Breaking a Guinness World Record in Coeur d'Alene: A builder's journey
Successful internet pioneer, startup founder and soon-to-be world record holder Brad Estes pauses for a photo while working on college coursework — picking up the degree he left behind nearly 30 years ago.
Estes with a portion of his record-breaking shot glass collection, which began as part of his inheritance from his father.
On March 30, something extraordinary is happening in Coeur d'Alene. A man who has spent a lifetime creating — first as a seventh grade tech entrepreneur, later as a pioneer in video conferencing and now in his so-called "retirement" — is about to set a Guinness World Record. And you can be a part of it.
The journey of a relentless innovator
Brad’s journey began early. In the late '80s, when most kids were hanging out at the mall, he was running Brad’s Pad, a bulletin board system (BBS) that connected people from all over the world. With two phone lines wired into his bedroom, he built an online community before the internet as we know it even existed. He taught himself software engineering, scouted tech stocks for his parents (including a $10,000 bet in the '80s on a little-known company called Microsoft) and ultimately dropped out of college to build a startup.
Fast forward to the late '90s — Brad found himself on a flight to Curacao with a group discussing a radical idea: video conferencing over the internet. At the time, it was just a concept, but Brad saw the future. He joined a company with just 15 employees, grew it to 160 and eventually sold it. His work laid the foundation for the video communication tools that define our world today.
“When I look back,” Brad says, “everything I’ve done has been about solving problems and building things that matter. That’s what I love — creating, pushing the edges and making something real.”
Estes with a portion of his record-breaking shot glass collection, which began as part of his inheritance from his father.A shot glass collection that became a mission
After years in the tech world, Brad moved to Idaho and found himself facing a unique inheritance: 500 shot glasses, a gift from his father, who ran a restaurant and bar. Most would see them as memorabilia — Brad saw a challenge. He discovered that the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of shot glasses stood at 8,411 and had been untouched for 25 years. So, he did what builders do: He set out to break it.
“I didn’t start this to set a world record,” Brad admits. “I started with a collection that meant something to me. But then I thought—what if I went all in? What if I built something bigger than just a personal keepsake?”
On March 30, at the Innovation Den, Brad will officially count and showcase his collection, which now stands at over 9,400 unique shot glasses from around the world. He invites the community to join him, witness history and even contribute their own shot glasses to the record-breaking collection.
“People can bring me shot glasses, and if I don’t already have one that matches and if I can keep them then I’ll include them and in a little way we can all be a part of the record,” he says.
Lessons from a life of building
Brad’s story isn’t just about collecting shot glasses or launching companies. It’s about what happens when you commit to building — whether it’s technology, a collection, or a community.
• Start where you are. Brad didn’t set out to break a record; he just followed a curiosity. “Sometimes, you don’t know what you’re building until you’re in it,” he says.
• Go all in. Once Brad saw the opportunity, he committed. “I don’t do things halfway. If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it right.”
• Invite others in. Whether it was his early BBS, his startup team or now the people of Coeur d’Alene, Brad believes in building with others. “The best things aren’t done alone.”
Be a part of history
This isn’t just about setting a record; it’s about celebrating creativity, persistence, and the spirit of building. Brad has spent his life solving problems, launching companies and shaping the future of technology. Now, he’s inviting Coeur d’Alene to be a part of his next chapter.
Want to say you contributed to a Guinness World Record? Bring a shot glass. Come hear Brad’s story. Witness the moment history is made.
This is what build_ is all about — people coming together to turn ideas into reality. Today, it’s a world record. Tomorrow, who knows? But one thing is certain: When builders gather, things get built.
Let’s build_ Coeur d’Alene.
Event Details & RSVP: https://lu.ma/eah2655u