Pete Mountanos leads Mazu Global, a network marketing company pushing aloe juice mixed with brown algae. The firm sells a product called Mazu Gold, claiming it offers various health benefits, none of which have received FDA verification.

Mountanos co-founded Mazu Global with Mike Kaz and US President Walker Sullivan. This company operates as the direct sales division for Nuvonyx, an aloe production firm. The name "Mazu" appears chosen to reference the Chinese sea goddess, hinting at the product's ocean-sourced ingredients.

Mountanos previously started USAloe in 2009. That venture combined manufacturing and direct sales. In 2010, he divided the business. Nuvonyx took over wholesale production, and Mazu Global became the network marketing channel. This structure separates profits from manufacturing from those generated by recruitment commissions.

Mazu Gold, the primary product, is an aloe vera juice containing Ecklonia Cava Sea Kelp. The company claims it improves energy levels, cardiovascular health, alertness, memory, and joint support. It also promises to lower blood glucose and cholesterol. The Food and Drug Administration has not verified any of these health claims.

One 15-ounce bottle of Mazu Gold costs $39.99, providing two servings. Four bottles sell for $79.98, and a case of eight costs $159.99. Shipping is free for US orders.

The compensation plan involves 14 membership ranks. Each rank demands higher personal purchase volumes and recruitment. An Associate needs 100 PV (points valued) and one recruited member. Higher ranks like Gold require 200 PV and 20,000 QV (qualification volume). Diamond Executive demands 200 PV and 100,000 QV. The top rank, Black Diamond, requires 500,000 QV.

These volume thresholds indicate that participants earn money primarily through recruiting new members and selling product to their downlines. The compensation plan's Global Profit Pool and Team Commissions specifically reward recruitment depth, not direct retail sales to outside customers.

This structure follows a common problematic MLM pattern. New recruits often buy inventory, find it difficult to sell, and then focus on recruiting others to recover their costs. Mountanos benefits from both Nuvonyx's wholesale sales to Mazu Global and the commissions earned through the Mazu Global network.

The company's business model relies on recruitment, driven by unproven health claims and escalating volume requirements that most participants will likely not achieve.