters

• Constant search for bigger and more urgent problems to solve

• The importance of out-of-the-box thinking and staying “obsessed” with better solutions

13. Advice for Impact Entrepreneurs

• Encouragement to think big, take risks, and leverage America’s resources

• Surrounding yourself with skilled people and knowing your strengths/weaknesses

• The importance of mindset, passion, and data in making change happen

• Specific guidance for starting and scaling social impact work

14. Conclusion and Resources

• How to connect with Sawyer Products and the Sawyer Foundation

• Additional resources, including the book, website, and ways to support or get involved

• Final words of inspiration from Kurt Avery and Paul Zelizer

This structure covers the thoughtful arc from Sawyer’s origins and values, to their innovative products, through to global impact and practical advice for other entrepreneurs. If you’d like more detail on any of these topics, let me know!

On today’s episode of Awarepreneurs, I sat down with Kurt Avery, the founder of Sawyer Products, to talk about how purpose-driven innovation can 100x your social impact. Kurt shared how his company’s life-saving water filters and insect repellents now provide clean water for millions worldwide, all while reinvesting profits directly into high-impact humanitarian projects. If you’re ready to scale your mission, embrace relentless product quality, smart partnerships, and think bigger. Don’t just do business—change the world.

Absolutely! Here’s a LinkedIn post based on the provided transcript from the Awarepreneurs interview with Kurt Avery:

Just listened to an inspiring episode of the Awarepreneurs podcast with Kurt Avery, founder and president of Sawyer Products, on the topic of “How to 100x Your Social Impact.” If you care about social entrepreneurship, clean water, and making a tangible difference, you need to check this out.

Here are 3 key takeaways from the episode:

• Obsess Over Quality to Build Impact: Kurt Avery shared how Sawyer Products refuses to settle for “good enough.” Every single water filter is tested three times to guarantee performance—even when competitors do random batch testing. This obsession with quality has saved millions of lives and built incredible trust worldwide.

• Scale Through Partnerships (and Small Teams): Despite a lean in-house team, Sawyer has driven massive impact by collaborating with over 140 NGOs in 80+ countries. True impact is possible when you treat your partners as stakeholders and equip them with the best tools and support.

• Think Holistically About Impact: Beyond just health metrics, Sawyer looks at environmental sustainability (saving up to 200 trees per year per filter!), gender equity, and economic empowerment. Their holistic measurement of outcomes is a model for mission-driven businesses everywhere.

Sawyer’s story is proof you don’t need a huge team or budget to change the world—just relentless focus, integrity, and the right partners. 🌍💧

Highly recommend giving this episode a listen and connecting with Kurt Avery’s work if you want to learn how to multiply your own impact.

#SocialImpact #Entrepreneurship #CleanWater #PurposeDrivenBusiness #Awarepreneurs

Subject: How to 100x Your Social Impact – Lessons from Sawyer Products’ Kurt Avery

Hi Awarepreneurs Community,

We’re excited to share highlights from our enlightening conversation with Kurt Avery, founder and president of Sawyer Products, in our latest episode: “How to 100x Your Social Impact.”

From Humble Beginnings to Global Reach
Sawyer Products started as a niche outdoor company in 1984, navigating years of challenges before breaking through. Today, under Kurt’s leadership, Sawyer provides life-saving water filtration and insect repellents to millions globally—serving both adventure enthusiasts and communities in need (Paul Zelizer shares his personal gratitude for this on the trail!).

Innovation Rooted in Compassion
What sets Sawyer apart? An obsession with quality and innovation. They brought kidney dialysis technology to water filtration, offering point-of-use filters that are unrivaled in their effectiveness. Every filter is tested three times for absolute reliability. As Kurt Avery says, “How could you live with yourself if you went in there and said 90% are gonna be okay and the other 10 are gonna get sick?” That uncompromising standard has saved lives during disasters, like the Haiti earthquake and countless hurricanes.

Impact at Scale—And How YOU Can Do It
Kurt’s impact philosophy is simple but radical: Over 90% of Sawyer’s profits (often even more) are poured back into humanitarian aid, providing clean water in over 80 countries. But as Kurt Avery reminds us, you don’t have to operate at a global scale to make a difference—start with what you know, partner with organizations, and always look for ways to use your unique expertise for good.

Keys to 100x Impact:

• Obsess Over Solving Real Problems: Understand your customers’ and communities’ true needs, then innovate with relentless focus.

• Research and Partnerships: Sawyer invests heavily in research, collaborating with top universities and organizations to prove their impact and continually improve.

• Give Back—Smartly: Funnel your business success into causes that matter. Sawyer’s model ensures resources are used where they’ll have the greatest impact.

• Think Big, Start Small: Kurt Avery encourages us to “think big—what do you have to lose?” Whether you’re running a restaurant or an international business, leverage your skills for social good.

New Innovations: Baby Wraps for Malaria Prevention
Never resting on past success, Sawyer is piloting permethrin-treated baby wraps that cut infant malaria by 67%—a powerful example of translating proven technology into new, life-saving applications.

Your Next Step
Are you ready to amplify your own impact? Here’s what you can do:

• Check out Kurt’s book, SawyerThink: How a Small Company Disrupts Markets and Changes the World, for more actionable wisdom.

• Explore opportunities for collaboration, research partnerships, or supporting the Sawyer Foundation (where 100% of donations go to projects, no overhead!).

Listen to the full episode and get inspired to 100x your own impact.
If this story moved you, share the episode with a friend who’s ready to make a difference.

To more impact,
The Awarepreneurs Team

P.S. All resources mentioned—including the Sawyer site, book, and foundation—are linked in our show notes. And if you need help building your own strategy for impact, Paul Zelizer is ready to support you.

Stay aware, stay inspired, and keep letting your values guide your business!

🚨 Ready to be inspired by real impact? 🚨

THREAD: How Curt Avery & Sawyer Products are 100x'ing social impact—changing millions of lives with clean water, relentless innovation, & obsession for quality!

👇👇

1/ Meet Curt Avery, founder of Sawyer Products, the team behind groundbreaking outdoor protection & humanitarian solutions. Think insect repellents, water filters—from backpacking to saving lives in disaster zones.

2/ Paul Zelizer revealed: Sawyer’s water filter may have LITERALLY saved his own life during backcountry adventures. That’s not marketing—that’s results.

3/ How do you disrupt a whole industry? Kurt Avery brought kidney dialysis tech to water filtration. “If you can clean blood, you can clean water.” → Hollow fiber membrane: Filters so advanced, military won’t go anywhere without them.

4/ Sawyer isn’t just for hikers. They became THE go-to during emergencies: At the Haitian earthquake, they sent 200,000 filters, stopping cholera outbreaks dead in their tracks. Every hurricane, cyclone, disaster—Sawyer’s on the ground, Day 2.

5/ “We lost money 23 of the first 25 years... until we became an overnight success.” Relentless obsession with quality, guerrilla marketing, & influencers paved the way. Every single filter is tested THREE times. Other companies? Maybe 1 out of 100.

6/ Extreme ownership: Kurt Avery owns 100%—so profits aren’t just profits. Over 90% get reinvested into impact, not profit lines. “No U-hauls in heaven.” 🫡

7/ Sawyer now partners with 140+ nonprofits in 80+ countries. Millions get clean water each year, many for the FIRST time in their lives. The health data? Published medical research—95% reduction in sickness in weeks. Not hype, FACTS.

8/ The ripple effect: Sawyer filters save money, trees (up to 200 trees/year/filter!), and give moms back time. Girls go to school more often; new food businesses launch. Sustainability, gender equity, local empowerment—REAL social impact.

9/ They’re STILL innovating: Baby wraps treated with permethrin, cutting malaria risk by 67% in infants. New tap filters for cities, not just rural areas. The vision? 30–50 million more lives touched EACH YEAR.

10/ Curt’s belief: “Think BIG. One life, one shot. Why not?” It’s not about a product, it’s about purpose, integrity, & mission-driven impact.

If you’re building for impact—take a page from Sawyer:

• Obsess over quality.

• Partner deep.

• Prove your results.

• Reinvest in purpose.

The full story? “SawyerThink: How a Small Company Disrupts Markets and Changes the World” (Amazon or Sawyer.com).

✨ Go save lives. Dream bigger. Let your values guide your business.

RT if you believe business CAN change the world. 🌍💙

#SocialImpact #CleanWater #Entrepreneurs #Innovation #SawyerProducts

Absolutely! Here are 10 thoughtful discussion questions based on this episode of Awarepreneurs with Kurt Avery:

1. Kurt Avery describes being “obsessed” with quality and testing standards at Sawyer Products. How did this obsession help Sawyer stand out, and how can other impact entrepreneurs apply this mindset in their own ventures?

2. In the conversation, Kurt Avery mentions that Sawyer reinvests more than 90% of its profits into impact projects. How does this business model compare to traditional for-profit companies, and what are the pros and cons of such an approach?

3. Sawyer’s water filters are tested three times before leaving the factory, whereas competitors may only conduct random testing. Why is rigorous quality control so critical in the context of social impact, and what lessons can be learned for other sectors?

4. Kurt Avery highlights the importance of falling in love with the problem rather than the solution. How has this philosophy driven Sawyer’s innovation, and how can entrepreneurs stay focused on solving real-world problems?

5. The episode touches on the role of partnerships—with 140+ nonprofits across 80 countries—in scaling impact with a small team. What are the keys to building successful and sustainable partnerships for social good?

6. Research and scientific validation are central to Sawyer’s strategy. How did collaborating with institutions like UNC Chapel Hill elevate Sawyer’s impact, and why is data-driven storytelling important for earning trust and growing support?

7. The concept of “metrics” comes up repeatedly, both for internal improvement and for securing funding. What kinds of impact metrics did Sawyer track? How can organizations choose the right metrics to measure and communicate their effectiveness?

8. Sustainability, gender equity, and economic empowerment were all cited as ripple effects of Sawyer’s work. Why is it important to look at impact holistically, and how can organizations uncover and measure secondary benefits of their initiatives?

9. Kurt Avery encourages listeners to “think big,” reflecting on the unique opportunities to create major impact, especially for entrepreneurs in the United States. What challenges do leaders face in adopting a “think big” mindset, and how can they overcome them?

10. As Sawyer’s founder, Kurt Avery continues to innovate decades into the journey, recently piloting a baby wrap to reduce malaria. What fuels ongoing innovation in long-running impact organizations, and how can a culture of “never finished” be cultivated in other companies?

These questions should help spark a lively and meaningful conversation about the episode’s major themes and lessons!

1. Inspired by Kurt Avery: Serving millions with clean water and life-saving solutions started with falling in love with the problem, not just the product. True impact is built on deeply knowing the communities we serve.

2. Kurt Avery says testing every single water filter 3 times builds real trust. It’s about being obsessed with quality—even when your competitors settle for less. Integrity in what you make is non-negotiable.

3. Real social change happens when profits fuel impact, not just growth. Kurt Avery reinvests profits back into communities—proving companies can lead with purpose and reshape global well-being.

4. Strategic partnerships aren’t just business—they’re culture. Kurt Avery’s team includes 140+ nonprofits worldwide, showing massive impact happens when ego drops and collaboration takes over.

5. Think big, act bigger. Kurt Avery reminds us your only limit is your mindset. With the right purpose and team, you can disrupt markets and change millions of lives. What could you achieve if you truly went all-in?

In this Awarepreneurs episode, host Paul Zelizer interviews Kurt Avery of Sawyer Products about scaling social impact through innovative water filtration and insect repellents. Learn how Sawyer partners with nonprofits globally, leverages research, and reinvests profits to provide millions with clean water—showcasing practical strategies for entrepreneurs dedicated to making a bigger difference in the world.

1.

What does it really take to 100x your social impact as an entrepreneur?

Can building a world-class business and transforming millions of lives go hand in hand?

We dove into these questions on the Awarepreneurs Podcast with Curt Avery, founder of Sawyer Products, and the takeaways were profound.

As Paul Zelizer shared: “Once you deeply, deeply understand the problems of the people you want to help, you can build an excellent product.” Curt’s journey—going from years of struggle to pioneering technology that delivers clean water to millions—underscores this insight.

One insight that stood out: obsession matters. Sawyer tests EVERY filter 3x (while competitors might test 1 out of 100)—a relentless commitment to quality that literally saves lives. Their radical approach: reinvest 90%+ of profits directly into impact, not just the bottom line.

Key takeaway: Don’t just love your solution—fall in love with the problem, and let purpose be your business driver. That’s when impact scales.

How are you weaving impact and innovation in your work? Would love to read your thoughts! Catch the full episode for an inspiring deep dive into high-impact entrepreneurship.

2.

How do you grow a business from humble beginnings to protecting millions—and still want to do more?

What does it look like to measure, improve, and prove your impact at every step?

On Awarepreneurs, I had the privilege of interviewing Curt Avery, whose company Sawyer Products partners with 140+ nonprofits in 80+ countries to deliver clean water and save lives.

Here’s something Curt shared that resonated deeply: “We spend as much on testing our product as the product itself. Half our cost is making sure no family gets a filter that could fail.” That’s unwavering commitment.

During our conversation, we explored how impact isn’t just about the core product. Sawyer tracks outcomes in health, sustainability (saving up to 200 trees per filter!), gender equity, and local economies—because real transformation goes beyond ‘units sold.’

Key strategy: Don’t be afraid to think big. Start with world-class integrity, measure what matters, and let your mission ignite bigger impact. As Curt says, “You got one life—why not?”

How are you measuring and expanding your impact? Let’s swap best practices! Listen to the full discussion for actionable insights on mission-driven growth.

1. Obsessive Commitment to Quality and Innovation:

Sawyer Products’ extraordinary impact is rooted in an uncompromising obsession with product quality and a refusal to settle for “me-too” solutions. Drawing on advanced technology, like hollow fiber membranes from kidney dialysis, the company ensures every filter is the absolute best on the market—tested three times for reliability—and this commitment is essential to their reputation and global adoption.

"How could you live with yourself if you went in there and said 90% are gonna be okay and the other 10 are gonna get sick and some of your kids are gonna die? You can’t do that. So you have to be, to use your word, obsessed with getting to that next level. And be honest with you, half our cost of the filter is the testing."

2. Scale Through Strategic Partnerships and Lean Teams:

Sawyer leverages deep relationships with over 140 nonprofits and key influencers, enabling massive global impact with a remarkably small internal team. By empowering partners and focusing on stakeholder-driven outcomes, Sawyer can deliver clean water and protection at scale, while also supporting organizations to become more data-driven and effective in their own missions.

"It’s how you define team. ... Our partners are really part of the team. ... So we obviously do water, but we impact the other 2. ... We are really close with these people, really close. ... Our team is the 140 charities, plus a few people back here just saying, here's what we need."

3. Holistic, Mission-Driven Impact and Reinventing Social Enterprise:

Profit is seen as a tool for purpose at Sawyer, not an end in itself. Most profits are reinvested directly into impact initiatives, and the company invests heavily in rigorous research to back its claims. Sawyer measures and addresses wide-ranging outcomes—public health, environment, gender equity, and economic opportunity—and constantly innovates, demonstrating that small, values-driven companies can disrupt whole sectors and improve millions of lives.

"We take all our profits and we put them into changing the world because we can. ... I do own 100% of the company and ... all the profits accrue to me if I let it become a profit, but I don’t have to let it be a profit. So we burn it off and give them away before it even becomes a profit line. ... Think big. You got one life, right? ... Why not?"

What if the key to multiplying your social impact by 100x wasn’t just a better product—but a radically different approach to business itself?

These are just some of the inspiring questions we explored with Kurt Avery, founder of Sawyer Products, on the latest Awarepreneurs podcast episode, hosted by our very own Paul Zelizer.