Aggie Growth Hacks w/ Noah Labhart

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Noah Labhart, co-founder and CTO of Variable Incorporated, discusses building an on-demand labor marketplace for manufacturing and blue-collar work, describing how the company helps businesses flex capacity while giving workers flexible schedules and daily pay. He explains their growth challenges, pandemic-era demand shifts, and his vision for a more connected Industry 4.0 ecosystem where labor is integrated with cloud-based systems.

Main Topics: Variable’s on-demand labor marketplace (Priority: 5/5): Variable connects manufacturing and industrial businesses with on-demand workers through mobile apps and web portals, positioning itself as an “Uber for the shop floor” and a third labor paradigm between full-time and contractor models. Why the company exists and how it started (Priority: 5/5): Labhart explains that the idea came from partner Mike Kinder’s experience, and his own background in manufacturing IT and startup development convinced him the market need was real and urgent. Marketplace growth strategy and early adoption (Priority: 4/5): The company initially focused on recruiting workers first so it could show businesses a live labor pool, then used recruiting platforms and targeted industry-specific education to expand both sides of the marketplace. Pandemic and labor-market effects (Priority: 4/5): During COVID-era disruptions, Variable saw both positive demand from essential industries and short-term fulfillment issues tied to stimulus and unemployment payments, which reduced worker availability temporarily. Industry 4.0 and future labor systems (Priority: 5/5): Labhart sees the future in connected, cloud-based manufacturing systems where labor, machines, and software trigger actions across platforms, making labor a core component of digital transformation. Founder habits and personal growth (Priority: 3/5): He shares a personal hack of waking at 5 a.m. to pray, reflect, and plan, plus a recommended leadership book that shaped how he sees people and business. Aggie network and personal roots (Priority: 2/5): He highlights his Aggie family legacy, especially his grandparents, and shares a memorable Aggie moment tied to a Johnny Manziel touchdown pass caught by his cousin.

Key Arguments: Manufacturing needs flexible labor capacity to fully benefit from Industry 4.0 and digital factory technologies. A two-sided marketplace requires building worker supply first in order to credibly sell the platform to businesses. Businesses need education and a tailored use case more than a generic sales pitch when adopting on-demand labor. Recruiting platforms like ZipRecruiter and Snagajob are effective acquisition channels for operators in blue-collar markets. Maintaining a strong “labor pool” of familiar, rated workers reduces fulfillment risk and improves repeat usage. The broader future of manufacturing is a connected ecosystem where cloud systems and labor platforms trigger actions, not just collect data. Personal discipline and early-morning routines can materially improve decision-making and execution for founders.

Data Points: Founding/experience at Alcon Laboratories: 8 years - Labhart says he spent eight years at Alcon supporting manufacturing IT before co-founding Variable. Workers on platform before business outreach: 200-300 - Variable recruited several hundred workers before approaching businesses so it could demonstrate supply. Aggie 100 launch year: 2005 - Mentioned in the sponsor spot describing the origin of Aggie 100. Years Aggie 100 has honored businesses: Nearly two decades - Sponsor copy notes the program has celebrated fast-growing Aggie-led businesses for almost 20 years. McFerrin Center serving Texas A&M entrepreneurship: Since 1999 - Sponsor copy says the center has served as the hub of entrepreneurship since 1999. Founder wake-up time: 5 in the morning - Labhart describes his personal productivity hack of waking at 5 a.m.

Pivotal Quotes: "We’re the Uber for the shop floor." — Noah Labhart: He summarizes Variable’s business model as an on-demand marketplace for manufacturing labor. "We want to change the equation for manufacturing." — Noah Labhart: He describes the company’s big, hairy, audacious goal: shifting manufacturing from fixed capacity to a more dynamic, integrated model. "There’s nothing actionable to do with it." — Noah Labhart: He argues that many IoT systems produce visibility but not operational action, which is the gap Variable wants to help close.

Implications: The episode suggests blue-collar labor is becoming platform-driven and data-connected. For founders, the lesson is to educate customers, build marketplace liquidity early, and align with long-term Industry 4.0 shifts rather than short-term tech trends.