In this candid episode of Scales of Success, host Marcus Arredondo chats with serial entrepreneur David Makharadze to share hard-earned lessons from a career spanning scrappy startups to major exits. From recognizing opportunities others miss to forging lasting partnerships and navigating challenges with integrity, David shares strategies and stories that have driven his success.

David Makharadze is an investor, operator, and entrepreneur with a track record of building and scaling ventures across technology, real estate, renewable energy, among many others. A graduate of Cornell’s Hotel School, he has built and scaled multiple businesses, diving fearlessly into every challenge and mastering any skill needed to make them thrive. He’s still in the trenches wearing a variety of hats, including advising growth-stage companies, mentoring founders, and backing projects built to last.

How to connect with David Makharadze:
Website: https://www.cambridgespg.com/team/david-makharadze/
Email: [email protected]
Episode highlights:
(3:50) Scaling Wall Street bites
(8:31) Why did he give it all away?
(20:29) A 16-year-old’s first shuttle biz
(28:53) Identifying and nurturing natural curiosity
(34:38) Building and scaling Zustek to acquisition
(43:43) Passion, grit, and staying in
(50:17) When everything goes wrong
(55:20) The Palm Springs comeback story
(1:04:18) Business advice that actually works
(1:11:13) Mentorship, teaching, and giving back
(1:16:44) Outro

Connect with Marcus

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus

Scales of Success

• Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess
  

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

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