Bardia Rahim
| Bardia Rahim | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bardia Rahimzadeh July 24, 1975 |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Iranian |
| 🏳️ Citizenship | American |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Entrepreneurship, social media |
| 🌐 Website | www |
Bardia Rahimzadeh or Bardia Rahim (born July 24, 1975) is an Iranian-American businessman, serial entrepreneur, and internet personality.[1][2] Rahim has been featured on nearly every major national news network for his trademark infringement lawsuit against Kim Kardashian for her stake in the L.E.D iPhone case, LuMee.[3]
Early life and hardship[edit]
Bardia Rahim was born to a working class Iranian family in Tehran, Iran in 1975. In pursuit of business opportunities, the Rahim family left Iran for the United States in 1980.[4] The Rahim family owned and operated a small produce delivery company in Escondido, California. Following a string of financial hardship and business foreclosure, Bardia's father abandoned the family to go back to Iran.[5] He left his wife, and two children in the United States penniless and with a foreclosed home. Given the new financial standing of the Rahim family and the loss of the primary income earner, Bardia was forced to find work at the age of 15.[4] Bardia eventually resorted to growing and selling marijuana in an effort to provide income for his family.[6]
Incarceration[edit]
Rahim's illegal growing venture expanded exponentially and at one point was earning him, "approximately $60,000 a week." [6] His efforts also caught the eye of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).[7] Rahim's name was given to the DEA by a friend who was also a "grower," and had been arrested by the police. An 8-month investigation into Bardia took place that included surveillance and satellite tracking of his various whereabouts.[4] In 2006, while on a trip to Hawaii for a friends wedding, DEA agents stormed his hotel room and placed him under arrest.[8] Prosecutors offered a plea agreement that included retention of all previously held properties and ownerships if he were to cooperate in further investigations against other, "growers." Bardia refused to take part in any plea deals because, "I wouldn’t rat someone else out, so I took five years in jail. I felt I needed to own up to my responsibilities." Rahim was sentenced to 5 years in prison for his cultivation of marijuana plants.[7] Rahim describes his 5 years in prison as an "experience that can make you or break you," Bardia says, "You can go into prison and become a better criminal, you can get into drugs, or you can read books and educate yourself. I chose the latter. I took a lot of college courses."[4] Rahim studied marketing and business while in prison.[8] After a particularly long stint where he was forced into solitary confinement for 63 days following involvement in a prison fight, Rahim began to complement his life and future. It was this isolation period where Rahim decided to make a drastic change once out of prison.[6]
Career[edit]
After Rahim's incarceration, his focus went towards building various companies from the ground. His main portfolio of companies which he stands as founder is True Honor®, SnapLight®, NutraLeaf®, KushCandy®, and PotDrive™.[9] His involvement in various companies and standing as a reformed citizen has led to him becoming an Instagram personality and motivational guru for his growing masses of followers on social media.[1]
TrueHonor[edit]
In 2008, True Honor was founded as a lifestyle clothing brand that was based solely out of Rahim's car where he would sell pieces to friends and family.[10] Rahim has been quoted as saying that True Honor is, "diverse, athletic, different, and meant to inspire." [6] The brand eventually spawned into something much larger as a word of mouth campaign began to build the clothing line. Now, True Honor is a global brand with presence in hundreds of clothing stores globally. True Honor sponsored athletes include Professional Surfer, Sebastian Steudtner, Professional MMA Fighters, Paul Bradley and Felice Herrig, and UFC Veterans Jason Lambert and Fabricio Camoes.[11] The brand also frequently collaborates with companies like, GoPro, Zico Coconut Water, and various Redbull Athletes for promotional events. [12] [13] [14]
SnapLight[edit]
In 2013, while on a trip to Las Vegas, Rahim noticed a celebrity being asked to take pictures with some fans. Due to bad lighting, people were forced to resort to pictures with the celebrity from the bathroom.[15] Thus, the idea of SnapLight was born. Rahim began to work on the technology but soon discovered that a previously unknown person by the name of Hooshmand Harooni maintained the patent for the iPhone case. In early 2017, Rahim was able to attain the licensing rights for Harooni's patent.[16]
PotDrive[edit]
In 2017, Rahim founded PotDrive, a directory used to connect the global cannabis community in one marketplace meant to connect Marijuana businesses with consumers.[17] The PotDrive App is available as a free download for iOS and Android and is meant to connect all facets of the cannabis industry into one streamlined marketplace.[18]
KushCandy[edit]
KushCandy is a CBD oil vape product that was founded in 2016 meant to, "surpass other premium oil competitors and bring a superior product to the market." Despite its relatively new emergence, KushCandy has established a presence in hundreds of legal medical dispensaries throughout states like California, Nevada, Oregon, and Colorado. The company has a variety of products that include Sativa, [Indica]], and Hybrid types of oils.
NutraLeaf[edit]
NutraLeaf was founded in 2015 as an organic plant based protein pre-workout meant to provide amino acids in precise proportions, readily usable by the body, for building and repairing tissue and muscle. NutraLeaf touts its ability to, "help increase endurance, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, and enhance mental focus during long and high-intensity workouts."
Kardashian and LuMee legal Issues[edit]
In 2017, a lawsuit was filed against LuMee and Kardashian's company, Kimsaprincess Inc. for patent infringement.[19] Rahim has claimed that LuMee and their sponsors bullied SnapLight out of prospective markets and forced GoDaddy to shut down their website on Black Friday.[20] Rahim stated that this was a "death sentence" for SnapLight.[21][22]Rahim cites his company being kicked out of sales accounts like Home Shopping Network and Neiman Marcus on Black Friday when LuMee had yet to attain the proper patent. [23] LuMee responded by saying that “the lawsuit has no merit and Kim has done nothing wrong. LuMee is an innovator of illuminated cell phone cases and was the first to market. Between its patents, copyrights and trademarks, LuMee has developed substantial intellectual property rights surrounding its product line.” [24] Rahim's $100 Million lawsuit made national news for his lawsuit and was featured on outlets including, Fox, CNN, PEOPLE Magazine, BBC, and TMZ.[25][26][27]
Personal[edit]
Rahim currently resides in San Marcos, CA where he is currently working on a memoir following his time in prison and building his various companies. His hobbies include weight lifting and Jiu-Jitsu of which he earned a black belt from the Gracie family in 2014. [28]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Bardia Rahim 🇺🇸 (@visionary) • Instagram photos and videos". instagram.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "PotDrive Sees an Opening In WeedMaps Territory". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Kim Kardashian phone case company sued $100M for patent infringement". Fox News. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Bardia Rahim: No easy way out". Graciemag. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "True Honor Q&A with Founder/Director Bardia Rahim". malakye.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Fashion | StyleWatch | Four El Magazine May 2014". 4lmagazine.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "News from DEA, Domestic Field Divisions, San Diego News Releases, 08/14/06". dea.gov. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Meltdown Breakdown with True Honor|By Matt Sierra | #1 Sports Specialty Show". mmameltdown.wordpress.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Bardia Rahim | Professional Profile". linkedin.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Lifestyle Apparel". True Honor. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "The True Honor Team". True Honor. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "True Honor x GoPro - True Honor". April 17, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ↑ "@ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water and @bardia_rahim - Instagram Life by True Honor - Pinterest - Coconut water". Pinterest. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ↑ "True Honor - Jaime Sterling: Brand Ambassador - True Honor". March 11, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ↑ "San Marcos company sues Kim Kardashian West over selfie phone case". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Kim Kardashian Was Just Sued For 100 Million Dollars". cinemablend.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "releases/potdrive/worldslargestcannabisdir/prweb14009285". prweb.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "PotDrive - For all your Pot Needs". potdrive.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Kim Kardashian Sued Over LuMee Phone Cast Endorsement". people.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "SnapLight vs. Lumee "It's War" Says Founder Bardia Rahim to Kim Kardashian West". YouTube. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "SnapLight | Brighten Your Life". snaplightcase.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "San Diego-based company sues Kim Kardashian for $100 million". 10News.com KGTV-TV San Diego. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Kim Kardashian West Faces $100 Million Lawsuit Over LuMee Phone Cases". Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ↑ "Kim Kardashian's Company Sued for Endorsement of LuMee Phone Case in $100 Million Lawsuit | Pret-a-Reporter". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Kim Kardashian's Company Sued for $100 Million, Accused of Jacking the Technology Behind LuMee (UPDATE)". TMZ.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ Ella Ceron. "Kim Kardashian Sued for $100 Million Over LuMee". Teen Vogue. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "Kim Kardashian West sued over selfie case design". BBC News. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ↑ "True Honor Founder Recieves(sic} Black Belt - True Honor". February 25, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
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